Whats the difference 22 April 2005 at 11:32AM edited 30 November -1 at 1:00AM in Old Style MoneySaving 10 replies 4.2K views

Alison_B

I am just doing an internet shop and I want to order some vegetable lard. What is the difference (if any) between Trex vegetable fat and Spry Crisp N Dry solid cooking oil. I want it to make pastry with?

Thanks

Alison

Debt_Free_Chick

Probably not a lot, but I tend to use Trex for pastry.

Ticklemouse

Thing to remember with vegetarian alternatives is that they seem to be made up of hydrogenated vegetable oils, which are really really bad for you (allegedly). At least with butter/lard, the body can break natural stuff down, it can't with HVO's

Alison_B

But can you make pastry with all butter? I am vegetarian, so don't eat traditional lard.


Thanks

Alison

Ticklemouse

I'm sure I have in the past, Alison. It does have a different texture though. Lard makes it lighter and flakier so I'm presuming butter makes it richer. It's a long time since i made it, so can't remember. Try it and see

Debt_Free_Chick

Alison_B wrote:

But can you make pastry with all butter? I am vegetarian, so don't eat traditional lard.


Thanks

Alison

Yes, but if shortcrust, it will be richer and not quite so "short" ie. crisp.

However, there are vegetable lards, not derived from animal substances. I believe this includes Trex. Not sure about Crisp & Dry.

You'll need to check the labels.

Debt_Free_Chick

Yes, according to this, Trex is all vegetable, so can be used in any recipe in place of lard - especially pastry.

I've used it for years ... dunno why, it just seems to do the trick. I do sometimes make a rich shortcrust using half butter and half Trex.

For flaky & rough puff, I generally use butter only.

HTH

bugs

Pastry made with butter is nice; I also sometimes make it with just sunflower oil, which is pleasant but very crumbly - more for a tart than a pasty, say.

You can get Pure organic margarine or Yeo Valley spreadable butter, which both avoid HVO but might still make for a lighter pastry than all butter.

Magentasue

I only use butter and olive oil so I use butter for ALL baking including pastry.

Turning_into_scrooge

Alison_B wrote:

But can you make pastry with all butter? I am vegetarian, so don't eat traditional lard.


Thanks

Alison

If i haven't got any lard in the fridge i make pastry with all butter, turns out fine just very rich

Ted_Hutchinson

If you use olive and canola oils when cooking instead of margarine and butter you will be choosing the least harmful option.

100g/4oz Plain Flour 1/8 teasp Salt 2 tbsp Olive Oil
1 tbsp Water 1 large Egg, beaten
1. Place the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl and combine well.
2. Add the oil and blend with an electric mixer then add the water and egg and mix well. The mixture should be crumbly, but moist.
3. Gather the mixture together with your hands and form into a ball, but do not knead. Wrap in clingfilm and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Use and cook as shortcrust pastry.
You may find it's a bit harder to handle than using hydrogenated oils or butter but you could try rolling it between sheets of greaseproof paper.