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Hot water crust pastry

mrbadexample
mrbadexample Posts: 10,805 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Photogenic
in Old style MoneySaving
:hello: Greetings.

I need a bit of help making hot water crust pastry please. I've not made it before, and there seems to be quite a bit of conflicting information out there.

Some say to work the pastry while it's hot, as when it cools down it becomes hard and unmanageable.

Others say to cool it in the fridge before you use it.

I'm a bit worried about the "work it while it's hot" advice, because I'm very bad at trying to do things in a hurry. :o

So, has anyone got any foolproof, tried and tested methods please?

I was thinking I might make my dad a pork pie for Fathers' Day. He'd be chuffed to bits with that. :)

Cheers all.
MBE
If you lend someone a tenner and never see them again, it was probably worth it.
«1

Comments

  • good_advice
    good_advice Posts: 2,653 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Mortgage-free Glee! Rampant Recycler
    Hiya, i have never made pasty with hot water. just cold water.
    When I have made the pastry, I often put in the fridge to cool wile i wash some dishes.Then carry on cooking.
    The secret to success is making very small, yet constant changes.:)
  • rosieben
    rosieben Posts: 5,010 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Good to see tou MBE, I was wondering the other day how you're getting on with your cooking. I've never made hot water crust pastry but interested in finding out so will be watching this thread.
    ... don't throw the string away. You always need string! :D

    C.R.A.P.R.O.L.L.Z Head Sharpener
  • Shushannah
    Shushannah Posts: 95 Forumite
    Hot water crust pastry is made with hot water. I let it cool just enough to handle I found it more forgiving than ordinary pastry. I think it hardens if you chill it, but it remains workable for sometime.
  • Steve059
    Steve059 Posts: 2,686 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Hello, again.

    One "raises" pork pies. :p
    If you fold it in half, will an Audi A4 fit in a Citroen C5? :)
  • mrbadexample
    mrbadexample Posts: 10,805 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Photogenic
    rosieben wrote: »
    Good to see tou MBE, I was wondering the other day how you're getting on with your cooking. I've never made hot water crust pastry but interested in finding out so will be watching this thread.

    Not too bad thanks. Tea tonight is chicken and leek pie with tarragon pastry, new potatoes and asparagus. To complete the pie-fest, rhubarb and ginger pie for pudding. trink04.gif
    If you lend someone a tenner and never see them again, it was probably worth it.
  • mrbadexample
    mrbadexample Posts: 10,805 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Photogenic
    Steve059 wrote: »
    Hello, again.

    One "raises" pork pies. :p

    Indeed one does. :) Which is why I'm looking for tips on working with hot water pastry. I know how it's made - there are plenty of recipes about, but there is conflicting advice on working with it. :undecided
    If you lend someone a tenner and never see them again, it was probably worth it.
  • meritaten
    meritaten Posts: 24,158 Forumite
    I find just letting it cool enough to be able to handle it gives the best results. I rarely chill pastry anyway - and I certainly get no complaints!
  • JIL
    JIL Posts: 8,869 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I make a pork, ham, stuffing and chicken pie at Christmas.
    I always use a hot water crust. Made with white flora, flour and hot water. I cool it just enough to handle. The only part I am really fussy about rolling out well is the top. Its really forgiving. Easy to mold into shapes. I tend to put it into a tin and shape it upwards with my hands. Pressing it against the sides and sealing any tears with other bits of the pastry. You do have to work quickly but a warm kitchen helps.
    Here's a good pastry http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/type-of-dish/picnic-food/pie/not-pork-pies.html
  • mrbadexample
    mrbadexample Posts: 10,805 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Photogenic
    JIL wrote: »
    Its really forgiving. Easy to mold into shapes.

    That's encouraging, thank you. I think I'll just have to get stuck in and see how it goes. Sunday, I think. :)
    If you lend someone a tenner and never see them again, it was probably worth it.
  • juliettet
    juliettet Posts: 726 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Photogenic
    If you can manage to get a Be-Ro recipe, my Mum always used that.
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