Add puff pastry to the list of good things you can cook in your waffle iron. Although they don’t puff up as much as oven-baked puff pastry, they turn out crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. They take only minutes to make! Serve hot or at room temperature with syrup, fruit, Nutella, jam or nut butter.
Mix the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. Place it in the fridge for a few minutes until the flour feels cold. Starting out with cold flour makes better puff pastry.
Stir the butter into the flour using the blade of a dinner knife until each piece is well coated.
Add the water, then quickly use the knife to bring everything together.
Using one hand, grab the pastry in the bowl and place it on the work surface. Shape it to a very flat roll only by pressing on it, and not by kneading it. Wrap in cling film and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured work surface in one direction to a rectangle about 1cm thick and measuring about 45x15cm. Keep the sides straight by shaping them with your hands. The top and bottom edges should be as square as possible.
Fold the bottom third of the pastry up and the top third down so it makes a 15x15cm piece. If your piece is slightly larger or smaller, that is OK too, as long as the corners are neat.
Rotate the pastry so that its open side is facing to the right side like a book. Use a rolling pin to press the edges together
Repeat the rolling out and folding of the pastry as described, a total of four times. There will be little specks of butter scattered all over the pastry. If at any point the pastry feels too soft or starts springing back when you roll it out, it has become too warm. In that case wrap it in cling wrap and chill for 10 minutes, then continue the rolling and folding.
Wrap the pastry and chill for at least 1 hour, better overnight.
To use, roll the pastry out about 3mm thick. Brush with beaten egg yolk if desired (it gives it a nice golden colour) and bake at 200 C / Gas 6 until golden brown and puffed up, about 30 minutes.
This recipe provides the wrapping or covering for many pies and tarts, both sweet and savoury. Follow individual recipe instructions for methods of use and baking. This recipe makes enough to line a deep 20-23cm (8-9 inch) flan tin or to cover a large pie dish for serving 4-6.
Sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl. Add the butter and rub into the flour until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs
Sprinkle with 3 tbsp of cold water and mix in using a round-bladed knife. Add a drop more water only if the dough will not clump together. With your hands, gather together into a firm but pliable dough, handling as little as possible
Wrap the ball of dough in greaseproof paper or cling film and chill for at least 30 minutes before rolling out
Put the butter and 150 ml (5 fl oz) water in a saucepan. Heat gently until the butter has melted, then bring to the boil
As soon as the water boils, remove the pan from the heat and quickly tip in the flour all at once. Beat with a wooden spoon until the ingredients bind together into a dough.
Return the pan to a low heat and continue to beat until the dough is a smooth, dry ball in the centre of the pan.
Allow to cool for 2–3 minutes, then gradually beat in the eggs to make a smooth, shiny paste. Beat vigourously. Use straightaway, as directed in the recipe.
