SAEDNEWS: Puff Pastry or Mille-Feuille Dough: A French Delight for Pastries, Desserts, and Savory Dishes
You might be wondering, what exactly is puff pastry? Puff pastry, also known as “thousand-layer dough,” is a type of dough with a wonderfully crisp and delicate texture. Pastries made with puff pastry turn out tastier and more delightful. This versatile dough is ideal for making a variety of sweets such as pies, tarts, turnovers, Napoleons, cream puffs, and more.
Now that you know what puff pastry is, let’s explore it in more detail. The basic ingredients are simple: flour, butter, salt, and water. As you can see, the ingredients are easily accessible. However, making puff pastry requires skill, patience, and precision.
Don’t worry—by following key tips, you can master this dough. All ingredients used to make puff pastry should be kept cold during preparation, with minimal contact with the warmth of your hands. The dough is made by layering butter between the dough, folding it several times, and chilling it in the refrigerator. This process is what gives puff pastry its characteristic flakiness.
Making puff pastry at home demands attention and patience, though ready-made puff pastry is also available in stores. Homemade puff pastry, with all its delicate nuances, can yield a more flavorful and satisfying result than store-bought versions.
In this guide, Iran Cook walks you through the step-by-step process of making puff pastry in a simple, easy-to-follow way. If you’re planning to create delicious pastries with a dough base, this recipe is the perfect choice.
½ cup cold water
½ teaspoon salt
250 g cold butter
2 cups flour
In a bowl, combine flour, cold water, salt, and 50 g melted butter. Mix until a soft dough forms. Place the dough in a freezer bag and refrigerate for 30 minutes to rest.
Dust your work surface with flour and roll out the dough. Spread 200 g of softened butter evenly over the dough (leave the butter at room temperature beforehand to soften).
Fold the dough and roll it out with a rolling pin. Repeat the folding and rolling process about 5 times.
Place the dough back in a freezer bag and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Remove it from the fridge and fold and roll it 5 more times, then refrigerate for another 30 minutes. Repeat this 2–3 times until the dough is light and flaky.
Once ready, fold the dough a few more times, place it in a freezer bag, and store it in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
This puff pastry is perfect for all types of pastries, desserts, and even savory dishes.
