No Fail Pie Crust Meat Pies Recipes

PIE CRUST (SHORTCRUST PASTRY)

Steps:

• Pulse Dry: Place flour, sugar and salt in food processor. Pulse twice to combine.
• Cut in butter: Scatter butter across surface. Pulse 5 times until the largest pieces are the size of chickpeas.
• Add chilled water: With the motor running on low, pour 2.5 tbsp of water into the tube feeder.
• Form crumbs: Keep blitzing for 10 seconds until crumbs form (also see video). Pinch between fingers - they should stick and form a dough.
• HAND option: Whisk flour, sugar and salt in large bowl. Rub butter into flour with tips of fingers until it resembles crumbs - it should look the same as using a food processor. Then mix in cold water with rubber spatula, then proceed with steps below.
• Form disc: Tip crumbs out onto work surface, bring together into dome (don't knead), pat into 2cm/ 4/5" thick disc.
• Chill: Wrap in clingwrap then refrigerate 1 hour (up to 2 days, otherwise freeze).
• Dust with flour: Sprinkle work surface with flour, unwrap dough and place on the flour. Sprinkle top with flour, dust rolling pin with flour.
• Roll out: Roll out into round that's 10cm/4" larger than 22.5cm/9" pie tin. Patch up and roll over cracks as necessary
• Transfer to pie dish: Gently roll the pastry so it wraps around the rolling pin. Unroll it over the pie dish.
• Drape pastry into pie tin (do not stretch/pull, causes shrinkage).
• Trim: If making a pie with NO LID (like Pumpkin Pie), then trim edges with scissors leaving a 1 cm / 2/5" overhang. If making a pie with a lid (like a Meat Pie) then trim edges so they align with the edge of the pie tin (ie no excess overhang).
• Tuck excess under, if appliable (ie per step above, if making a no lid pie). Then crimp or decorate edge as desired.
• Refrigerate: Put pie crust in the freezer for 15 - 30 minutes (while oven heats up). This helps prevent shrinkage, firms up the butter again (flakiness!) and helps to ensure decorative crimped edges remain in tact.
• Baking options (Note 4) - Blind bake the pie crust if it will be baked once filled (eg Meat Pie, Pumpkin Pie). Fully bake the pie crust if it will not be baked once filled.
• Preheat oven to 200°C/390°F (180°C fan).
• Line & weigh down: Place 2 large pieces of parchment/baking paper crosswise over the pastry, then fill with baking beads or lots of rice or dried beans to weigh it down. (Note 2)
• Bake 1 covered: Bake for 15 minutes, then remove from oven.
• Bake 2 uncovered: Use excess paper to CAREFULLY remove hot beads, then return to oven for 5 minutes or until base is light golden (doesn't need to be 100% cooked though).
• Cool: Remove from oven. Cool 15 minutes in the pie tin before filling (another measure to avoid soggy base).
• Follow directions per Blind Baking steps above BUT bake at 190°C/375°F (170°C fan) covered with baking beads for 25 minutes, then 15 minutes uncovered until golden. Fully cool before filling.
• Fill and bake per directions of chosen pie filling - such as Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie, Meat Pie. The par baked pastry will not be 100% cooked, it finishes cooking with the filling. It's cooked enough so the crust will not go soggy.

NEVER, NEVER FAIL PIE PASTRY

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in lard until mixture resembles coarse meal.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together water, egg yolk, vanilla extract, and vinegar. Stir into flour mixture and knead dough briefly, just until smooth. Allow to rest 15 minutes before rolling out. Pastry is easier to work with when chilled. Can be stored in refrigerator for up to 1 week.

NO FAIL PIE CRUST I

Steps:

• Combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Cut in shortening until it resembles coarse crumbs.
• Mix egg, water, and vinegar together in a separate bowl. Pour into flour all at once and blend with a fork until dough forms into a ball. Divide into 3 equal-sized rounds.
• Wrap with plastic and chill in a refrigerator until ready to prepare.

EASY PIE CRUST

Steps:

• To make the dough for the pie crust, mix 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon each salt and sugar in a medium-size bowl. Cut 2 sticks chilled unsalted butter into pieces. With a pastry blender, cut in butter, working until mixture resembles coarse meal.
• Add 4 tablespoons ice water; work with hands until dough comes together. If dough is still crumbly, add more ice water a tablespoon at a time (up to 4 more tablespoons). Do not overwork.
• Divide dough in half, and flatten halves into disks. Wrap disks separately in plastic; refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• To form the pie shell, roll the dough on a floured surface into a 14-inch round. Wrap around rolling pin and carefully unroll over a 9-inch pie plate.
• Fit gently into bottom and side of plate. Use kitchen shears to trim dough to a 1-inch overhang; fold under, and seal to form a rim.
• Crimp rim with fingertips and knuckle. Repeat with remaining dough; wrap each with plastic, stack, and freeze.

TOURTIERE (MEAT PIE)

Steps:

• Bring potatoes to a boil in salted water. Simmer 15 minutes or until tender. Drain well and mash.
• While potatoes are cooking, brown ground beef, pork, onion, and garlic until no pink remains using a spoon to break it up. Add remaining ingredients (including mashed potatoes) except for pie crust and bread crumbs.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes or until thickened. Add 1 tablespoon of breadcrumbs to help the mixture hold together if needed. Cool for 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Line a deep-dish pie plate with crust and add filling.
• Add top crust and seal edges. Add a few slits to allow steam to escape. Brush crust with beaten egg if desired.
• Bake for 45-55 minutes or until bubbly and crust is golden.

MOST INCREDIBLE NO FAIL PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Cut together flour, shortening and salt until it resembles small peas.
• Combine the egg, water and vinegar and gradually add to flour mixture.
• Stir just until moistened and a soft dough forms.
• Divide into 2 disks.
• Wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Roll out and use with your favorite pie recipe!

NO FAIL PIE CRUST III

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together the flour and salt. Cut in the butter to pea sized chunks.
• Place the egg and vinegar in a measuring cup and add cold water to measure 1/2 cup of total liquid. Pour this into the flour mixture and mix just until the dough can be made into a large ball.
• Divide dough into four equal portions. Wrap in plastic and store in the refrigerator. Dough may be refrigerated for up to three days or frozen for up to three months.

NO FAIL PIE CRUST II

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in lard until mixture resembles coarse meal.
• In a small bowl, mix together water, egg, and vinegar. Pour into lard mixture and stir until dough is thoroughly moistened and forms a ball. Divide into 4 portions and wrap tightly. Use dough within three days or freeze.

NEVER FAIL PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Place a large sieve in a large mixing bowl.
• Into the sieve place the flour, baking powder, salt, and brown sugar.
• Sift into bowl.
• With a pastry blender, cut in the shortening until crumbly and no large bits or shortening remain.
• In a measuring cup, beat the egg, add the vinegar, and enough cold water to make one cup.
• Pour over flour mixture, a little at a time, stirring with a fork until the dough begins to stick together.
• Add more flour, if necessary, and knead a few times right in the bowl until you have a large, smooth ball.
• Pat firmly into the bowl and lightly mark off six equal portions.
• With a knife, cut through each portion.
• Pat into round balls and place in separate plastic bags.
• Dough will keep in the refrigerator for two weeks, or in the freezer for two months.

NEVER-FAIL PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Combine flour and salt in a bowl. Cut in shortening. Add milk and vinegar. Shape dough into a ball. Chill for 30 minutes. Divide dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each half to fit a 9-in. pie pan.