James Martin Sweet Shortcrust Pastry Food

SWEET SHORTCRUST PASTRY

Steps:

• Put 150g plain flour and 75g unsalted butter in a bowl and rub together with your fingertips until it resembles breadcrumbs.
• Mix in 50g icing sugar and a pinch of salt followed by 1 egg yolk. If the pastry feels too dry to form a dough, add 1 tbsp water. Shape the dough into a ball, flatten it out into a disc, wrap it in cling film, then chill for at least 30 mins before using in your recipes. You could try using it to make our apple & blackberry pies.

OLD-FASHIONED SWEET SHORTCRUST PASTRY

Steps:

• Sift the flour from a height onto a clean work surface and sift the icing sugar over the top. Using your hands, work the cubes of butter into the flour and sugar by rubbing your thumbs against your fingers until you end up with a fine, crumbly mixture. This is the point where you can spike the mixture with interesting flavors, so mix in your lemon zest. Add the eggs and milk to the mixture and gently work it together until you have a ball of dough. Flour it lightly. Don't work the pastry too much at this stage or it will become elastic and chewy, not crumbly and short. Flour your work surface and place the dough on top. Pat it into a flat round, flour it lightly, wrap it in plastic wrap and put it into the refrigerator to rest for at least half an hour.

BASIC SHORTCRUST PASTRY

Steps:

• Sift 225g plain flour into a large bowl, add 100g diced butter and rub in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Stir in a pinch of salt, then add 2-3 tbsp water and mix to a firm dough.
• Knead the dough briefly and gently on a floured surface.
• Wrap in cling film and chill while preparing the filling.

JAMES MARTIN'S DOUBLE RASPBERRY BAKEWELL TART

Steps:

• Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured work surface. Use the pastry to line a 23cm loose-bottomed tart tin (see step-by-step). Cover with cling film and leave in the fridge to rest for 1 hr.
• Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. To make the filling, put the butter, sugar and lemon juice in a food processor, then blend until light and fluffy. With the machine running at full speed, add the eggs and almond extract, and whizz until combined to a smooth paste. Fold in the breadcrumbs and ground almonds by hand.
• Take the tart case from the fridge, line with baking parchment and baking beans and place on a baking tray. Bake for 20 mins until the sides are set and the pastry is sandy. Carefully remove the beans and the parchment and place tart case back in the oven for 10 mins until the base is biscuity.
• Remove from the oven and spread the jam over the base, then top with the almond filling. Return the tart to the oven for a further 25 mins until the almond layer is cooked. Leave to cool in the tin.
• Remove the tart from the tin and place on a serving plate. Mix the icing sugar with 4-5 tbsp water to make a thick icing. Flood the top of the tart with the icing, keeping 1 tbsp aside, then arrange the raspberries on top, all pointing upwards. Drizzle with the remaining icing and scatter with flaked almonds. Leave for 10 mins so the icing can set a little, before serving.