Olive Oil Pastry Food

ITALIAN OLIVE OIL SHORTCRUST PASTRY (DAIRY-FREE)

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the sugar, a pinch of salt, the oil, the whole egg and the yolk, and lemon zest. Stir with a fork, gradually add 2/3 of the flour and the baking powder until the dough begins to form.
• Transfer the dough onto a work surface and continue to add the remaning flour, whilst working the dough with your hands until you have a smooth even dough (you might need a little less than 280 g). Use the dough straight away, or flatten the dough into a thick disc (it will make it easier to roll after), cover with cling film and chill for 30 min.
• Use this dairy-free shortcrust pastry as you would use the traditional one, to make tarts, cookies, or pies.

WHOLE WHEAT YEASTED OLIVE OIL PASTRY

Steps:

• Dissolve the yeast in 1/2 cup lukewarm water, add the sugar, and allow to sit until the mixture is creamy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the egg and the olive oil. Combine the flours and salt, and stir into the yeast mixture. You can use a bowl and wooden spoon for this, or a mixer - combine the ingredients using the paddle. Work the dough until it comes together in a coherent mass, adding flour as necessary. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead gently for a few minutes, adding flour as necessary, just until the dough is smooth - do not overwork it. Shape into a ball. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap, and allow to rise in a draft-free spot until doubled in size, about one hour.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, gently knead a couple of times, and cut into two equal pieces (or as directed in each of this week's recipes). Shape each piece into a ball without kneading it. Cover the dough loosely with plastic wrap, and let rest for five minutes. Then roll out into thin rounds, as directed in each recipe, and line pans. If not using right away, freeze the dough to prevent it from rising and becoming too bready. The dough can be transferred directly from the freezer to the oven.

PERFECT OIL PASTRY

Steps:

• Measure the flour carefully and put it in a medium-sized bowl. Add the dash of salt and stir it with a fork.
• Pour the oil in and stir and "cut" it with a fork until you've got clumps varying between pea-sized and lima bean-sized.
• Distribute the cold water over the mixture and stir and mash with the fork just until it all balls together.
• Wipe your countertop with a damp cloth and spread a piece of wax paper on it. The paper should not slide -- if it does, dampen the counter a LITTLE more.
• Form a little more than half of the dough into a disk and place it on the wax paper. Cover it with another piece of wax paper.
• Roll the dough with a rolling pin from the center out in all directions, keeping it as circular as possible.
• Periodically do the following:.
• peel off the top piece of wax paper, then lay it gently back on top of the crust.
• using the bottom piece to lift it, turn the crust over, peel off that piece of wax paper, lay it back down again and continue rolling.
• Continue the peel-replace-flip-peel-replace technique until your crust is about two inches bigger than your pie pan. IMPORTANT: Peel-replace-flip-peel -- then use the bottom piece of paper to lift the crust and place it over your pie pan. Gently peel off the wax paper.
• Use the same technique to roll the top crust.
• As you prefer, you can leave the top crust whole, cut it into strips for lattice, or whatever.
• OPTIONAL: Brush the top crust with milk and/or sprinkle it with sugar.
• Bake according to your pie directions.
• BON APPETIT!

YEASTED OLIVE OIL PASTRY

Steps:

• Dissolve the yeast in the water, add the sugar, and allow to sit until creamy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the egg and olive oil. Combine the flour and salt, and stir into the yeast mixture. Work the dough until it comes together in a coherent mass, adding flour as necessary. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for a few minutes, adding flour as necessary, until the dough is smooth; do not overwork. Shape into a ball. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and allow the dough to rise in a draft-free spot until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, gently knead a couple of times. For a galette, use all of the dough in one piece, for a double pie crust, cut into two pieces. Shape each piece into a ball and cover the dough loosely with plastic wrap. Let sit for 5 minutes. Then roll out into thin rounds, as directed in the recipe or use to line oiled pans. If not using right away, freeze the dough to prevent it from rising and becoming too bready. The dough can be transferred directly from the freezer to the oven.

BESAN (CHICKPEA FLOUR) PASTRY

Steps:

• Whizz the flour and salt together in a food processor.
• With the motor running, add the olive oil and process until the mixture resembles bread crumbs.
• Add just enough water to form a malleable, slightly sticky dough.
• Roll out the pastry as needed on a floured board, or between two pieces of cling wrap.
• To bake a bind (before adding a filling): prick all over the pastry with a fork, cover the pastry with a layer of foil and place either pastry weights or some dry beans or rice on the foil. Bake at 180C for 15 minutes, remove from oven, take off the foil and leave to cool, before proceeding with the filling of your choice.

SYRIAN OLIVE PASTRIES

Steps:

• Olive Oil Pastry.
• Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl and make a well in the centre. Pour oil and orange juice into the well, then mix to form a smooth, satiny dough. Cover dough with plastic wrap and leave to rest for 30 minutes while preparing the filling. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
• For the olive filling.
• Combine all the filling ingredients in a bowl and mix well, then divide in half.
• For the egg-yolk glaze.
• Divide the rested dough into 2 equal portions then roll out each portion into a rectangle measuring 20cm x 24cm. Scatter each rectangle with half of the olive mixture to evenly cover pastry. Roll up to form a log. Transfer the logs to a baking tray pre-lined with non-stick baking paper and lightly brush each roll with the egg-yolk glaze. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire rack to cool. Once cold, slice into 1cm-thick rounds and serve. Makes 36.

WHOLE WHEAT OLIVE OIL PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Place olive oil in the freezer until it solidifies and is of a consistency similar to thick honey. (I checked it every 30 minutes or so. I'm not sure how long it took. Probably 3 or 4 hours.).
• Once the olive oil solidifies place flour, salt and baking powder into a food processor and pulse a few times to mix. Add remaining ingredients and pulse until a dough ball forms. Place ball in an air tight container or plastic wrap and put in the fridge for an hour or so to chill. (I left it overnight).
• Roll ball out until 1/8 inch thick and put into a pie plate. Use as you would a regular pie crust. I prebaked it before adding the quiche filling.