Our step by step pictures lead you through the process
to make it all so simple.
KEY POINTS
Preparation Time:
Cooking Time:
How Difficult
Easy
Freeze?
No
Servings
12 Rolls
SHORT CRUST PASTRY INGREDIENTS The basic ingredients for the Shortcrust pastry are twice the amount
of flour to fat. The recipe below will be enough to make 12 mince pies with a
bit left over for error.
Metric
Imperial
55g Cooking margarine (e.g.
Stork)
2oz Cooking margarine (e.g.
Stork)
55g refined cooking fat
/ lard (e.g. Cookeen)
2oz refined cooking fat
(e.g. Cookeen)
220g Plain flour
8oz Plain flour
NOTES
In our recipe we have used Cooking margarine and cooking fat / lard. It
is quite possible to simply use Cooking margarine or a mix of butter and
fat / lard. We have found our mixture produces the best shortcrust
pastry. Whatever is used the proportions of fat to flour should be
maintained - twice the weight of flour to that of the fat.
The only other ingredients required are 250g (10 oz) of sausage meat and a splash of milk.
WHAT SPECIAL KITCHEN EQUIPMENT
A baking tin for 12 pies (see pictures below for an example)
A rolling pin.
A brush (see pictures below) to coat the pastry edges with milk - not
absolutely necessary.
Add the
margarine and cooking fat to a large bowl (cut into lumps) and sieve in
the flour. Do this from as high as possible to incorporate air into
the flour as it falls.
Incorporating air into the mixture will give you
a lighter and better shortcrust pastry.
Gently rub the flour, and
margarine / lard together with your hands lifting them and letting the mix
drop back into the bowl. This will help more air into the mixture.
The mixture should end up as small crumbs although some larger bits may
be present. Don't overdo this stage, it should only take two or three
minutes.
Add 3 tablespoons of water
to the mix and 'cut' the mixture together for a minute or so. Then use
your hands to gently blend the mix together even further. If it won't hold
together add another half tablespoon of water.
The mix is of the
correct consistency when it is in a ball and can collect all the odd bits
around the bowl into one single ball.
Wrap the mix in cling film and place it in the fridge for 30 minutes to
'rest'. After it has rested for 30 minutes it is ready to be rolled out.
Turn the oven on, setting it to 200°C / 400°F / Gas 6.
Divide the pastry mix into three roughly equal parts. Dust the work surface
liberally with flour to prevent the pastry sticking to the surface.
With your
hands, roll one portion of the pastry into a tube shape about 30cm (just over
one foot long). Do the same with the other two portions.
Divide the sausage meat into three roughly equal portions.
With your hands, roll one portion of the sausage meat into a tube shape about
25cm (one foot long). Do the same with the other two portions.
Place each strip of sausage roll on a strip of pastry. The pastry should
be just a bit longer than the sausage meat. Brush some milk along the
edges of the pastry
If you don't have a brush just dip your fingers in the milk and
run them round the edges. The purpose of this is to help the edges and
ends stick
together.
Roll the pastry round the sausage once. Trim the pastry as shown in the picture.
Note that we have left a flat bit of pastry attached. Now roll the rube onto the
flat bit so that no seam is visible from the top.
This will also stop the meat oozing out from the pastry.
Use a knife to cut each of the strips of sausage roll into the length you
prefer. We cut each of ours into three.
Use a knife to cut a few small ridges
in the top of each sausage roll, this makes them look more attractive when
cooked. Brush the top of the sausage rolls with a little milk to give the a
golden brown colour when cooked.
Lightly grease the baking tray, place the sausage rolls on it and put it in the
middle of a pre-heated oven (200°C / 400°F / Gas 6) for 25 minutes or until the
pastry is light golden brown.
Do not open the door until at least 20 minutes has passed.
Sausage rolls can be eaten hot or cold. They reheat very well either in a
conventional oven or a microwave.