Traditional Pie Pastry

Traditional pie pastry is extremely simple in its ingredients. The recipe calls for only flour, solid fat (butter, shortening, or lard), salt, and ice water. You can also choose to add a bit of sugar if you want a touch of sweetness in your crust. However, I prefer the contrast of a savory crust with a sweet filling.

The most important thing to keep in mind when making a pie pastry is controlling gluten development. In order to keep the crust flaky and tender, it’s important to work the dough as little as possible once the water is added.