How to make puff pastry

Points to remember

• Blitz the flour and salt in a food processor and add the water. Work into a ball, cover with cling film and chill for 1 hour. This rough dough is called the detrempe.
• Soften the cold butter between two sheets of baking parchment by pressing with a rolling pin. Cut in half, lie on top of each other and repeat until pliable. Reshape into a rectangle.
• Flour your work surface, roll the pastry into a circle and put the butter in the centre. Fold the pastry sides in to cover the butter.
• Roll out a little and mark the dough into thirds. Fold the bottom third up and the top third down. Make a quarter turn, seal the edges by pressing with the rolling pin.
• Roll the dough out again and mark into thirds. Fold the bottom third up and the top third down. Seal the edges again, give the pastry a quarter turn and repeat.
• Cover with cling film and chill for 20 mins until firm and cold.
• Roll and fold four more times, chilling after two.
• Chill for an hour before using.

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