Shortcrust pastry contains wheat flour, butter and water. It is the “versatile” dough par excellence, which can be used equally well for pies, savory or sweet, and quiches.
The puff pastry also contains flour, butter and water, but its process of successive folding of layers of dough, between which we spread the fat (generally dry butter called “tourage” “, but also margarine or oils), gives it a flaky appearance. It is the dough for pies, king’s pancakes, pies …
Shortbread contains in addition to sugar and egg, for a more biscuit and crunchy texture. It is well suited to recipes for “semi-cooked” sweet pies, when the base of the dough is cooked before being topped with a no-bake preparation, for example whipped cream and fresh strawberries.
What to pay attention to on the label?
Especially the nature of the fat. The best, healthiest and tastiest choice: pasta with the words “pure butter”, which guarantees the exclusion of vegetable fats. Many pastes indeed use margarines made from palm oil (sometimes mixtures of palm and rapeseed oils), which are less expensive.
Some shortbread doughs can contain up to 10% sugar: not useful, especially when cooked with savory toppings. As for vinegar or lemon juice, they can be used to preserve the dough but can also leave an aftertaste. Finally, as with any industrial product, avoid additivess : emulsifiers, acidity correctors …
What is concentrated butter?
The term “pastry butter” or “concentrated butter” refers to a butter from which all the water has been extracted and which contains at least 99.8% lipids, against 82% for conventional butter. It is often used in baking because it is easier to work with. The products where it comes into play are labeled “pure butter”.
Which dough has the most calories?
Shortbread dough because of its sugar content. Then, since it is fragile, it is often rolled out less finely than shortcrust pastry or puff pastry. And in the end, for the same size, there will be more dough (and therefore calories) for a portion of shortbread pie than shortcrust or puff pastry. Then, the differences are very variable. Homemade puff pastry will tend to be fatter, but in stores you really have to compare labels. Some shortbread pastes have 335 Cal. per 100 g, others 400 Cal. On the puff pastry side, you can go from 300 to 415 Cal. Morality: compare well before buying.
Read also :
- 1 apple pie, 4 healthy versions
- 20 light recipes to make as a family
