Galette Dough

Note: This is a basic pie crust recipe, with the dough worked a bit more to strengthen it. The cider vinegar is used to help “shorten” the crust, improving the texture. Though you might smell the vinegar as you roll out the crust, you should not taste or smell it in the finished galette. Recipe from Noelle Carter.

• 21/4 cups flour
• Generous 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 cup cold shortening
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 21/4 teaspoons cider vinegar
• 4 to 6 tablespoons ice water, more if needed

To make the dough using a food processor, pulse together the flour, salt and sugar until thoroughly combined. Add the shortening and pulse until incorporated (the dough will look like moist sand). Add the butter and pulse just until the butter is reduced to pea-sized pieces. Sprinkle the vinegar and water over the mixture, and pulse a few times to form the dough. Remove the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead a few times until it comes together in a single mass. Mold the dough into a disk roughly 6 to 8 inches in diameter. Cover the disk tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.

Alternatively, to make the dough by hand, whisk together the flour, salt and sugar in a large bowl. Add the shortening and incorporate using a pastry cutter or fork (the dough will look like moist sand). Cut in the butter just until it is reduced to pea-sized pieces. Sprinkle the vinegar and water over the mixture, and stir together until the ingredients are combined to form a dough. Remove the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead a few times until it comes together in a single mass. Mold the dough into a disk roughly 6 to 8 inches in diameter. Cover the disk tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.

Makes 1 (9- to 10-inch) galette, or 8 servings.

Per serving: 289 calories; 18 g fat (9 g saturated fat; 56 percent calories from fat); 28 g carbohydrates; 31 mg cholesterol; 293 mg sodium; 4 g protein; 1 g fiber.