The spelling of "rough puff pastry" can be a bit confusing for non-native speakers of English. The word "rough" is pronounced as /rʌf/, with the "gh" being silent. "Puff" is pronounced as /pʌf/ and "pastry" as /ˈpeɪstri/. The word "rough" in this context refers to the texture of the pastry, which is not as smooth as traditional puff pastry. Despite its tricky spelling, rough puff pastry is a delicious base for a variety of sweet and savory dishes.
Rough puff pastry is a type of pastry that is made by creating multiple layers of dough and fat through a process of folding and rolling. It is a quicker and simpler version of classic puff pastry, often used as a versatile dough for making pies, tarts, and various pastries.
The dough for rough puff pastry is made by combining flour, salt, and chilled butter. The butter is cut into the flour until it forms small pea-sized pieces. Cold water is slowly added to bring the mixture together, and the dough is gently kneaded until it is smooth and no longer sticky. This dough is then rolled out into a rectangle on a lightly floured surface.
The next step involves creating layers of fat within the dough. Chilled butter is placed on top of the rolled-out dough in large chunks, and the dough is carefully folded to encase the butter entirely. This process is repeated several times, imparting multiple alternating layers of butter and dough that melt and create steam during baking, leading to a flaky and light texture.
Rough puff pastry is then left to rest in the refrigerator to relax the gluten and chill the fat before it is rolled out and used for various culinary applications. The resulting final product is a pastry with a crisp exterior, tender layers, and a rich, buttery flavor.