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Brazilian recipe

Crispy Homemade Pastry Dough (Massa de pastel)

Learn how to craft a light, crisp, and golden dough right in your own kitchen. This simple recipe yields a thin, versatile pastry perfect for all your favorite fillings.

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30 min preparation 10 min cooking 6 portions 1207 product views
Crispy Homemade Pastry Dough (Massa de pastel)

Ingredients

1 tbsp salt
200ml warm water
Filling of your choice, prepared and cooled
2 tbsp vegetable oil or melted lard
1 tbsp white vinegar
500g all-purpose flour

Where to find ingredients

You can find all-purpose flour and basic pantry staples at local markets or major supermarkets in Guyana. For the best texture, ensure your flour is fresh. If you choose to use lard instead of oil, it can usually be found at the butcher counter or in the fats/oils aisle of larger grocery stores.

Preparation method

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and the salt.
  2. Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the oil (or lard) and the vinegar.
  3. Gradually pour in the warm water while incorporating the ingredients with your hands until the dough begins to pull away from your fingers.
  4. Transfer the dough to a smooth surface and knead vigorously until it achieves a soft, homogenous texture.
  5. Adjust the consistency if necessary: add a few drops of water if the dough feels too stiff, or a dusting of flour if it remains sticky.
  6. Cover the dough with a clean kitchen cloth and let it rest for 20 minutes.
  7. Roll the dough out with a rolling pin until it is very thin.
  8. Cut the dough into your desired shapes and sizes.
  9. Place a portion of your chosen filling in the center of the pastry, then fold and press the edges firmly to seal.
  10. Deep-fry the pastéis in hot oil until they are golden brown.
  11. Drain any excess oil on paper towels and serve immediately.

Observations

This pastry dough is a staple of Brazilian street food culture, celebrated for its signature crunch and the simplicity of its preparation. The secret to achieving professional results lies in kneading the dough until it becomes perfectly smooth and rolling it out thin. Following these steps ensures your fried pastries come out beautifully golden and crisp, without absorbing excess oil during the frying process.
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Preparation method

Step-by-step images

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and the salt.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and the salt.
Step 2

Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the oil (or lard) and the vinegar.

Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the oil (or lard) and the vinegar.
Step 3

Gradually pour in the warm water while incorporating the ingredients with your hands until the dough begins to pull away from your fingers.

Gradually pour in the warm water while incorporating the ingredients with your hands until the dough begins to pull away from your fingers.
Step 4

Transfer the dough to a smooth surface and knead vigorously until it achieves a soft, homogenous texture.

Transfer the dough to a smooth surface and knead vigorously until it achieves a soft, homogenous texture.
Step 5

Adjust the consistency if necessary: add a few drops of water if the dough feels too stiff, or a dusting of flour if it remains sticky.

Adjust the consistency if necessary: add a few drops of water if the dough feels too stiff, or a dusting of flour if it remains sticky.
Step 6

Cover the dough with a clean kitchen cloth and let it rest for 20 minutes.

Cover the dough with a clean kitchen cloth and let it rest for 20 minutes.
Step 7

Roll the dough out with a rolling pin until it is very thin.

Roll the dough out with a rolling pin until it is very thin.
Step 8

Cut the dough into your desired shapes and sizes.

Cut the dough into your desired shapes and sizes.
Step 9

Place a portion of your chosen filling in the center of the pastry, then fold and press the edges firmly to seal.

Place a portion of your chosen filling in the center of the pastry, then fold and press the edges firmly to seal.
Step 10

Deep-fry the pastéis in hot oil until they are golden brown.

Deep-fry the pastéis in hot oil until they are golden brown.
Step 11

Drain any excess oil on paper towels and serve immediately.

Drain any excess oil on paper towels and serve immediately.
Final result

Crispy Homemade Pastry Dough (Massa de pastel)

Crispy Homemade Pastry Dough (Massa de pastel)

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