Classic French Puff Pastry

Ingredients

• 1 quart flour
• 1 egg white, slightly beaten
• 1 egg-sized piece butter
• salt
• cold water
• ½ pound butter, kept in ice

Method

1. 1 Sift flour into a pan and make a well in the center.
2. 2 Add beaten egg white, egg-sized butter piece, and salt to the well.
3. 3 Gradually add cold water to moisten the flour; mix rapidly by hand until smooth with no lumps.
4. 4 Let the dough rest for 15 minutes, then roll it out.
5. 5 Place the cold butter on the dough, fold the four sides over to enclose it completely.
6. 6 Chill for 30 minutes, then roll out, fold, and roll again.
7. 7 Chill for another 30 minutes, then roll out twice more before use.