A North East Scotland Delicacy Rowies Or Butteries Recipes

A NORTH EAST SCOTLAND DELICACY - ROWIES OR BUTTERIES

Steps:

• First mix the sugar, half the water and the yeast together in a bowl and set aside for the yeast to activate. Sieve the flour and salt into a bowl and then add the yeast. Mix together, adding more water if required to make a smooth dough then kneed for about 5 mins. Place the dough back in the bowl, cover and leave to rise until it has doubled in size, approx 1 hour.
• Kneed the dough again and roll it out on a floured surface. Cream the butter and the lard together and then spread a third of it over the dough and sprinkle with flour. Fold the dough into three, roll it out again, spread another third of the fat mixture and then repeat once more.
• Roll the dough quite thinly and cut into 16 equal sized squares. Shape each square into a flattened round, but be careful not to over handle the dough. Place the rounds on a baking tray and leave to rise for approx 40mins.
• Bake the rolls at 450F (230C) for about 15-20 minutes until crispy and golden.
• Serve hot or cold with lashings of butter and / or raspberry jam.

ABERDEEN BUTTERIES RECIPE (ALSO KNOWN AS ROWIES)

Steps:

• Mix the yeast, sugar, and water, and set aside.
• In a large bowl mix the flour and salt.
• Slowly add the liquid and use a fork to bring it together.
• Once combined turn out onto a floured work surface and knead until it is elastic and smooth. You might need to sprinkle more flour over to knead in if the mixture is too wet and sticking.
• Form into a ball, place into a large bowl, score the top with an X, cover in clingfilm and put in a warm place for about an hour to allow it to expand in size (this is called proving).
• Measure out your butter and lard and cut into small pieces in a bowl to allow it to come to room temperature if it isn't already.
• After the dough is proved return to a lightly floured work surface and knead very gently before rolling out to a rectangle shape that is about 2/4 of an inch thick. Have the short edge facing you.
• Beat the butter and lard together with a wooden spoon so it's smooth and roughly split into 3 in the bowl.
• Using your hands, smear one-third of the butter and lard mixture over the lower two-thirds of your rectangle. Fold the top half (without the mixture) over onto the middle third, and then the bottom third up on top of that.
• Wait approximately half an hour and repeat the process again, but roll the dough the opposite way to how you have folded it.
• Wait another half hour and repeat for the last time, turning the dough again to roll the opposite way. You are basically creating layers in the pastry with the butter/lard mixture in between.
• Roll the dough out to about 3/4 of an inch thick and divide into around 15 pieces which you can then gently shape into rounds. Put these on a lightly floured baking tray (or two) and cover with a large plastic bag or lose cling film, and then allow to prove for a further 30 minutes. You'll want to space the rounds out to allow them to expand.
• Meanwhile preheat the oven to 200C/400F and when the butteries have finished proving place them into the oven for 15-20 minutes. Keep a close eye on them from the 15-minute mark! They should turn golden brown.
• Remove from the oven and move to a rack with a plate or paper towels underneath so they're not sitting in the fat on the tray.
• Allow to cool slightly before eating, or save for later! Serve with jam, or if you dare, even more butter!

BUTTERIES AKA ROWIES

Steps:

• 1. These are yeast rolls and, just like yeast breads, ought to be made under warm conditions to allow the yeast to raise the dough.
• 2. Sieve the flour and salt into a large bowl and set aside. Cream the fresh yeast, sugar and a little of the tepid water together and add to the bowl of flour. Mix the ingredients together with enough water to make smooth firm dough. Transfer the dough to a well-floured surface and knead well for about five minutes.
• 3. Place the dough back into the bowl, cover with a warm slightly damp cloth and set aside in a warm place for about an hour to allow the yeast do its work of expanding the dough to about double its original size.
• 4. While the dough is rising cream together the butter and lard in readiness for the next step.
• 5. When the dough has risen, knead it again and then roll it out on a floured surface. Then spread it with a third of the butter/lard mixture and sprinkle lightly with flour. Fold the dough in three and roll it out again.
• 6. Repeat this procedure two more times. Roll out the dough quite thinly and cut into squares.
• 7. Bring the four corners of each square to the centre, shape them into rounds and flatten slightly with hand- do not over handle the dough. Place the uncooked rolls onto a floured and warm baking tray and leave them in a warm place to rise for about half an hour to 40 minutes.
• 8. Bake the rolls in a hot oven at 400F for about 15-20 minutes until golden brown and crispy on both sides.
• 9. Rolls can be made in a large batch and subsequently frozen for later use. If defrosting frozen rolls in a microwave oven, do not overheat otherwise the rolls will become limp and the fat content will become over-heated and sizzle. Butteries can be eaten dry (without anything spread on them), spread with butter (just in case you really hanker after an early coronary, even if the rolls do then taste splendid) or spread with jam or honey etc.