Salt Crust Dough Recipes

SALT DOUGH

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients together except water together.
• Mix water in a little at a time.
• Knead dough 7-10 minutes.
• Roll out dough and cut into shapes.
• Allow to air dry or bake at 325 on a foiled cookie sheet.
• For each 1/4 inch of thickness, cook for 1/2 hour.
• Allow to cool and decorate as desired.
• Store dough in plastic bag.

SALT DOUGH

Steps:

• Mix flour and salt together in a bowl. Slowly mix water, a few tablespoons at a time, into flour mixture until dough is smooth and easy to handle. Knead dough for 10 minutes and let rest for 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• Form dough into desired shapes and arrange on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until dry and hard, about 2 hours. Allow to cool completely.

BEEF TENDERLOIN IN SALT CRUST

Steps:

• Place the flour, salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl. In another bowl, whisk the egg whites and water and add to the dry ingredients along with 2 tablespoons of the herbs. Combine with a potato masher until the mixture begins to come together. Then knead with your hands for 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a large zip-top bag, seal, and let stand at room temperature for 4 hours, or up to 24 hours.
• Transfer dough to a floured surface and roll out to 3/16-inch thickness, approximately a 24 by 18-inch rectangle. Trim away extra dough, if necessary. Sprinkle the remaining herbs on the center section of the dough and gently press down.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In order to achieve uniform cooking, fold over slender tail end of tenderloin and tie with kitchen twine. Set a large electric griddle at its highest setting; brush the tenderloin with the olive oil and sear on all sides until well browned, approximately 10 minutes. Rest the meat for at least 5 minutes or until it is cool to the touch so as not to melt the dough.
• Place the tenderloin in the center of the dough. Fold top part of dough over, flipping back about 1-inch of dough onto itself. Repeat with the bottom half of the dough. Press together the 2 flaps of dough and seal. Make sure the dough is not too tight around the tenderloin. At the ends of the tenderloin, press together dough to form a seal and cut away any excess. Transfer to a sheet pan, place in the oven and roast to an internal temperature of 125 degrees F, approximately 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 30 minutes or up to 1 hour. The tenderloin will continue to cook 10 to 15 degrees more. Cut salt crust at 1 end and extract meat by pulling out of dough tube. Slice and serve immediately.

BUTTERCRUST PASTRY DOUGH

Steps:

• Place blade insert into bowl of food processor. Add 1 cup flour. Sprinkle frozen butter cubes over flour. Add remaining 1 cup flour, sugar, and salt. Cover. Pulse in short bursts on and off until butter is broken into small pieces and looks crumbly, about 1 minute. Drizzle in ice water. Pulse with longer pulses, on and off, until mixture turns pale yellow and looks like crumbs, about 10 to 12 seconds. Scrape down sides with spatula. Pulse once or twice more.
• Transfer mixture onto a work surface. Bring pieces together to form a tight round ball of dough. Flatten slightly and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight before rolling out.

BEEF TENDERLOIN ROASTED IN AN HERB-INFUSED SALT CRUST

Steps:

• At least 3 1/2 hours before serving, prepare the salt crust in the bowl.
• of a heavy-duty electric mixer fitted with a paddle, combine the salt and.
• herbs and mix to blend,add the egg whites and 2/3 cup water, and mix.
• until thoroughly blended, add 2 cups of the flour, a little at a time, and.
• knead until the mixture forms a firm, homogeneous dough, 2 to 3 minutes (You may not need all of the flour) The dough should be firm, not too.
• moist or sticky, or the beef will steam, not roast- if necessary, knead in additional flour or water for a firm dough, Cover with plastic wrap and.
• let rest at room temperature for a minimum of 2 hours, or up to 24 hours.
• (This resting period will make the dough less sticky and easier to roll out.).
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Prepare the beef: Pat the meat dry with paper towels (Do not salt the.
• meat at this point, or flavorful juices will be drawn from the meat and it.
• will not brown evenly) in a large skillet, combine the butter and oil over moderately high heat, when hot, add the beef and sear well on all sides.
• 2 to 3 minutes per side. Place a salad plate upside down on a large platter,.
• transfer the seared beef to rest on the salad plate, placing it at an angle.
• this will allow air to circulate evenly around the beef as it continues to.
• cook while resting, making for meat that is evenly cooked and tender.
• let rest for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, on a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to form a.
• 10- x 15-inch rectangle, or one large enough to easily enclose the beef.
• without stretching the dough.
• In a small bowl, combine the egg yolk and 1/2 teaspoon water to make.
• a glaze. Set aside.
• Sprinkle the beef with the thyme. Completely wrap the beef in the salt crust, pressing all the seams together. Be sure that all the seams are well sealed.) Wrap the beef just before roasting. If you wrap it in advance,.
• the meat and the salt crust will turn soggy.) Transfer the wrapped beef.
• to a baking sheet. With a brush, coat the entire surface of the crust.
• with the glaze. Sprinkle the crust with the sea salt.
• Place the baking sheet in the center of the oven and roast for 15 minutes per pound for rare meat (or until the interior registers 125 degrees F when measured with a meat thermometer). For medium rare, roast an additional.
• 3 to 4 minutes per pound. The crust should be a light, golden brown. Let.
• the beef rest in the crust on the baking sheet at room temperature for 1.
• hour before serving. (The beef will remain warm.).
• To serve, slice off the crust at one end, remove the beef, and discard.
• the crust. Season the beef with pepper. Cut on the diagonal into thick.
• slices and arrange on a warmed serving platter. Serve immediately.
• Testing for Doneness.
• There are many ways to test meat for doneness. For beef, insert an instant-.
• reading meat thermometer into the center of the meat, away from the bones,.and leave it there for 30 seconds. Remove the thermometer to check the interior temperature of the meat: 140 degrees F for rare, 150 degrees F for medium-rare,160 degrees F for medium, 170 degrees F for well done. If you do not have a meat thermometer, do as many chefs do: Place a metal skewer into the thickest part.of the meat and wait 30 seconds. Remove the skewer and touch it to your bottom.lip. If the skewer is cold, the meat is underdone; if the skewer is warm, the meat.is rare; if the skewer is hot, the meat is well done.

SHORT CRUST DOUGH

Steps:

• In the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix flour, sugar, and salt on medium-low speed to combine. Add butter, and continue mixing until coarse crumbs form. Add egg yolk; mix just until dough comes together. Roll dough out, about 1/8 inch thick, between two layers of parchment paper. Chill until firm, about 1 hour.

SALT-CRUST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat an horno or home oven (with the rack positioned in the lower third of the oven) to approximately 500°F.
• Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Put the thyme, garlic, and bay leaves in the cavity and truss with kitchen twine.
• Empty the salt into the sink (or a large basin or bucket if working outdoors). Pour 2 cups of water over the salt and, using your hands, toss to combine. Add more water as needed, a cup or two at a time, tossing until the mixture has the consistency of damp snow.
• Make a 1-inch-deep bed of salt in a roasting pan and tamp it down. Place the chicken in the center. Stick the probe of a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh. Cover the chicken completely with the remaining salt, tamping it down so that it is completely encased.
• Transfer the chicken to the oven and roast for 35 to 40 minutes; the internal temperature of the thigh should read 175°F. Spread newspapers on the counter next to the sink. Remove the pan from the oven, place on the newspaper, and let rest for 10 minutes (the internal temperature will rise to about 185°F).
• Crack the salt crust with a rolling pin or mallet, lift off the pieces, and discard them. With a pastry brush, brush the remaining salt away from the chicken. Carefully pull off the skin from the breasts and legs. Slice off the breasts from the bone and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Slice the meat from the legs and thighs.
• Arrange the meat on a warm platter and spoon the salsa over the chicken.

BEEF TENDERLOIN WITH HERB SALT CRUST

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine 2 cups salt with 3 tablespoons thyme and 3 tablespoons rosemary. Add egg whites and 2/3 cup water; mix until thoroughly combined. A little at a time, add up to 2 cups flour, beating on medium speed, until mixture forms a firm, homogenous dough, 2 to 3 minutes. The dough should be firm but not too moist or sticky. If necessary, knead in additional flour or water. Form dough into a square; wrap in plastic. Let rest at room temperature at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Rinse tenderloin, and pat dry. Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. When skillet is hot, add beef. Sear well on all sides, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Transfer tenderloin to a wire rack set over a baking pan to cool, 5 minutes.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to an approximately 10-by-15-inch rectangle (rectangle should be large enough to completely encase tenderloin). Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup thyme, 1/4 cup rosemary, the sage, bay leaves, parsley, and garlic over dough. Remove twine from tenderloin, and place it in the center of the dough. Roll dough around beef, completely encasing it. Press edges together to seal. Carefully transfer wrapped beef to a roasting pan. In a small bowl, mix egg yolks with 2 teaspoons water; brush entire surface of dough with egg wash. Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons salt over the top.
• Place baking pan in center of oven. Roast until crust is light golden and an instant-read thermometer inserted into center registers 125 degrees to 130 degrees (for medium-rare), allowing 10 to 12 minutes per pound. Remove pan from oven; let rest at room temperature 1 hour.
• When ready to serve, slice off the crust at one end, and remove beef; discard crust. Season beef with pepper, slice, and serve.