This dairy-free pastry recipe is incredibly easy to make. It is made with olive oil and no butter. So it's healthier, and there's no rubbing in required. Just mix and go!
Of course you can buy vegan butter and use a conventional recipe. But I prefer pure olive oil as I think it's less processed, with no additives. And pastry with olive oil is very easy, crisp and delicious.
What you'll love about this recipe
- Easily available ingredients
- Pastry without butter is much lower in saturated fat
- Made with healthy olive oil
- Very easy to make and handle
- This dairy free pie crust is also egg free and suitable for vegans
Ingredients
Flour. For pastry, plain or all purpose flour is better as no raising agent is needed. You can either use white flour, or try using half white and half wholemeal flour. Wholemeal flour is naturally higher in both fibre, and vitamins. You can also make flour with ground oats - see this recipe for healthy pastry which uses gluten free oats and is also dairy free.
Olive oil. I've used extra virgin olive oil for this vegan pastry, which is a little more expensive, but less processed. Olive oil has been proven to be healthy, and is a rich source of antioxidants (read more here about the proven health benefits of olive oil.)
Salt - even if you're using this dairy free pastry for a sweet recipe, it's best to add a pinch of salt as it improves the flavour of the pie crust.
How to make dairy free pastry
Add the flour and salt to a bowl. Make a dip in the middle of the flour, and add the olive oil and water.
Mix the dough with a fork. It will start to come together easily.
Use your hands to bring the dough together into a flattened ball.
This vegan pastry can then be used like any conventional shortcrust pastry. Either wrap it and chill, or roll it out immediately.
Dairy free pastry is very easy to roll out. As with other pastries, flour the board and the rolling pin well.
Transfer the pastry to your baking dish by folding it over the rolling pin. If you do end up with a tear as you are lining the dish, it's really easy to push the pastry back together.
How to use
You can use this dairy free pastry in any recipe that uses shortcrust pastry.
For an easy dairy free custard tart, make your pie crust and fill with a double quantity of this oat milk custard. Top with some pretty seasonal berries!
Expert tips
- This pastry without butter will feel a little oily when you handle it. But that will disappear completely when it is cooked.
- It's best to 'blind bake' vegan pastry before adding a moist filling (such as quiche). Just pop the pie crust in a medium hot oven for 15 minutes, then add your filling and continue as per your recipe.
- Prick the base of the pastry with a fork to stop it rising slightly. If you want, you can add baking beans, but it's not essential.
- Using a metal tart tin will give you a crisper pastry case. Although porcelain flan dishes look prettier, you are more likely to end up with a soggy bottom!
Frequently asked questions
Filo pastry is extremely low in fat and rarely contains dairy products. Most filo is therefore naturally vegan. Other pastries have a much higher proportion of fat, and this often includes butter and other animal products such as lard. However, it's possible to make most types of pastries using vegetable oils rather than animal products. However, whilst vegetable oils may sound healthier, these oils are not always sustainable, or good for you.
A traditional shortcrust pastry is made with butter. However, many supermarket brands are now using palm oils and margarine for shortcrust to keep down the costs and improve shelf life. So vegan shortcrust is widely available, but do try to have a go at making your own. It's so easy, and olive oil pastry is much better for your health.
Puff pastry is very high in fat, and in a traditionally made puff pastry recipe, butter is used. However, if you buy puff pastry from the supermarket it is often made with vegetable oil as this is cheaper and more shelf stable. However, it's not necessarily a good quality vegetable oil that will benefit your health, and it is still very high in saturated fat.
Other dairy free recipes
Why not try some dairy free porridge for breakfast? Or try some of the dairy free baking recipes below. The healthy gluten free pastry is made with GF oats for a lovely crisp slightly nutty flavoured pastry. Dairy free scones are incredibly easy to make and taste delicious.
You might also like to try these delicious dairy-free Yorkshire puddings.
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Recipe
Dairy Free Pastry
Equipment
- bowl
- Rolling Pin
Ingredients
- 160 g plain flour
- 70 ml olive oil
- 50 ml cold water
- pinch salt
Instructions
- Add the flour and salt to a bowl. Make a well in the centre of the flour, and pour in the olive oil and water.
- Stir to mix with a fork. The mixture will start to stick together.
- Bring the dough together into a flattened ball with your hands.
- Use straight away, or wrap and chill.
- Use this dairy free pastry as you would a traditional pastry to make tarts and pies.
Nutrition
Please note nutritional information is for guidance only
Margaret Gordon says
It’s my go to pastry for pie toppings and quiches. The kids love its crispiness. Adults love it too. Many + comments received xxxx
Angela Win says
This turned out great thanks.
Caroline says
I made this pastry yesterday for a quiche and it really is as easy and delicious as everyone has said. I usually make pastry in my food processor…but that didn’t work so I scraped it out and finished it by hand. It rolls out very easily too. Thank you. I will be trying more of your recipes.
Wendy Faulkner says
Hi Caroline, I'm glad you liked the recipe. That's helpful to hear your experience with a food processor. I make this pastry with olive oil by hand as it's very easy (and less washing up!).
E A Symons says
With this recipe If you wanted to increase flour to 8oz would you add another 10ml to olive oil. thanks
Wendy Faulkner says
Hi, you'd need a little more than that - for 8oz flour use 100 ml of olive oil and 70 ml water.
Alison says
I have just tried this recipe to make a quiche. It was brilliant, lovely short pasty with a super flavour. Very easy to work with.
Thank you for posting this recipe 😊
Wendy Faulkner says
A pleasure, thank you for your comment:)
Wendy says
Really easy to work with, great recipe thanks.