Active Time

　　15 min

　　Total Time

　　1 1/4 hr

　　

Ingredients

Makes enough for a 9- to 10-inch single-crust pie

　　1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

　　1/4 teaspoon salt

　　1 stick (1/2 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

　　3 to 4 tablespoons ice water

　　

Special Equipment

a pastry or bench scraper

　　

Step 1

Whisk together flour and salt in a large bowl. Blend in butter with your fingertips or a pastry blender (or pulse in a food processor) until most of mixture resembles coarse meal with some small (roughly pea-size) butter lumps. Drizzle evenly with 3 tablespoons ice water and gently stir with a fork (or pulse in processor) until incorporated.

　　

Step 2

Squeeze a small handful: If it doesn't hold together, add more ice water, 1/2 tablespoon at a time, stirring (or pulsing) until just incorporated, then test again. (Do not overwork, or pastry will be tough.)

　　

Step 3

Turn out mixture onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 4 portions. With heel of your hand, smear each portion once or twice in a forward motion to help distribute fat. Gather dough together with scraper and press into a ball, then flatten into a 5-inch disk. Chill dough, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, until firm, at least 1 hour.

　　Cooks' note:

　　Dough can be chilled up to 1 day.