Grain-Free Pastry Dough

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So how many of you knew it was National Pi day? You know, Pi = 3.141592... March 14, 03/14... Anyway... I'm sure you all knew it was pi day and are looking forward to making a yummy pie for dessert tonight to celebrate because you are all super nerdy like me, right, right? Ha ha! I do love a good reason to bake and enjoy a healthy treat just like everyone else, so I came up with a grain-free pastry dough that is super versatile, you can use it for pie crust, tartlets, galettes, savory pies... the options are endless.

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One of the ways this can be so versatile is that the fat used in it can be switched up to accommodate your tastes. Two of my favorite fats to use are duck fat and beef lard. They give the pie crust such a wonderful, rich flavor... but you can use coconut oil, grass-fed butter, or ghee. 

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I have personally used this crust for a bacon butternut squash galette, chicken pot pie, apple pie, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, lemon meringue pie, lemon and goat cheese tartlets (which by the way, I will be including this recipe below!)... and on and on. So what do you think you're going to make with this pastry dough? 

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Grain-Free Pastry Dough

makes 1 pie crust

INGREDIENTS

1 cup almond flour

1/2 cup arrowroot flour

2 tbsp coconut flour

1/4 tsp. sea salt

2 tbsp. ghee, lard, grass-fed butter, or coconut oil

1 tbsp. cold water

1 egg

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a food processor, add all the dry ingredients

Pulse until well combined

Pulse in wet ingredients until a dough forms

Shape into a ball and roll out between two pieces of parchment paper. (Or press into the bottom of whatever pie, mini muffin, or tart pan you are using)

Remove the top layer of parchment paper and gently flip onto pie pan. Remove second layer of parchment paper

Fill with pie pan with pie weights

Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until slightly golden

Fill with pie filling and either chill or bake according to pie instructions.

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Here is a recipe for Lemon and Goat Cheese Tartlets. Lemon and goat cheese are probably two of my favorite things in the world on their own... and I recently saw a simple recipe that combined lemon curd with goat cheese and I could't wait to try it! They are subtly sweet and super creamy, a match made in heaven! A simple garnish of lemon zest is what is shown here but feel free to mix it up with a fresh strawberry or blueberry. They would be perfect little treats for Easter, which is coming up! I can't wait!

Lemon and Goat Cheese Tartlets

makes 1 dozen tartlets

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup of soft goat cheese

1/2 cup of lemon curd

1 recipe of grain-free pastry dough

zest of 1 lemon

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Make the grain-free pastry dough and press into tartlet molds or on the bottom of a mini muffin pan

Bake for 5-8 minutes or until golden brown

Allow to cool completely

Meanwhile, mix the goat cheese and lemon curd until completely combined, make sure there are no lumps.

Once the pastry shells are cooled, spoon about a tablespoon of the lemon cheese mixture into the shells and garnish with the lemon zest.

Refrigerate until ready to serve