Highlights
1. Filo pastry, also known as phyllo, is a very thin and unleavened pastry made into sheets and is wrapped around a filling before baking.
2. Puff pastry is made with unleavened flour and has several layers that expand to form a puff during baking. It is always light and tender to touch.
3. Flaky pastry is unleavened and light and crisp, similar to puff pastry, but has the addition of shortening in lumps during its making process.
Introduction
Pastry is a popular baked item made from flour, butter, eggs, cream, and milk. There are subcategories of pastries including flaky, puff, and filo. While these pastries have similarities, there are differences that will be discussed in this article.
Filo Pastry
Filo pastry, also known as phyllo, is a very thin pastry made into sheets. The sheets are wrapped around a filling and brushed with butter before baking. This type of pastry is made with unleavened flour.
Puff Pastry
Puff pastry is made with unleavened flour and has several layers that expand during baking, creating a puff. The dough is made with flour, butter, salt, and water. Puff pastries are always light and tender.
Flaky Pastry
Flaky pastry is unleavened, light, and crisp. It has multiple layers like puff pastry, but with the addition of lumps of shortening rather than a large amount of shortening.
Summary
Pastry is a dough used to make baked products, and there are many subcategories with minor differences in the making process. Filo pastry is thin with layers, puff pastry expands to form a puff, and flaky pastry has lumps of shortening added.
