Leaf lard is the fat that surrounds the pig’s kidneys. It is of very high quality and, when rendered, makes some of the best tasting and flakiest crusts ever!
Don’t let the name lard put you off. It is lower in saturated fat and cholesterol than butter.
I was introduced to leaf lard when I was given a one pound container some years ago.
The creamy white substance looked similar to store bought shortening my grandma used in liberal amounts. She was the pie-baker in the family but went to her grave with her crust recipe!
I’d always heard lard makes the best crusts. Searching it out, all I could find was the boxed stuff in the grocery store international section and wondered if there might be another option.
The gift of this little tub was a great opportunity to learn and I got right to work experimenting. I made crust after crust, trying to get the right ratio of butter and lard to create a pie crust that is
flavorful
light
flaky
and easy to work with.
The Great Pie Crust Quest took over two years of work. Friends were ever-willing testers, offering feedback, suggestions and encouragement, every step of the way.
Some days I made four versions of crust to try, tweaking amounts of butter, leaf lard, water, not to mention flour, a whole subject in itself.
Others have discovered this old-fashioned ingredient, too. Lorna Yee (Seattle Magazine and Cookbook Chronicles) calls it her “porcine secret”. Ashley Rodriguez has a short video about rendering your own on her blog, notwithoutsalt in which she demonstrates one method to make your own. And, I spent a lovely afternoon with Shauna (Gluten Free Girl) and Danny Ahern (pork, knife & spoon) testing out some gluten-free crust recipes made with leaf lard.
A few months back, I started rendering my own. It’s quite easy to do.
Give it a try!
An Update (Aug 25, 2011) :
I’ve been asked about how much leaf lard do I use. I go through about 50 pounds of leaf lard in my workshops each month. If you buy it already rendered, you can store it in your freezer for one year and atleast six months in the fridge.
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Many years ago I would buy kidneys, and the butcher would just throw in the surrounding suet and fat. {It would have gone for animal feed} I would grate the suet to make dumplings then render the fat down for my pastry. Over the years I have been seduced by all this fancy advertising that we are bombarded with,and of course my cooking {and health} have paid the price. As of today, I’m back on track, thank you for the nudge. Maureen.
Thanks for checking in Maureen. It’s great that you are back using the old ways again. Some things just can’t be improved.
Hi, Where do you buy your leaf lard it is very hard to find. Judy
Hi Judy- Thanks for checking in. Have you tried your local artisan butchers and farmers markets? You can also do a web search and find places that will sell and send to you. Dietrich’s Meats is one. What part of the country are you located in?
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i have been in Gluten Free diet because i have a chronic food allergy.`”~
Hi Albert! Oh how I would love to attend a King Arthur Pie Class. They are coming to my neck of the woods in the Fall when they take their baking show on the road. It’s on my calendar! I’m looking forward to meeting the fine KA bakers.
Now to answer your question. The recipe is out there on the web. If you type in my name and pie crust you’ll probably find it!
Please check back in and let us know how the KA class is!
I have been trying to make a crut for pies and am not having much luck, I have enrolled in a pie crust class at King arthur flour in Norwich Vermont but have hear how good leaf lard is and after reading what you have above was wondering if you have ever revealed your recipe for the pie crust using leaf lard. If so can you tell me how to find it. Thank You. Al
me and my sister are both allergic to Gluten and we were always on a gluten-free diet ever since we were teenagers. |
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I live in Magnolia and am thrilled to know you are in the neighborhood. I hope to take one of your classes in the near future. I am intriqued to try the rendered leaf lard. I know that when Shauna first started the gluten-free diet she consulted and recommended my book in the process. I look forward to meeting her someday too. She is such a great writer and has done much to lift those on the gluten-free diet out of the doldrums with her wit and wonderful view on life. Right now the fat in my gluten-free pie crust recipe consists of butter–I have experimented with lard in the recipe without good results. I hope to learn more, thank you. Karen
Are you willing to share your favorite pie crust recipe with lard? I’d love to try this!
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