Watercress Angel Biscuits
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast (from one 1/4-ounce envelope)
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 cup warm water (105F to 115F)
- 3 cups self-rising flour (see Know-how, page 53)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- 1/4 cup vegetable shortening
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh watercress leaves or arugula, washed and drained
- 1 cup well-shaken buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- Lightly grease a baking sheet.
- Combine the yeast and sugar in a small bowl.
- Stir in the warm water and set aside in a warm place for about 5 minutes, until the yeast froths and doubles in size.
- Meanwhile, stir together the flour and salt in a large bowl.
- Cut the butter and the shortening into the flour mixture using a pastry blender or two knives in a crosscutting motion until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
- Work quickly so the butter remains cool and doesnt melt into the flour.
- Stir in the watercress.
- Add the buttermilk to the yeast mixture and stir to combine.
- Create a well in the center of the flour-butter mixture.
- Pour the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture and stir just until the dough starts to stick together.
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface, knead several times, and form into a flat disk.
- Using a lightly floured rolling pin or your hands, roll or pat the dough 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick.
- Lightly flour a 2- to 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter and cut the biscuits, leaving as little space between each cut as possible and pressing down just once for each biscuit; do not twist the cutter.
- If the dough begins to stick to the cutter, dip the cutter in a little flour.
- Gather the excess biscuit dough, reroll once, and cut as many biscuits from it as possible.
- Preheat the oven to 425F.
- Arrange the biscuits on the prepared baking sheet and brush the tops lightly with the melted butter.
- Cover loosely with a clean cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
- Uncover and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until the biscuits rise and are golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and serve warm.
active dry yeast, sugar, warm water, flour, kosher salt, cold unsalted butter, vegetable shortening, arugula, wellshaken buttermilk, unsalted butter
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/watercress-angel-biscuits-383644 (may not work)