Ingredients

  • 270 g/9 1/2 oz/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 14 g/ 1/2 oz/4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 g/<1/8 oz/ 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 4 g/ 1/8 oz/ 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 42 g/1 1/2 oz/3 tablespoons unsalted butter, frozen
  • 14 g/ 1/2 oz/1 tablespoon lard, chilled
  • 227 g/8 oz/1 cup buttermilk, chilled
  • 128 g/4 1/2 oz/ 1/2 cup pesto, prepared or homemade
  • Flour for rolling out the dough
  • Digital scale
  • Dry measuring cups
  • Wet measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Food processor
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Box grater
  • Rubber or silicone spatula
  • Wax paper or parchment
  • Rolling pin
  • Bench scraper
  • 2-inch round biscuit cutter
  • Baking sheet
  • Clean kitchen towel
  • Bread basket

Method

  • Place an oven rack in position C (second position from the top) and preheat the oven to 450F.
  • Assemble the dough via the Biscuit Method.
  • Combine the buttermilk and pesto before adding to the flour/fat mixture.
  • The Biscuit Method:
  • Scale or measure all ingredients.
  • Chill or freeze fats.
  • Combine the Liquids and beat well.
  • Take the Dry Goods for a spin in the food processor for 3 to 4 pulses, then move to a large bowl.
  • Rub Fats into the Dry Goods until about half the fat disappears and the rest is left in pea-sized pieces.
  • Place in the freezer to keep the fat solid.
  • Make a well in the center of the Dry Goods/Fat mixture.
  • Pour the Wet Works into the well and quickly mix using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon.
  • Stir together until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
  • Turn the dough out onto a sheet of lightly floured wax paper or parchment.
  • Use the paper to shield your hands as you fold (not knead) the dough into a 1/2-inch to 1-inch thick rectangle.
  • Then use the ends of the wax paper to fold the dough as if you were making the worlds biggest, stickiest tri-fold wallet.
  • Repeat this three times, being as gentle as possible.
  • Using a 2-inch pastry cutter, cut out the biscuits and place them on an ungreased baking sheet, just touching each other.
  • Reshape the leftover dough, kneading as little as possible, and continue cutting out biscuits and adding them to the baking sheet.
  • Bake the biscuits for 15 to 17 minutes, or until golden brown.
  • Remove the biscuits from the oven, place into a kitchen towel-lined basket, and serve immediately.