What is a key characteristic of "pâte brisée"?

Pâte brisée is distinctive for its flaky texture, making it an ideal choice for pie crusts and tarts. The key characteristic lies in its method of preparation, which involves cutting cold fat into flour, allowing for layers that create the desired flakiness once baked. This technique leads to a tender yet sturdy crust that can hold fillings, which is particularly important for savory dishes as well as sweet pies.

While some pastry doughs, like pâte sucrée, are sweetened for dessert applications, pâte brisée is generally neutral in flavor, allowing it to pair well with a range of fillings. It is not a type of bread dough, which has different hydration and gluten development requirements, nor is it a creamy product like pastry cream, which is used for filling desserts rather than forming the base of a baked good. Thus, the definition and preparation method of pâte brisée highlight its primary attribute as a flaky pie crust.