Side of Sauce With Chicken Pie
A proper creamy chicken pie of leek, bacon, mushroom and tarragon under golden puff pastry, with a jug of extra sauce on the side because there's no such thing as too much.
Serves: 6
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes
INGREDIENTS
1 tbsp olive oil
1 large leek, white and pale green parts only, chopped
100g streaky bacon, cut into 1cm pieces
25g butter
1 tbsp tarragon leaves, roughly chopped
200g mushrooms, cut into 1cm pieces
500g roast chicken, shredded
2 tbsp plain flour
200g crème fraîche
1 tbsp chicken stock powder
1 rectangular sheet (or 2 squares) good-quality puff pastry
1 egg
salt, for seasoning
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
peas, mushy or whole, to serve (optional)
METHOD
Preheat the oven to 180°C.
Heat the olive oil in an ovenproof frying pan or flameproof casserole over medium heat. Add the leek and bacon and sauté for 8 minutes, or until softened.
Add the butter, tarragon and mushrooms. Stir well, reduce the heat to low, and cover with a lid for 10 minutes.
Add the shredded chicken and flour. Stir well, then add the crème fraîche, chicken stock powder and 250ml water. Stir again, cover, and simmer for a further 10 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
Strain the mixture, keeping both the chicken mixture and the liquid.
Spoon the chicken mixture into the centre of the pan and cover with the puff pastry, tucking it around the side to seal the edges.
Cut a steam hole in the middle of the pastry lid. Whisk the egg with 1 tablespoon of water and brush over the pastry.
Bake for 20 minutes, or until puffed and golden.
Heat the reserved liquid to serve alongside the pie.
HINTS
For a crisper base, pre-bake the puff pastry for a few minutes before adding the filling.
Swiss brown mushrooms hold their shape well and add a subtle, savoury depth.
Store-bought barbecue chicken works a treat here, but any cooked chicken will do.
NUTRITION (per recipe total, serves 6 - guide only):
Energy: 14800 kJ (3540 cal)
Protein: 190 g
Fat: 235 g
Saturated fat: 105 g
Carbohydrate: 145 g
Sugars: 12 g
Sodium: 5200 mg
This nutrition information is a guide only and may vary depending on brands, exact quantities, and ingredient substitutions used.