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Chicken and leek pie
Creamy chicken and leek filling under a puff pastry lid
BritishChicken and leek pie is the Sunday-night and pub supper of southern England, made with leftover roast chicken or fresh thighs simmered in a creamy sauce with soft leeks and a little tarragon, then topped with buttery puff pastry. It is gentle, savoury and best with mash and greens. Chef's tip: let the filling cool before the pastry goes on, or the lid will sink and stay raw underneath.
- Total time
- 75 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 1 ⅔ lb boneless skinless chicken thighsin 3 cm pieces
- 1 ⅜ oz butter
- 3 leekssliced
- 1 clove garliccrushed
- 1 ¼ oz plain flour
- 1 ½ cups chicken stock
- ½ cup double cream
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp tarragon or thymechopped
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 11 ½ oz puff pastry
- 1 eggbeaten
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Melt half the ⅔ oz butter in a wide pan and brown the 1 ⅔ lb boneless skinless chicken thighs in batches for 5 minutes. Set aside.
12 minStep 2: Add the rest of the ⅔ oz butter, the 3 leeks and 1 clove garlic and cook gently for 8 minutes until soft. Stir in the 1 ¼ oz plain flour for 1 minute, then whisk in the 1 ½ cups chicken stock and ½ cup double cream.
10 minStep 3: Return the chicken with the 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp tarragon or thyme, 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper and simmer for 10 minutes until the sauce is thick and the chicken reaches 165°F. Cool completely.
25 minStep 4: Heat the oven to 400°F (350°F fan). Spoon the filling into a 1.5 litre pie dish, lay the 11 ½ oz puff pastry over, trim, press the edges and brush with 1 egg. Cut a steam hole.
8 minStep 5: Bake for 25–30 minutes until the pastry is puffed and deep golden and the filling bubbles at the edges. A common mistake is a pale lid; it should be dark gold to be crisp.
28 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 560 kcal
- Protein
- 34 g
- Carbs
- 32 g
- Fat
- 32 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does chicken and leek pie take?
- About 75 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 50 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of leeks?
- 1 onion per leek.
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