Chicken And Wild Mushroom Pie Food

CHICKEN AND MUSHROOM PIE WITH SHORTCRUST PASTRY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the chicken and fry until the chicken begins to turn white.
• Add the mushrooms and continue to fry until the chicken is golden-brown.
• Remove the chicken and mushrooms from the pan and set aside. Add the onion and garlic to the same pan and fry for 2-3 minutes or until softened. Remove from the heat and set aside with the chicken and mushrooms.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan, stir in the flour and cook for about three minutes, stirring constantly until it has formed a thick smooth paste (this is called a roux).
• Mix the milk and stock together in a jug, then add the nutmeg, white pepper and salt, to taste. Pour the liquid slowly into the flour mixture, whisking all the time until smooth. Simmer over a gentle heat, stirring constantly, for about five minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
• Stir in the chopped parsley and pour the sauce over the chicken and mushroom mixture. Mix well, then spoon into a pie dish and leave until completely cool.
• Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface until it is the thickness of a pound coin. Brush the edges of the pie dish with beaten egg, lay the pastry on top, press down the edges and trim. Brush the top of the pie with beaten egg and cut some leaf shapes out of the left-over pastry to decorate the top of the pie.
• Make two or three slits in the top of the pie to allow steam to escape and then bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden-brown on top.

CHICKEN AND WILD MUSHROOM PIE

Steps:

• For the pastry, pulse the flour, baking powder, salt, butter and egg yolk in a food processor until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Gradually add the water, a tablespoon at a time, mixing continuously until the mixture just comes together as a dough. (You may not need to use all the water.) Roll the dough into a ball, then wrap it in cling film and chill in the fridge for an hour. Meanwhile, for the filling, heat two tablespoons of the olive oil in a saucepan over a medium heat, add the chicken pieces and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until browned. Add the wine, water, tarragon and thyme, and season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Bring the mixture to the boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the volume of liquid has reduced by half and the chicken is cooked through. Heat the remaining olive oil in a separate frying pan over a medium heat, add the mushrooms, and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until golden-brown, then season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Remove the cooked chicken from the frying pan with a slotted spoon and place into a bowl, then add two spoonfuls of the residual juices from that pan. Add the mushrooms, then stir in the soured cream until well combined. Set aside to cool. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Grease a deep 20cm/8in pie tin with butter. Add a small amount of flour, then turn the tin to coat the base and sides, shaking out any excess. When the pastry has chilled, roll out two thirds of it onto a clean, floured work surface, until it is almost twice as wide as the diameter of the tin. Using the rolling pin, lift the pastry and lay it over the pie tin to line the base and sides. Gently press the pastry into the corners of the tin, trimming off any excess, then prick the base of the pastry case several times with a fork. Cover the pastry with a sheet of greaseproof paper and fill it with rice or dried beans. Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the pastry is pale golden-brown. Remove from the oven, discard the beans and greaseproof paper and set the pastry aside to cool. When cool, pour the pie filling into the pastry case. Roll the remaining one third of the pastry out onto a clean, floured work surface until it is a little bit larger than the diameter of the pie tin. Brush the rim of the cooked pastry case with some of the beaten egg and place the pastry lid on top of the pie. Trim off any excess pastry. Seal the pastry lid to the pastry case by crimping the edges of the pastry lid with a fork. With a knife, make two small holes in the centre of the pastry lid to allow steam to escape. Brush the pastry lid with the remaining beaten egg, then transfer to the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until golden-brown.

CHICKEN AND FIELD MUSHROOM PIE

Steps:

• Set the oven to 375°F.
• Heat the oil in a heavy-based saucepan. Add the oil and onions. Allow them to cook for 2-3 minutes until softened but not browned. Add the garlic and cook for a further minute.
• Place the potatoes in a large pan of boiling salted water. Cook for 15-20 minutes until tender.
• Next add the chicken and thyme and cook over a slightly higher heat for 4-5 minutes when the chicken should be starting to brown.
• Add the mushrooms and cook for a further 2-3 minutes, until the mushrooms are starting to soften.
• Season the flour really well and add to the pan, stirring well to incorporate all the juices.
• Add the Dijon mustard, stir again and then slowly pour in the stock.
• Bring to boil and then reduce to a simmer and cook for 4-5 minutes, until the sauce is thickened and bubbling.
• Place the milk and the butter in a small pan, until the mixture reaches boiling point, and then remove from the heat.
• Drain the potatoes and return to the pan shaking the pan to prevent them from sticking. Mash the potatoes, stir in the milk and butter and season to taste.
• Meanwhile, add the crème fraiche to the chicken and stir really well.
• Pour the mixture into a 1½ litre pie dish, cover with the mashed potatoes and mark a pattern in them with a fork.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the potatoes are golden and brown.
• Serve with buttered greens or peas.