Chicken Leek Mini Pies Food

MINI CHICKEN AND LEEK PIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180C (160C fan forced).
• Heat oil and butter in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken. Season with salt and pepper. Fry, turning occasionally, for 7-10 minutes or until browned. Use a spoon to break down the cooked chicken into smaller pieces.
• Add leek and carrot. Saute, stirring occasionally, for 1-2 minutes, or until tender. Stir in garlic, and sauté for another 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle with flour. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add in chicken stock slowly, stirring constantly until smooth. Stir in rosemary and 1/3 cup water. Increase heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes, or until thickened slightly. Season with black pepper. Remove from heat.
• Grease two 12 hole muffin tins with cooking spray or oil. Use a large (7.5 cm) cookie cutter to cut out 20 circles from the thawed pastry sheets. Place the circles in the muffin tin holes carefully. Fill them with chicken mixture. Use a smaller cookie cutter to cut out 20 small circles to form the tops of the pastries. Place the circles on top of the muffin tin holes. Gently press down the sides to seal them. Use a small knife to make some holes on the pastries.
• In a separate small bowl, whisk together 1 egg and a dash of milk. Brush the egg mixture on the pastries. Place the pies on the lower rack of a preheated oven for 30-15 minutes.

CHICKEN & LEEK MINI PIES

Steps:

• In a large pan, melt the butter and cook the leeks, covered, for 10 mins until really soft. Remove from the heat and stir through the cheese sauce, chives, chicken, milk and mustard. Mix well and spoon into small dishes or ramekins.
• Un-roll the pastry on a lightly floured surface. Use a saucer to cut circles for the pie tops. Place on top, trim to fit, crimp the edges and brush with egg to glaze. Wrap tightly in cling film and freeze for up to 2 months.
• To cook from frozen, heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Remove the cling film, cover with foil and put on a baking tray in the middle of the oven. Bake for 15 mins, then reduce the temperature to 190C/170C fan/gas 5 and bake for a further 45 mins, removing the foil for the final 30 mins. Serve with green vegetables.
• To cook from fresh, heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Cook for 45 mins, until the pastry is golden and puffed, and the filling is piping hot.

CHICKEN & LEEK PIE

Steps:

• Cut the chicken breasts into small pieces - I like mine about 1 to 2 inches square.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large pan until very hot. Brown the chicken pieces a few at a time, depending on the size of your pan. When they're all done, put them to one side.
• Add the rest of the oil to the pan. Add the onion and leek, cover and turn the heat down low. Cook like this for about 10 minutes until the onion and leek are nicely softened. Then add the flour, stir in well and cook until completely incorporated, which will take a couple of minutes or so.
• Add a cupful of the stock and stir. The sauce should immediately start to thicken. Add the rest of the stock, bit-by-bit, until you have about a third left.
• Add the chicken pieces back to the pan. Quarter the mushrooms and add them too. If the sauce seems a bit too thick, add a bit more stock. Add the thyme.
• Cook on a medium heat, uncovered, for about 10 minutes, and then pour in the cream. Cook for a further 10 minutes.
• If you are adding the potatoes, boil them separately and then chop into smallish pieces. Add to the sauce.
• Cook until the sauce has reduced to your preferred consistency. If it's too thick, add a bit more stock to thin it out. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Pour the sauce into a shallow ovenproof dish and top with the puff pastry. Cook at 200°C, Gas Mark 6 for 20-30 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown.
• Serve with veggie of your choice. Buttered carrots with parsley would go nicely, as would green beans.