James Martin Chicken And Leek Pie Food

EASY CHICKEN AND LEEK PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 190C/170C Fan/Gas 5.
• Heat a dash of olive oil in a large frying pan and cook the chicken pieces over a high heat for 3 minutes. Add the leek, garlic, soft cheese, mustard, stock cube and 200ml/7fl oz boiling water. Pour the mixture into a large ovenproof dish and lay the puff pastry sheet over the top. Brush with milk.
• Bake for 35 minutes or until the top is golden-brown and the pie is cooked through. Serve.

GLUTEN-FREE CHICKEN PIE

Steps:

• Mix the flour, a pinch of salt and the butter in a bowl, then stir in the cheese. Blend 2 tbsp cold water with the mustard and stir in. Form into a dough. Wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
• Heat the butter and oil in a pan and fry the chicken for 5 mins until golden. Add the leeks and fry for 2-3 mins until softened. Add the stock, bring to the boil then cover and simmer gently for 15 mins.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Transfer the chicken and leeks to a 1.2-litre pie dish with a slotted spoon - leave the stock in the pan on a low heat.
• Mix the flour and 1 tbsp cold water together to form a paste. Thin with 2 tbsp stock, then add to the pan with the rest of the stock and stir non-stop until thickened. Take off the heat, stir in the watercress and crème fraîche, season and pour over the chicken and leeks.
• Roll out the pastry between 2 pieces of cling film until just larger than the dish. Remove the top piece of film and lift the pastry onto a rolling pin with the cling film underneath. Lay pastry-side down over the filling. Peel away the film, then trim around the rim. Make a small hole in the centre. Brush the pastry with milk. Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden.

CHICKEN, LEEK & PARSLEY PIE

Steps:

• Put the chicken in a pan, which is large enough to take it snugly. Roughly chop the carrot, onion and celery and tuck around the chicken with the bouquet garni. Pour in enough water to come just over halfway up the chicken, then season with salt and pepper.
• Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover tightly and simmer gently for 1-1¼ hrs, until the chicken is well cooked. Carefully lift the chicken out onto a board lined with kitchen paper to absorb any stock that leaks out. Then strain the stock, discarding the veggies, and measure 500ml into a jug - any extra you can cool and freeze for another time.
• Heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Strip the meat from the chicken, discarding the skin and bones. Cut the meat into large chunks and put into a 1-litre pie dish.
• Melt the butter in a pan, add the leeks and fry until starting to soften. Sift in the flour and cook for 1 min. Gradually stir in the stock, cooking until the sauce is smooth and glossy. Take off the heat and add lemon, parsley and crème fraîche. Season. Pour the sauce over the chicken and leave to cool.
• Roll out the pastry and trim to 5cm larger than the pie dish. Brush the edge of the dish with water. Lay the pastry on the pie, tucking the edges under to make a double layer around the rim. Press the pastry edge to seal it. Roll out any trimmings to make leaves for the top. Brush the pastry with milk or egg and bake for 30-35 mins until the pastry is golden.