Spring Chicken Pie Recipes

SPRING CHICKEN POT PIE

Steps:

• Season the chicken thighs with some salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a heavy-based saucepan and fry the chicken for 3-4 mins on each side until lightly golden, then transfer to a plate. Add the bacon to the pan and fry for 5 mins until golden. Tip in the leeks and fry for another 5 mins.
• Sprinkle the flour over the leeks and bacon, and stir until combined. Add the wine, if using, and bubble for a few minutes, then add the stock and stir well. Slice the chicken and return it to the pan - don't worry if it's not fully cooked through at this point, it will finish cooking in the oven.
• Stir in the crème fraîche, peas, 1 tbsp mustard and the tarragon, and bubble for a few minutes until thick and saucy. Add a splash more stock or water if it seems too thick Remove the pie filling from the heat. Whisk the remaining ½ tbsp mustard with the egg in a bowl.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Spoon the filling into a pie dish with a lip and use some of the egg mix to brush the sides of the dish. Unroll the pastry over the top of the pie and crimp the edges against the sides of the dish, then cut away any excess with a knife. Will keep frozen, well covered, for up to three months.
• Brush the remaining egg glaze over the pie and make a small steam hole in the middle. Bake for 40 mins until golden and puffed. Serve with buttered new potatoes and steamed greens or carrots, if you like.

SPRING CHICKEN PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 190ºC/375ºF/gas 5.
• Halve the lemons, quarter the Jersey Royals, then pick and finely chop the tarragon and parsley.
• Put the chicken, unpeeled garlic cloves, lemon and potatoes in a large baking tray, drizzle with oil, season with sea salt and black pepper, then toss together.
• Pop in the oven for 45 minutes, or until golden, crispy and cooked. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
• Melt the butter in a large non-stick pan until bubbling. Add the flour and stir for 1 to 2 minutes to form a paste, then slowly pour in the stock, whisking until thickened. Add the mustard, then season.
• Once the chicken is cool enough to handle, remove and reserve the skin and discard any gristle. Shred the meat, discarding the bones.
• Squeeze the garlic from its skins back into the roasting tray and squeeze over all the juice from the lemons and toss well.
• Pour over the thickened stock and add the herbs and watercress. Check the seasoning, then finely chop the chicken skins and sprinkle over the filling.
• Lay out sheets of filo on a clean surface and cut each one in half. Lightly scrunch up and place on top of the pie filling, brushing with a little oil.
• Bake for 25 minutes, or until crispy and golden, then serve with a crisp green salad.

SPRING CHICKEN PIE

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a pan over a medium-high heat and fry the leeks for 10 minutes until soft. Add the chicken and fry for a few minutes until opaque, then sprinkle in the flour. Add the béchamel, green veg, parsley and 2 tbsp of mustard. Season well. Transfer the mixture to a pie dish - the filling should fit in snugly. Leave to cool, then chill for up to two days, if you like.
• Roll out the pastry on a floured worksurface to the thickness of a £1 coin. Whisk the remaining 2 tsp of mustard into the beaten egg and brush a little around the edge of the pie dish. Lay the pastry over the filling and press around the edges to seal. Brush with the rest of the egg wash and sprinkle with sea salt. Chill until ready to bake or up to a day ahead.
• Heat the oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Cut a steam hole into the top of the pie and bake from chilled for 35-40 minutes or until golden and bubbling. Serve with steamed greens or carrots.

HERBY SPRING CHICKEN POT PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Heat the oil in a large, shallow casserole dish on a medium heat. Add the spring onions and fry for 3 mins, then stir through the frozen spinach and cook for 2 mins or until it's starting to wilt. Remove the skin from the chicken and discard. Shred the chicken off the bone and into the pan, and discard the bones. Stir through the stock and mustard. Bring to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 5-10 mins.
• Stir in the peas, crème fraîche and herbs, then remove from the heat. Scrunch the filo pastry sheets over the mixture, brush with a little oil and bake for 15-20 mins or until golden brown.