Name: Family-size chicken pot pie
Cook time: 1 h
Yield: 4
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 500g cooked chicken meat; 3 tbsp butter,plus butter for pie dish; 1 tbsp olive oil; 3 leeks,trimmed and sliced; 300g button mushrooms,trimmed and halved; 2 tbsp flour; 400ml chicken stock; 150ml cream; 1 tsp paprika; 2 tbsp chopped parsley; 2 sheets puff pastry,thawed; 1 egg,beaten

Golden-topped pot pie chockers with creamy chicken filling,sweet leeks and mushrooms.William Meppem

Time:30 mins - 1 hourServes:4

Pot pies are baked in pie dishes with pastry lids sealing in all the goodness. Use left-over roast,poached or steamed chicken,and serve at the table so you can break through the crisp pastry and spoon out the steamy,creamy chicken fricassee inside.

Ingredients

500g cooked chicken meat
3 tbsp butter,plus butter for pie dish
1 tbsp olive oil
3 leeks,trimmed and sliced
300g button mushrooms,trimmed and halved
2 tbsp flour
400ml chicken stock
150ml cream
1 tsp paprika
2 tbsp chopped parsley
2 sheets puff pastry,thawed
1 egg,beaten

Method

Step1
Heat the oven to 200C. Lightly butter a 24cm-diameter deep pie dish. Cut the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces.
Step2
Heat 1 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp oil in a big heavy frypan and cook the leeks and mushrooms,without browning,until soft.
Step3
To make the sauce,heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a pan. When foaming,add the flour and stir with a wooden spoon over a low heat for 2 minutes. Slowly add the chicken stock,stirring constantly,then the cream,paprika,sea salt and pepper,and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.
Step4
Fold in the chicken,leeks,mushrooms and parsley,season well,and pile the mixture into the pie dish.
Step5
When cool,drape the pastry over the top,allowing for 2cm overhang,pinching it to join where necessary. Stab the top two or three times with a knife,brush with beaten egg,and bake for 30 minutes or until golden and bubbling.