Chicken And Leek Pie With Shortcrust Pastry

Ingredients

This delicious Chicken and Leek Pie with Shortcrust Pastry makes an ideal Sunday lunch or dinner. To make it, you will need: 500g of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 200g of leeks, 2 tablespoons of butter, 2 tablespoons of flour, 500ml of chicken stock, 1 teaspoon of fresh thyme leaves, 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley, 150ml of cream, 250g of ready-made shortcrust pastry, 1 egg, lightly beaten.

Instructions

Start by preheating your oven to 180°C. Cut the chicken breasts into small cubes and then melt the butter in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Tip in the chicken and leeks, and cook for 5 minutes until lightly browned. Then add the flour, stirring constantly for a further minute. Gradually stir in the stock, and then add the thyme and parsley. Simmer for about 10 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.

Next, remove from the heat, and stir in the cream. Transfer the mixture to an ovenproof dish. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface and use it to cover the dish, crimping the edges to seal. Make a few holes in the pastry with a fork, and then brush the top with the beaten egg. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and the filling is bubbling. Serve with mashed potatoes and your favourite vegetables.

Nutrition

This dish is a great source of protein, as it contains chicken as the main ingredient. It also contains leeks, which are rich in vitamins A, C and K, and are a good source of dietary fibre. The ready-made shortcrust pastry adds additional carbohydrates and fats, but you can use a homemade, low-fat pastry to reduce the amount of fat in the dish. This is a great family meal and can be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet.

Tips

If you’re looking to reduce the fat content of this dish even further, you can use a low-fat cream or evaporated milk instead of cream. You can also use other vegetables in the filling, such as carrots or mushrooms, for added nutrition. For a vegetarian version of the dish, simply omit the chicken and use extra vegetables in the filling.

This Chicken and Leek Pie with Shortcrust Pastry makes a delicious and comforting family meal. With minimal effort, you can whip up a dish that’s sure to impress your friends and family. So why not give it a go tonight?