
method
So, I have half a roast chicken to break down, it's best if you do this before you put it in the fridge, the meat comes off the bone far easier than when it's cold. I'm also using shop bought puff pastry for the pie lid, it might seem like a cheat, but the quality of ready-made pastry these days is excellent, and puff pastry is a real faff to make! Just try to get an 'all butter' pastry as the taste is far superior. I prep my ingredients first, so that I have everything ready to build the pie.
Turn the oven on to pre-heat to 180c
Prepare the ingredients:
- Pull the chicken meat off the bone



make the pie
- Fry the leeks & mushrooms in a little butter until soft
- Sift the flour & salt into a large mixing bowl
- Using cold fingers, rub the butter into the flour
You should have a fine breadcrumb consistency
- Add the water & combine gently into a dough
- Roll into a ball, cover with food wrap
- refrigerate for 1/2 hr
- Grease a 20cm diameter x 5cm deep pie dish with butter
- Lightly dust a chopping board with flour
- Roll out the pastry base so that it'll overlap the dish
- Prick the bottom of the pastry all over
- Line with grease proof paper
- Fill with uncooked rice or baking beans

- Put in pre-heated oven @ 180c for 10 mins
- Pull out the baking paper & rice
- Put the pie base back in the oven for another 10 mins

- Spread the onion sauce into the pie base
- Layer the chicken meat on top of the onion sauce
- Add a layer of leeks & mushrooms
- Add another layer of chicken
- Pour the gravy over the chicken
- Layer with the rest of the leeks & mushrooms

- Tip the left over gravy onto the chicken

- Cover with sliced mushrooms & leeks

- Roll out the pastry lid, a circle bigger than the dish
- Dampen the top edge of the base with egg wash
- Roll the lid over a rolling pin
- Place the lid onto the pie dish
- Press the lid down all around the edge of the dish
- Use a pastry brush & paint egg wash on top of the pie
- Add a twist of salt over the top

don't trim the edges!
- Pop the pie back into the oven @ 180c for 30 to 45 mins*
*Check the pie is golden brown and piping hot in the middle
- Trim around the edge with a sharp knife
- Allow to cool slightly
- Carefully turn out onto a plate


Broccoli, new potatoes & gravy
so good I made another :-)

The pie is mine :-P