Chicken Ham N Mushroom Pie Recipes

JAMES MARTIN'S CHICKEN AND MUSHROOM PIE

Steps:

• Place the chicken in a large saucepan with half the onions and the bay leaf. Season with a little salt and pepper and cover with water. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 45 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
• Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside to cool. Return the pan to the hob and cook the stock on a rapid boil for a further 30 minutes or until it has reduced by half. Meanwhile, remove the meat from the chicken legs, thighs and carcass, then place in the pie dish.
• Preheat the oven to 220°C/gas mark 7. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large frying pan, add the remaining onions and cook over a low-medium heat, without browning, for about five minutes or until softened, then add the flour. Turn up the heat and then add the mushrooms and cook for a further three to four minutes.
• Strain the stock, then add to the mushrooms and cook for one minute. Pour in the wine and cream, then bring to the oil, reduce the heat and simmer for five minutes. Season, then pour it over the chicken and sprinkle tarragon leaves over the top.
• Cut out a disc of pastry two centimetres wider all round than the pie dish. Brush the edges of the dish with beaten egg and lay the pie dish. Brush the edges of the dish with beaten egg and lay the pastry on top, crimping the edges with a fork or your fingertips.
• Trim away any excess pastry and brush the top of the pie with the remaining egg. Place on a baking tray and brake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the pastry is crisp and golden. Then remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving.

CHICKEN, LEEK & MUSHROOM PIE

Steps:

• Put the chicken in a large pan with the bay, half the thyme sprigs, the parsley stalks, onions, garlic, stock and seasoning. Pour the milk over the chicken and, if you need to, top up with water to make sure the chicken is covered. Bring the chicken to the boil, then turn down and simmer for 15 mins. Lift from the liquid and leave to cool.
• Drain the poaching liquid through a sieve into a large jug - you need 650ml to make the sauce for your pie.
• Meanwhile, heat the butter in a saucepan over a low-medium heat. Add the leeks and the mushrooms, and cook for 5-10 mins until soft, then season well. Add the flour and stir to coat the vegetables. Slowly add the poaching liquid, stirring until you have a thick sauce.
• Using two forks, pull the chicken apart into thumb-sized chunks rather than chopping it - I feel you get a far better pie this way. Chop the parsley leaves, then stir into the leeks with the thyme leaves, crème frâiche and chicken. Check the seasoning, then spoon the mixture into your pie dish (or dishes) to cool slightly.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Roll out the pastry on a lightly dusted work surface to the thickness of a £1 coin. Cut thin strips from the edges and use a little water to stick these around the lip of the pie dish, then wet the top of the pastry strip. Lift the pastry on top of the pie, trim the edges and crimp them with your fingers or a fork. Brush the top with milk and cut a steam hole in the middle.
• Put the dish on a baking sheet and cook in the oven for 20-25 mins until the pastry is risen and golden. Some of the filling will have bubbled up through the steam hole. Have a bottle of tomato ketchup on hand to serve, if you like - and be careful, the pie will be hot.

SOUP-A-SIMPLE CHICKEN AND MUSHROOM PIE

Steps:

• Tip: Remember to get pastry out of fridge 45 mins prior to use. Using a large non-stick frying pan, heat 2 tbsp of the oil. Gently fry the diced or cubed chicken for approx 7-8 mins until golden brown all over, add a little seasoning as you prefer, if using dried thyme add it to this stage of the cooking to allow time for the herb to release its flavour. Do this in batches, if using a smaller pan. Place a sieve or colander over a bowl, pop the chicken into this to drain liquids and aid cooling. Into the same frying pan, heat 1 tbsp of vegetable oil, add the onion, after 1-2 minutes, add the mushrooms and fresh thyme, then fry on a high heat for another 3 mins until the onions start to colour. Once cooked add this to the pre-cooked chicken to drain liquids and cool. Add a handful of frozen petit pois for sweetness and colour. No need to thaw.
• Empty the can of condensed soup into a medium pan. Tip. Keep can! Use the cream of mushroom one rather than chicken as this will enhance these flavours to balance those of the chicken. Using the empty soup can, add the juices of the drained pie filling top up with water to half a tin. This provides additional liquid necessary to turn the condensed soup into a ready-made mushroom sauce. Gently heat the soup and stir the liquid together until smooth. Add additional water to suit your personal consistency preference. Leave to cool.
• Add the cooked and cooled pie filling to the sauce and gently stir coating all the meat. Spoon the filling into a large pie or baking dish (approx 20 cm.) with a lip. Pre-heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7.
• Using a floured surface, roll out the pastry to 3-4mm thick and at least 30mm larger on all sides of the dish shape you intend to use. Cut a long strip the width of the pie dish rim approx 1cm, brush with the egg, and fix pastry strip to the edge of the pie dish. Brush the strip again with egg, then using a rolling pin to lift the remaining pastry over the pie. Gently crimp around the edges with a fork and trim with a sharp knife. Brush lightly with egg to glaze. If you would like to decorate the top, you can use any of the pasty off-cuts to create leaves or shapes, press them onto the glazed top, and re-glaze these, finally, a gentle sprinkle of dried thyme or italian herbs, freshly ground sea salt and black pepper on top. Last, but not least, put a small knife incision or hole in the centre of the crust to allow the steam to escape.
• You are now ready to bake. Tip. If you are placing dish directly on rails pop a tray underneath in case the sauce decides to make an early exit. Place towards top of oven, 30 mins or until the pastry is slightly risen and dark golden brown.

HAIRY BIKERS' CREAMY CHICKEN, HAM AND LEEK PIE

Steps:

• Heat the chicken stock in a lidded saucepan. Add the chicken breast and bring to a low simmer. Cover with a lid and cook for 10 minutes. Remove the chicken breasts from the water with tongs and place on a plate. Pour the cooking liquor into a large jug.
• Melt 25g/1oz of the butter in a large, heavy-based saucepan over a low heat. Stir in the leeks and fry gently for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally until just softened. Add the garlic and cook for a further minute. Add the remaining butter and stir in the flour as soon as the butter has melted. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
• Slowly pour the milk into the pan, just a little at a time, stirring well between each adding. Gradually add 250ml/10fl oz of the reserved stock and the wine, if using, stirring until the sauce is smooth and thickened slightly. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 3 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat and stir in the cream. Pour into a large bowl and cover the surface of the sauce with cling film to prevent a skin forming. Set aside to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6. Put a baking tray in the oven to heat.
• For the pastry, put the flour and butter in a food processor and blend on the pulse setting until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. With the motor running, add the beaten egg and water and blend until the mixture forms a ball. Portion off 250g/9oz pastry for the lid.
• Roll the remaining pastry out on a lightly floured surface, turning the pastry frequently until around 5mm/¼in thick and 4cm/1½in larger than the pie dish. Lift the pastry over the rolling pin and place it gently into the pie dish. Press the pastry firmly up the sides, making sure there are no air bubbles. Leave the excess pastry overhanging the sides.
• Cut the chicken breasts into 3cm/1¼in pieces. Stir the chicken and ham into the cooled sauce. Pour the chicken filling into the pie dish. Brush the rim of the dish with beaten egg. Roll out the reserved pastry for the lid.
• Cover the pie with the pastry lid and press the edges together firmly to seal. Trim any excess pastry.
• Make a small hole in the centre of the pie with the tip of a knife. Glaze the top of the pie with beaten egg. Bake on the preheated tray in the centre of the oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the pie is golden brown all over and the filling is piping hot.

CHICKEN AND MUSHROOM PIE WITH SHORTCRUST PASTRY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the chicken and fry until the chicken begins to turn white.
• Add the mushrooms and continue to fry until the chicken is golden-brown.
• Remove the chicken and mushrooms from the pan and set aside. Add the onion and garlic to the same pan and fry for 2-3 minutes or until softened. Remove from the heat and set aside with the chicken and mushrooms.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan, stir in the flour and cook for about three minutes, stirring constantly until it has formed a thick smooth paste (this is called a roux).
• Mix the milk and stock together in a jug, then add the nutmeg, white pepper and salt, to taste. Pour the liquid slowly into the flour mixture, whisking all the time until smooth. Simmer over a gentle heat, stirring constantly, for about five minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
• Stir in the chopped parsley and pour the sauce over the chicken and mushroom mixture. Mix well, then spoon into a pie dish and leave until completely cool.
• Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface until it is the thickness of a pound coin. Brush the edges of the pie dish with beaten egg, lay the pastry on top, press down the edges and trim. Brush the top of the pie with beaten egg and cut some leaf shapes out of the left-over pastry to decorate the top of the pie.
• Make two or three slits in the top of the pie to allow steam to escape and then bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden-brown on top.

CHICKEN HAM 'N' MUSHROOM PIE

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven or soup kettle, combine the first six ingredients; bring to a boil. reduce heat; cover and simmer for 45-55 minutes or until chicken is tender. Remove chicken. When cool enough to handle, remove meat and skin from the bones; discard skin and bones. Cut the meat into chunks; set aside. Strain broth and set aside., In a skillet, saute the mushrooms and ham in butter until mushrooms are tender. Sprinkle with flour, pepper and nutmeg; stir until blended. gradually stir in 1-3/4 cups reserved broth (refrigerate any remaining broth for another use). Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in peas and reserved chicken. Cool., Meanwhile, combine the flours, Parmesan cheese and salt in a bowl. Cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in egg yolk and lemon juice. Gradually add cold water, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. On a floured surface, roll out dough into a 9-in. square., Transfer chicken mixture to an ungreased 9-in. square baking dish. Place pastry over filling; trim and flute edges. Cut slits in top. Beat egg white and water; brush over pastry. Bake at 375° for 35-40 minutes or until bubbly and the crust is golden brown. Let stand for 10-15 minutes before cutting.