This homemade chicken and mushroom pie is a family favourite, you can make it either with brown or white meat or a combination of both. The same goes for the mushrooms, use either fresh or dried or whatever you can get hold of.
Preparation time: 1 hour and half
Cooking time: 30-35 minutes
Serves 6-8
Equipment:
One 20x30cm (8x12in) pie dish or ovenproof dish
Ingredients:
•375g (13oz) ready-rolled all-butter puff pastry
•1 egg, beaten
•1 x 1.5kg (31b 4oz) chicken
•2 onions, peeled and finely chopped
•1 bay leaf
•1 tbsp olive oil
•75g (3oz) butter
•2 tbsp plain flour
•350g (12oz) mushrooms (such as chestnut, portabello and oyster) – roughly chopped but not too large
•150ml (5fl oz) white wine
•150ml (5fl oz) double cream
•4 sprigs of tarragon, leaves only
•Salt and black pepper
Method:
1. Place the chicken in a large saucepan with half the onions and the bay leaf and season with a little salt and pepper and cover with water.
2. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 45 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
3. 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.
4. Meanwhile, remove the meat from the chicken legs, thighs and carcass, then place in the pie dish.
5. Preheat the oven to 220oc (425of), gas 7.
6. 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 5 minutes or until softened, then add the flour.
7. Turn up the heat and then add the mushrooms and cook for a further 3-4 minutes.
8. Strain the stock, then add to the mushrooms and cook for 1 minute, pour in the wine and cream, then bring to the oil, reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
9. Season, then pour it over the chicken and sprinkle tarragon leaves over the top.
10. Cut out a disc of pastry 2cm (3/4in) wider all round than 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.
11. Place on a baking tray and brake for 30-35 minutes or until the pastry is crisp and golden.
12. Then remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving with the new potatoes and French beans.
Useful tips:
We recommend chestnut, portabello and oyster mushrooms, they are great for this recipe.
Fresh tarragon is much better than dried for this recipe.
More info: www.moretomushrooms.com
Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
