Chicken and Leek Pie

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This delicious chicken and leek pie is made with some of my favorite ingredients: a flaky shortcrust, tender chicken, leeks, and cheese.

Flaky crust, chicken, and leeks make one of my favorite pies: chicken and leek pie.

I love pies, I got to know them while living in the UK and I have been making one savory pie or another regularly for many years now. This chicken and ham pie, for instance, I can’t even recall how many times I’ve baked it.

This is a great pie not only to have for a family lunch or dinner but also something to make for guests or to take on a picnic. It also makes a nice, easy-going Easter brunch meal, for instance. It looks and tastes festive enough, but it is also quite quick and easy to make.

Ingredients

Chicken:

• This pie recipe allows you to use up some chicken leftovers.
• I do have leftovers whenever I buy a rotisserie chicken or when I make a whole roasted chicken, and this pie is the perfect solution for those leftovers.
• Chicken breast or chicken thighs are both fine, use whatever you happen to have.
• If I make the recipe with fresh chicken, I tend to cook a chicken breast, it goes so quickly.
• And you can definitely use turkey leftovers as well.

Leeks:

• You will need a large leek or several smaller ones, about 250 g/ 8.8.
• Make sure to clean the leeks very thoroughly before using, the dirt always find its way between the leek’s many layers, mostly at the transition from the white to the green part of the plant.

Dairy:

• Use a good melting cheese.
• I often use Gouda or Cheddar, but other kind of cheese you enjoy when making a casserole or similar should be fine.
• Otherwise, you will need flour, unsalted butter and an egg yolk for the crust, and 1 red bell pepper, three eggs and heavy cream for the filling.

How to make chicken and leek pie?

Shortcrust:

• Start with the crust as it will need half an hour to chill in the fridge.
• Make sure that the butter is very cold. You could cut it into small pieces, place them on a plate and place the plate in the freezer for only 10 minutes. This way you can be sure that the butter is really cold, which is the way it is supposed to be when making pastry.
• Place the flour, salt, yolk and butter in a food processor, and process until the mixture gets crumbly. Add one tablespoon water, and process very shortly until you obtain bigger lumps.
• You will probably not need the second tablespoon of water. Pinch the dough with your fingers, if it holds together it is already fine.
• Place the dough on the working surface and knead very shortly, just enough to bring it together and form a disc.
• Wrap in plastic foil/cling film and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Once chilled, roll the dough to a circle of about 30 cm/10-inch diameter, which is a bit larger than the tin you will need.
• The working surface and the rolling pin should be lightly floured.
• Carefully lift it and place it in the buttered springform.
• Don’t worry if it tears, you can easily stick it back together by pressing it with the fingers.
• Form a nice, tall rim as well.
• Prick the crust all over with a fork.

Filling:

• While the pie crust still chills in the refrigerator, make the filling and preheat the oven.
• Cook the chicken in the chicken stock. Remove and let cool slightly. Chop it into small cubes.
• Clean the leek well and chop it as well.
• Chop the red bell pepper.
• Mix the chicken and the vegetables in a large bowl.
• Grate the cheese.
• In another bowl, mix together the egg, heavy cream, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Be generous with the salt, the filling needs it.

Assemble:

• Place the chicken and veggie mixture into the springform.
• Carefully pour in the egg-heavy cream mixture.
• Sprinkle with the cheese.
• Bake for 50-55 minutes, depending on your oven.
• The crust should be really golden, the cheese golden brown, the filling should be set and the crust should be cooked through.
• Leave the pie in the form for about 15 minutes before slicing.

What to serve with the pie?

• My favorite side dish is a green salad with vinaigrette or yogurt dressing.
• You could also make some French-style green beans, buttered green peas or roasted broccoli.

Leftovers

• They will keep well in the fridge for about 2 days.
• The leftover slices of chicken and leek pie can be reheated in the oven.
• Or you can have them at room temperature as well, I am not very particular about that, they still taste great!
• As the filling is pretty firm, you can also freeze the leftovers.
• Wrap well in plastic wrap and place in freezer bags.
• When ready to reheat, unwrap and reheat without defrosting, at about 180 degrees Celsius/ 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Give the pieces about 15 minutes and check if it is heated through. If not, allow some more time.

More savory pies?

Chicken and Ham Pie – Traditional English cooking: chicken and ham pie with peas, a luscious white sauce, and puff pastry.

Gibanica – Serbian Cheese Pie – Delicious layered cheese pie or cheese pita made with phyllo or yufka dough and lots of cheese.  

Sweet Potato Tart – Puff pastry pie with roasted sweet potatoes, caramelized balsamic onions, and cheese.

Spinach Feta Pie – Börek – Phyllo pastry filled with spinach, feta, and Parmesan, a tender Turkish Börek which can be eaten either hot or cold.

Easy Quiche with Cheese and Green Onions – A wonderful, easy quiche with cheese and green onions, perfect for brunch, a picnic or another casual gathering with friends.

First published: June 26, 2015.