Chicken, Leek, and Mushroom Pie Is British Comfort Food at Its Best (2024)

By

Elaine Lemm

Chicken, Leek, and Mushroom Pie Is British Comfort Food at Its Best (1)

Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking.

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Updated on 07/25/21

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There is something so comforting about a traditional British chicken pie with memories of school days and family lunches. Like its close cousin,steak and kidney pie, British chicken pie is part of the fabric of British food.

While this chicken pie recipe has its own homemade pastry crust—if you're in a hurry—you can use ready-made pastry. Using meat from the legs and thighs of the chicken not only gives a richer flavor, but these cuts are also much cheaper.

Get ready to savor that first bite of creamy gravy, with the blend of chicken, mushrooms, leeks, and the flaky, buttery crust; and know that once it's all gone, you'll be craving for more of this delicious pie.

Ingredients

For the Crust:

  • 2 cups (200 grams) all-purpose flour

  • Pinch salt

  • 4 ounces (110 grams) unsalted butter, cubed (or an equal mix of butter and lard)

  • 2 to 3 tablespoons ice water

For the Filling:

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil orolive oil

  • 12 ounces (350 grams) boneless, skinless chicken legs and thighs

  • 2 medium leeks, thinly sliced white and light green parts

  • 4 ounces (110 grams) baby button mushrooms

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

  • 18 ounces (500 milliliters) hot chicken stock

  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

  • 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme

  • Dash salt

  • Dash freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 large egg, beaten, for glazing

Steps to Make It

Make the Crust

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Place the flour, salt, and butter into a large, clean bowl.

    Chicken, Leek, and Mushroom Pie Is British Comfort Food at Its Best (4)

  3. Rub the butter into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs, working as quickly as possible to prevent the dough from becoming warm.

    Chicken, Leek, and Mushroom Pie Is British Comfort Food at Its Best (5)

  4. Add the water to the mixture. Using a cold knife, stir until the dough binds together. Add more cold water a teaspoon at a time if the mixture is too dry.

    Chicken, Leek, and Mushroom Pie Is British Comfort Food at Its Best (6)

  5. Wrap the dough in clingfilm (plastic wrap) and chill for a minimum of 15 minutes and up to 30 minutes.

    Chicken, Leek, and Mushroom Pie Is British Comfort Food at Its Best (7)

Make the Filling and Assemble the Pie

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Chicken, Leek, and Mushroom Pie Is British Comfort Food at Its Best (8)

  2. Heat the oil in a large skillet or deep frying pan. Add the chicken meat and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until the chicken is browned all over. Using a slotted spoon, remove the chicken, and set aside on a plate or bowl.

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  3. Add the finely sliced leek and the baby button mushrooms. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally until the leeks are softened. Remove the leeks and mushrooms, and set aside with the chicken.

    Chicken, Leek, and Mushroom Pie Is British Comfort Food at Its Best (10)

  4. Add the butter to the pan and melt over medium heat. Add the flour and stir well to incorporate all the flour into the butter.

    Chicken, Leek, and Mushroom Pie Is British Comfort Food at Its Best (11)

  5. Using a hand whisk, slowly add the hot chicken stock, whisking all the time until a smooth gravy is created. Cook for 3 minutes, again stirring from time to time.

    Chicken, Leek, and Mushroom Pie Is British Comfort Food at Its Best (12)

  6. Add the chicken, leeks, and mushrooms into the gravy, then add the parsley and thyme and season generously with salt and black pepper. Cook for a further 2 minutes, then put to one side to cool completely.

    Chicken, Leek, and Mushroom Pie Is British Comfort Food at Its Best (13)

  7. Generously grease two 6-inch/15-centimeter ovenproof pie dishes or 1 x 1-pint dish. Roll the pastry to 1/8-inch/3-millimeter thick and line your dish(es). Re-roll the remaining pastry to make lids fit the size of the dish you are using. Place the dishes and pastry into the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes.

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  8. Heat the oven to 400 F/200 C/Gas 6. Place a heavy cookie or baking sheet on the middle shelf.

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  9. Divide the filling between the two dishes (or pint dish if making just one pie) making sure both have equal amounts of chicken and gravy.

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  10. Using a pastry brush, dampen the edges of the pastry lining with beaten egg, then cover with the pastry lid and crimp the edges to seal. Brush generously with beaten egg.

    Chicken, Leek, and Mushroom Pie Is British Comfort Food at Its Best (17)

  11. Using a sharp knife, cut a small hole into the center of the lid to allow the steam to escape during cooking and to prevent the pastry from becoming soggy.

    Chicken, Leek, and Mushroom Pie Is British Comfort Food at Its Best (18)

  12. Set the pie dish(es) onto the heated baking sheet in the oven and bake for 40 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and the filling bubbles. Serve hot or leave to cool completely if serving cold.

    Chicken, Leek, and Mushroom Pie Is British Comfort Food at Its Best (19)

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
789Calories
46g Fat
61g Carbs
34g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories789
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 46g59%
Saturated Fat 20g99%
Cholesterol 223mg74%
Sodium 444mg19%
Total Carbohydrate 61g22%
Dietary Fiber 3g11%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 34g
Vitamin C 5mg27%
Calcium 62mg5%
Iron 6mg31%
Potassium 633mg13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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Chicken, Leek, and Mushroom Pie Is British Comfort Food at Its Best (2024)

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