Chicken, Mushroom & Tarragon Pie

Chicken, Mushroom & Tarragon Pie

This comforting creamy chicken pie is full of flavour and will have your guests wanting more.

Serves 4-6

Prep time: 15 minutes (plus cooling time)

Cooking time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

For the filling

50g butter

1 onion, finely chopped

1 garlic clove, finely chopped

250g chestnut mushrooms, quartered

6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces

1 bay leaf

50g plain flour

200ml chicken stock

150ml white wine

150ml double cream

4 sprigs of fresh tarragon, leaves only, chopped

Sea salt & freshly ground pepper

375g ready-rolled short crust pastry

375g ready-rolled all-butter puff pastry

1 egg beaten

To serve:

New potatoes

Green beans

Preparation method

1.  To make the filling, melt the butter in a large frying pan on a medium heat.  Add the onion, garlic and mushrooms and fry for 5 minutes, stir often until lightly browned.

2.  Season the chicken with pepper and add to the pan with the bay leaf.  Cook everything for 5 minutes, turning the chicken often. 

3.  Stir the flour into the chicken mixture and cook for a few seconds.  Gradually add the stock and bring to a gentle simmer.  Cook for 2 minutes until the sauce is smooth and thick.  Pour in the wine and cream, then bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.  Season generously then sprinkle with tarragon.  Remove the pan from the heat, cover and set aside to allow to cool.

4.  Preheat the oven to 190°C/Gas mark 5. 

5.  Roll out the short crust pastry to about 4mm and line a 1.2 litre pie dish.  Leave the excess pastry overhanging the edge.  Spoon the cooled chicken filling into the dish and brush the pastry edge with a little of the beaten egg.

6.  Roll out the puff pastry to 4mm thick and large enough to cover the pie.  Place the pastry over the pie and press the edges firmly together to seal and trim neatly.  Brush the top of the pastry with the beaten egg.  Decorate with pastry trimmings and brush with more egg to glaze.  Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes until the crust is puffed up and golden brown and the filling is piping hot.  Serve with new potatoes and green beans.