Chicken, Bacon, Mushroom & Stilton Pie

Chicken, Bacon, Mushroom & Stilton Pie

One of my all-time favourites, a truly delicious & flavoursome pie – comfort food at its best!

Serves 6-8

Prep time:  15 minutes (plus cooling time)

Cooking time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

50g butter

1 onion, peeled & finely chopped

1 garlic clove, peeled & finely chopped

250g chestnut mushrooms, halved

200g smoked bacon lardons

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

50g plain flour

200ml chicken stock

150ml white wine

100ml double cream

100g stilton, crumbled 

Small handful fresh parsley, chopped

Sea salt & freshly ground pepper

375g ready-rolled short crust pastry

375g ready rolled puff pastry

1 egg beaten

To serve

Seasonal vegetables

Method

1.    For the filling, melt the butter in a large frying pan on a medium heat.  Add the onion, garlic, bacon and mushrooms – fry for 5 minutes until lightly browned.

2.    Season the chicken and add to the and cook everything for 5 minutes, turning occasionally.

3.    Stir in the flour to the chicken mixture then gradually add the stock and bring to a simmer.  Cook for 2 minutes until the sauce is smooth and thick then pour in the wine and cream.  Bring to the boil, add the stilton and reduce to a simmer for 15 minutes.  Season generously and sprinkle with parsley.  Remove from the heat, cover and allow to cool.

4.    Preheat the oven to 190°C/Fan assisted 170°C/Gas mark 5.

5.    Roll out the short crust pastry to 4mm thick and line a 1.2 litre pie dish, leave the excess pastry hanging over the edge.  Spoon the cooled chicken mixture into the dish and brush the edge of the pastry with 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 trimmings and brush with more egg to glaze.  

7.    Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes until the pastry has puffed and is golden brown.  Serve with seasonal vegetables.  Enjoy!