Bacon Leek And Sweetcorn Pie Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180C / 350F / gas 4.
• Make the pastry: Mix the flour and butter together into a crumbly mixture. Add the water a little at a time and mix to a smooth dough. Divide the dough into two pieces. Roll the first out on a clean, floured surface using a well floured rolling pin and line the pie dish. Bake blind for 20 mins. Keep the other lump of dough wrapped in clingfilm in the fridge for now.
• Meanwhile make the filling: Melt the butter in a frying pan and cook the chopped onion for 5 minutes until softened. Add the bacon and fry for a further 5 minutes. Finally add the chicken and cook for a further 5 minutes or until the chicken pieces are golden brown. Drain and put to one side.
• Make a white sauce: In a small saucepan melt the butter on a gentle heat, and gradually stir in the flour to make a roux. Add the milk a little at a time, whisking as you go to avoid lumps.
• Open the cardomom pods with a sharp knife and discard the pod cases. Crush the middles using a pestle and mortar. Add the nutmeg and stir into the white sauce.
• Mix the chicken, bacon and onions into the white sauce. Drain the tin of sweetcorn. Add this in and mix well.
• Pour the filling into the cooked pastry case. Roll out the other piece of dough into a lid for the top of the pie. Brush with a little milk and bake for a further 45 minutes.

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large frying pan, then add the bacon and fry for a few mins until golden. Add the thyme, mushrooms and leeks with seasoning (remember bacon can be salty), cover pan and cook on a low heat for 20-25 mins until leeks are tender.

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a casserole dish and cook the bacon for 1 min until it changes colour. Add the leeks, celery, carrots and bay, and cook until they start to soften. Stir the flour into the veg until it goes a sandy colour, then splash in the cider and reduce. Pour in the chicken stock, stir, then add the cream. Season, then bring everything to a simmer. Add the pheasant and gently simmer for 20 mins until the meat and veg are tender. Stir through the mustard and vinegar, then turn off the heat and cool.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Tip the mixture into a large rectangular dish. Roll the pastry out on a floured surface, place over the dish and trim round the edges, leaving an overhang. Brush the pastry with egg, then decorate with any leftover pastry, if you like. Sprinkle with a little sea salt. The pie can now be frozen for up to 1 month; defrost completely before baking. Bake for 30-35 mins until golden. Remove from the oven and leave to cool for 5 mins before serving.