Little Pies Chicken Filling Recipes

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a casserole dish over a low heat. Add the leek, chicken, herbs and seasoning, and cook for 10-12 mins until the chicken is cooked, the leeks have softened, and the mixture is simmering. Stir in the flour and cook for 3 mins until the mix resembles a sandy paste. Pour in the wine or sherry, and bubble for 1 min, then stir in the stock, crème fraîche or cream and the mustard. Bring to a simmer. Cook for 10 mins until the chicken is cooked through. Season to taste, remove from the heat and leave to cool completely. Tip into a container and chill for 2 hrs, or overnight. Will keep chilled for up to two days.
• To make the pastry, rub the butter into the flour with a large pinch of salt until completely combined. Add half the beaten egg and 4 tbsp ice-cold water, and bring together into a dough using your hands, adding a little more water if needed. Knead for a minute so it completely comes together, then chill for 1 hr.
• Butter a 20cm loose-bottomed cake tin. Roll two-thirds of the pastry out until large enough to line the tin with some overhanging. Use it to line the tin, then spoon in the filling. Roll out the remaining pastry until large enough to cover the pie. Brush the edge of the pastry with a little of the remaining beaten egg, then drape over the pie to close it. Trim the edge, then press with a fork to seal. Chill until you're ready to cook. Will keep chilled for up to 24 hrs.
• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7 with a baking sheet inside. Brush the pie with some of the remaining beaten egg, then lightly score a criss-cross pattern on top using a sharp knife. Bake on the hot sheet for 20 mins, then brush with the rest of the egg, season with sea salt flakes and bake for 15-20 mins more until deep golden. Remove from the oven and rest for 10 mins, then carefully remove from the tin, put on a board and cut into wedges to serve.

Steps:

• Roll out pastry until a little thinner than a £1 coin. Cut out 8 x 9cm circles and use to line 8 holes of a muffin tin. Divide chicken, peas and asparagus between moulds, season, then dollop over 1 tbsp crème fraîche.
• Cut out 8 x 7cm circles to make tops for the pies. Lightly brush edges of the pie bases with egg, place each top onto its pie and press down into the filling. Pinch together the sides to seal. Leave to rest in the fridge for 30 mins, or up to 2 days if preparing in advance.
• Heat oven to 200c/fan 180c/gas 6. Brush tops with more egg and bake pies for 30-35 mins or until the pastry is crisp and golden. Serve warm or leave to cool.

Steps:

• In a large pan, melt the butter and cook the leeks, covered, for 10 mins until really soft. Remove from the heat and stir through the cheese sauce, chives, chicken, milk and mustard. Mix well and spoon into small dishes or ramekins.
• Un-roll the pastry on a lightly floured surface. Use a saucer to cut circles for the pie tops. Place on top, trim to fit, crimp the edges and brush with egg to glaze. Wrap tightly in cling film and freeze for up to 2 months.
• To cook from frozen, heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Remove the cling film, cover with foil and put on a baking tray in the middle of the oven. Bake for 15 mins, then reduce the temperature to 190C/170C fan/gas 5 and bake for a further 45 mins, removing the foil for the final 30 mins. Serve with green vegetables.
• To cook from fresh, heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Cook for 45 mins, until the pastry is golden and puffed, and the filling is piping hot.

Steps:

• Boil the chicken, when tender remove meat from bones and skin. If necessary, continue to boil the broth until it reduces to 2 cups. Heat the frying pan and melt butter, add chopped tomatoes without skin or seeds. Add the chopped onion and stir fry. Add the chicken broth and simmer until tender. Add the flour that has been dissolved in 1/2 cup water-it should be thick. Add the chopped green olives, grated boiled eggs, chopped parsley and the chopped green pepper, chopped palmitos or peas. Add the chicken cut into small pieces. Let cool. Mixture should be cold and thick before putting into the little pastry shells.