“These warming and hearty pot pies are filled with succulent chicken, chestnut mushrooms and artichokes in a delicious creamy sauce flavoured with mustard,” says Tom Kerridge.
“The filling takes a bit of time, but it’s well worth it once you break into that crispy pastry topping and see all your efforts inside!”
Chicken and mushroom pot pies
Ingredients:
(Serves 4)
750g chicken thigh fillets
500ml chicken stock
5 black peppercorns
4 sprigs of thyme
2 bay leaves
2tbsp olive oil
200g baby chestnut mushrooms, halved
2 banana shallots, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
150g chargrilled artichoke hearts, quartered
50g butter
50g plain flour, plus extra to dust
1tsp Dijon mustard
1tsp wholegrain mustard
1tbsp tarragon, finely chopped
100ml crème fraîche
1tbsp sherry vinegar
500g packet ready-made puff pastry
1 large free-range egg, lightly beaten with a pinch of salt
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Method:
1. To cook the chicken thigh fillets, put the chicken stock, peppercorns, thyme and bay leaves into a medium saucepan over a high heat and bring to a simmer. Add the chicken thighs, reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and cook for 15–20 minutes or until the chicken is tender.
2. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a frying pan, add the mushrooms and cook for two minutes. Add the shallots and garlic, stir and cook for three to four minutes or until softened. Remove from the heat, stir in the artichokes and set aside. Remove the chicken thighs from the stock and set aside on a tray. Strain the stock. Leave both to cool slightly.
3. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a saucepan, stir in the flour and cook for two minutes. Now gradually whisk in the chicken stock and continue to whisk over a medium heat until the sauce thickens. Stir in both mustards, the chopped tarragon, crème fraîche and sherry vinegar, then the mushroom mix.
4. Cut the poached chicken into bite-sized pieces and fold through the sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste and leave to cool slightly. Divide the pie filling between four individual pie dishes and place in the fridge to chill.
5. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to a 5mm thickness. Cut out four rounds, two centimetres wider than your pie dishes. Brush the edges with egg, then lay a pastry round, egg-washed edge down, over each pie dish. Brush the tops with egg wash and rest in the fridge for 20 minutes.
6. Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C Fan/Gas 6. Cut a couple of slits in the top of each pastry lid, to let steam escape during cooking. Bake the pies for 30 minutes or until the pastry is crisp and deep golden brown. Let stand for a few minutes before serving, with a green veg and mash on the side if you like.
Pub Kitchen by Tom Kerridge is published by Bloomsbury Absolute, priced £27. Photography by Cristian Barnett. Available now.
