Tasty chicken and potato pie

This is real comfort food- a tasty chicken pie in a delicious white sauce topped with cheesy mashed potatoes. It is a great dish to store in the freezer for days when you don’t want to cook!

500g (1lb 20z) potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks

25g (1 oz) butter

100ml (3 ½ fl oz) milk

50g (2 oz) cheddar cheese, grated

15g (1/2 oz) parmesan, grated

25g (1oz) butter

1 leek, thinly sliced

1 large or 2 small shallots, finely chopped

25g (1 oz) plain flour

300ml (1/2 pint) chicken stock

100ml (3 ½ fl oz) double cream

300g (10 ½ oz) shredded cooked chicken

75g (3 oz) frozen peas

1 tbsp chopped parsley

1 tbsp lemon juice

Salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 200°C/ 180°C Fan/ 400°F/ Gas 6.

Put the potatoes in cold, salted water, bring to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes until tender. Drain and mash with butter, milk and the grated cheeses.

Melt the butter in a saucepan and cook the leek and shallot gently for 8-10 minutes, until soft but not coloured. Stir in the flour and cook for one minute, then stir in the stock a little at a time to make a smooth sauce (you may find it a little easier to do this off the heat).

Stir in the cream, then cook, stirring, until the sauce just comes to the boil. Stir in the chicken, peas and parsley, then remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Season to taste. Spoon into a 1 ½ litre (2 ½ pint) dish and top with the mash. Bake for about 30 minutes until golden brown. It will need longer if cooking from chilled.) It’s a good idea to place the dish on a baking sheet to catch any drips.

Serves
Makes 4 portions

Main ingredients
Dairy, Cheese, Chicken, Vegetables

Recipe Type
Dinner, Budget, Easy, Family Dinners, Healthy, One Pot, Pies, Classics

Special Info
Pregnant Mums

Level of Difficulty
Easy