Chicken & ham pie

Contains pork – recipe is for non-Muslims only
When you need something warm and comforting after a long day, there’s nothing like a proper British pie

Prep:25 mins
Cook:45 mins

Serves 6
Easy

Nutrition per serving

kcal 0
fat 0g
saturates 0g
carbs 0g
sugars 0g
fibre 0g
protein 0g
salt 0g

Ingredients

6 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
3 carrots, chopped
3 potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 tsp chopped fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried
850ml hot chicken stock
50g butter
2 onions, chopped
50g plain flour
300ml milk
juice of 1 lemon
2 tbsp chopped parsley
4 thin slices ham, cut into strips
500g pack shortcrust pastry
1 egg, beaten

Method

Put the chicken in a large pan with the carrots, potatoes, celery, half the thyme and seasoning. Add stock and bring to the boil. Reduce heat, cover and cook gently for 15 minutes. Set a colander over a large bowl, pour in the pan contents and remove thyme. Reserve 600ml/1 pint stock (rest can be frozen).
Rinse the pan, return to heat and melt the butter. Cook the onions until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the flour, then the reserved stock a little at a time, to make a smooth thick sauce. Add the milk and simmer for 2 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the remaining thyme, lemon juice and parsley. Season.
Mix together the chicken, vegetables and ham in a deep 2.2litre/4 pint ovenproof dish, preferably with a rim or lip. Pour over the sauce and leave to cool slightly. Preheat the oven to 200C/gas 6/fan 180C.
Roll out the pastry to about 5cm/2in larger than the top of the dish. Cut a 2.5cm/1in strip from all round the pastry. Brush the rim of the dish with egg and press the strip all round. Brush with egg and lift the pastry on to it, pressing the edges to seal thoroughly. Trim off excess, then mark the pastry edge all round with a fork. Make 4 small slits in the centre. Brush with egg and bake for 25–30 minutes until crisp and golden.