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Want something warm and satisfying? This cock-a-leekie pie is the perfect comfort meal to be enjoyed on a cosy night in.
Cooking time: 50-55 minutes
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients
- 500g chicken thighs boneless skinless diced
- 500g leeks sliced and washed
- 500g carrots peeled and sliced into rounds
- 250g white onion sliced (chunky) – baby onions can be used if preferred
- 50g chopped flat parsley
- 10g fresh thyme rubbed
- 25g chopped garlic
- 150ml cooking white wine
- 250ml tap water
- 1 x stock cube or liquid tab
- 100g butter
- 20g plain flour
- Puff pastry roll
- 1 egg beaten – for egg wash
- Salt/pepper
Method
For the filling...
1. In a bowl, toss the chicken in the plain flour until coated.
2. Melt half the butter in a heavy pan until frothing – but be careful not to burn the butter.
3. Sauté the chicken in the pan until browned all over. Then remove from the pan and set to one side.
4. Wipe the base of the pan with kitchen paper to remove any residue from the chicken (take care though because it’ll be hot!).
5. Add the rest of the butter to the pan until melted. Then add the vegetables/garlic and sauté until lightly browned and starting to wilt.
6. Add the white wine, bring to the boil, and then turn down the heat and allow it to simmer until the liquid has slightly reduced. Then add the water and stock cube, and bring to the boil once again.
7. Add the chicken back to the pan and stir to mix. Bring back to the boil then reduce to simmer.
8. Cook for about 25 minutes or until the chicken is tender and vegetables cooked – do not stir too much this will break up the chicken. Season to taste with salt & pepper. Then add the chopped parsley and rubbed thyme – adding the herbs at the end will keep the flavours fresh. Traditionally Cock a leekie would have prunes in the recipe – these can be added if required at this point.
9. Wait until the chicken mix has thickened slightly – if you prefer a thicker mix add more flour at the beginning of the recipe if desired.
10. Cool the chicken slightly, then fill the pie dishes or dish with the mix.
For the pastry lid…
1. If using puff pastry, roll it out onto a floured surface, then cut to size leaving an overhang over the dish. Crimp if desired, or simply pin edges to the side of the dish to seal.
2. Brush the pastry lid with egg wash – you also might want to top the puff pastry lid with cracked pepper/rock salt for a gastro pub finish. Use a fork to prick a few holes in the top (this allows the steam to escape and helps the pie to cook more evenly).
3. Bake in a hot oven (180c) for about 20-25 minutes, until the pie is heated through, and the pastry is raised and golden brown.
To serve…
Allow the pie to cool slightly, then cut it into slices and serve on its own, or with vegetables.
Do you enjoy getting creative in the kitchen? We are proud to have a hugely talented community on Rest Less, which is why we’re so excited to open up a section of the site dedicated to showcasing delicious food and drink recipes from our members. If you have a recipe that you’d like to share with the Rest Less community – you can do so here.