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Turkey Ham and Leek Pie
If apple pie is the mother of sweet pies, then turkey and chicken must be the mother of all savoury pies. A traditional turkey or chicken pie contains lots of vegetables and is the perfect ‘use up’ dish. You can add almost anything to your pie, such as mushrooms, potatoes, sweetcorn, peas, spinach, parsnips, carrots and broad beans. This recipe makes use of the turkey stock from Christmas dinner, but you can make it richer if you prefer by adding cream or crème fraiche to the sauce.
Ingredients show imperial units
- 90g butter
Butter
Unsalted is better for cooking.
Easy spread butter is ideal for sandwiches and toast.
- 25g flour
Flour
For pastry making or to thicken sauces, soups, stews and casseroles.
- Raising agents are added to plain flour to make self-raising flour, used to lighten and give an airy texture to cakes and sponges.
- Once opened reseal with quick clips or transfer to an airtight container or kilner jar. It will keep for up to 3-4 months
- litre turkey stock
Stocks
Made from your meat and fish bones.
Frozen in ice cubes for gravies, risotto and cooking rice. Once frozen, remove from the ice trays and pack into freezer bags. Use stock powder or cubes if you do not have any home made available.
- A pinch of salt
Salt
Consider tablesalt, sea salt or crystals.
Sea salt’s pronounced and salty flavour means less is required to season food.
- Black pepper
Black peppercorns
Best used as a condiment.
They can be lightly crushed and used to spice up a creamy sauce or to coat fillet steak or chicken breasts.- Although it might seem odd, grinding black pepper over a bowl of strawberries enhances the flavour of the fruit.
- Pepper that is pre-ground is not fresh tasting and often has other ingredients mixed in.
- Choose the type of mill that suits you, and if you want coarser pepper you can loosen the screw on the top of the mill or crush the seeds in a pestle and mortar
- 1 tablespoon English mustard
Mustard
Worth keeping a few different types.
- French mustard or Dijon is creamy and can be used in dressings, marinades or adding to sauces.
- English is good for roast beef, steak, gammon or sizzling sausages.
- Wholegrain is used in chutney’s and pickles
- 350g cooked turkey or chicken cut into chunks or strips
- 125g cooked ham cut into chunks
- 6 leeks, cleaned and chopped
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Herbs
Ideal for seasoning pastas.
To keep cut parsley or coriander, put in a hole free polythene bag with a couple of tablespoons of cold water, give the bag a good shake and keep in the salad drawer of the fridge. Herbs should keep for a week like this.
- 1 lightly beaten egg
Eggs
Always have some on hand for quick scrambled egg.
- Keep eggs in the fridge in their box and never eat them after their best before date.
- The Health Protection Agency recommends buying Lion branded eggs, which come from vaccinated hens and are therefore less likely to contain salmonella
-
200g ready make shortcrust Pastry
Pastry
Ready rolled puff or shortcrust
Ideal for quick pies
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F) mark 7.
- Melt the butter in a heavy based pan and add the flour off the heat. Whisk in the turkey stock and cook over a medium heat, stirring all the time until the sauce is smooth. Season well and add the mustard.
- Place the turkey pieces, ham and leeks in the bottom of an oval pie dish, sprinkle with the fresh parsley and pour over the sauce.
- Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface and cover the pie dish with the pastry.
- Brush the top of the pastry with a little beaten egg and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes. After this time reduce the heat to 180°C (350°F) mark 4 and bake for a further 15 minutes.
TOP TIP
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