Name: The ultimate makeover: Chicken pie
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 450ml chicken stock from a cube (I use Kallo, organic); 100ml white wine; 2 garlic cloves finely chopped; 3 thyme sprigs; 1 tarragon sprig, plus 1 tbsp chopped tarragon leaves; 225g carrots cut into batons; 4 skinless chicken breasts 500g/1lb 2oz total weight; 225g leeks sliced; 2 tbsp cornflour mixed with 2 tbsp water; 3 tbsp crème fraîche; 1 heaped tsp Dijon mustard; 1 heaped tbsp chopped flat-leaf or curly parsley; 70g filo pastry (I used three 39 x 30cm sheets); 1 tbsp rapeseed oil

For the filling

450ml chicken stock
from a cube (I use Kallo, organic)
100ml white wine
2 garlic cloves
finely chopped
3 thyme
sprigs
1 tarragon
sprig, plus 1 tbsp chopped tarragon leaves
225g carrots
cut into batons
4 skinless chicken breasts
500g/1lb 2oz total weight
225g leeks
sliced
2 tbsp cornflour
mixed with 2 tbsp water
3 tbsp crème fraîche
1 heaped tsp Dijon mustard
1 heaped tbsp chopped flat-leaf or curly parsley

For the topping

70g filo pastry
(I used three 39 x 30cm sheets)
1 tbsp rapeseed oil

Method

step 1
Pour the stock and wine into a large, wide frying pan. Add the garlic, thyme, tarragon sprig and carrots, bring to the boil then lower the heat and simmer for 3 mins. Lay the chicken in the stock, grind over some pepper, cover and simmer for 5 mins. Scatter the leek slices over the chicken, cover again then gently simmer for 10 more mins, so the leeks can steam while the chicken cooks. Remove from the heat and let the chicken sit in the stock for about 15 mins, so it keeps moist while cooling slightly.
step 2
Strain the stock into a jug – you should have 500ml (if not, make up with water). Tip the chicken and veg into a 1.5 litre pie dish and discard the herb sprigs. Pour the stock back into the sauté pan, then slowly pour in the cornflour mix. Return the pan to the heat and bring to the boil, stirring constantly, until thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the crème fraîche, mustard, chopped tarragon and parsley. Season with pepper. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
step 3
Tear or cut the chicken into chunky shreds. Pour the sauce over the chicken mixture, then stir everything together.
step 4
Cut each sheet of filo into 4 squares or rectangles. Layer them on top of the filling, brushing each sheet with some of the oil as you go. Lightly scrunch up the filo so it doesn’t lie completely flat and tuck the edges into the sides of the dish, or lay them on the edges if the dish has a rim. Grind over a little pepper, place the dish on a baking sheet, then bake for 20-25 mins until the pastry is golden and the sauce is bubbling. Serve immediately.