CHICKEN AND TARRAGON PIE
Ingredients
- 500g/1lb plain flour
- 125g/4oz unsalted butter
- 125g/4oz lard
- pinch salt
- 1 tsp white wine vinegar
- 1 egg
- beaten
- 75g/3oz unsalted butter
- 50g/2oz plain flour
- 350ml/12fl oz whole milk
- warmed
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 x 150g/5oz chicken breasts
- cut into chunks
- 125g/4oz good-quality ham
- cut into strips
- 2 large leeks
- 5 tbsp chopped fresh tarragon
Directions
- Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl and rub the butter and lard into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs.
- Add the vinegar and enough cold water to bring the mixture together into a smooth dough.
- Divide the dough into two pieces
- wrap in cling film and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile
- for the filling heat 25g/1oz of the butter in a frying pan and cook the chicken for 5-6 minutes
- then add the leeks and continue to cook for a further 3-4 minutes
- or until just soft. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl
- then season and set aside.
- Melt the remaining butter in a saucepan
- then add the flour and whisk to a smooth paste. Cook for a minute or two then remove from the heat and slowly whisk in the milk. Return the sauce to the heat and cook over a gentle heat until smooth and thick (do not boil).
- Stir in the chicken mixture
- ham and tarragon.
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas 4.
- Roll one of the pieces of pastry thinly and use it to line a 25cm/10in pie plate. Trim the edges. Spoon in the chicken mixture and brush the edges of the pastry with the beaten egg.
- Roll the second piece of pastry out thinly and cover the pie. Seal and crimp the edges. Cut a hole in the top of the pie and brush the top with the beaten egg.
- Bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes.

