Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie

This delicious pie packed with fresh vegetables, succulent meat and creamy sauce will leave you begging for more

Preparation Time: 20 minutes cooking, 50 minutes baking

Serves: 4 people (yields one 9-inch pie)

Calories: 450 per serving

For the crust:



For the filling:



Method

For the crust:

•  In a large bowl, mix the flour, oil, salt, sugar and butter together until it becomes a crumbly mixture.

•  Knead the mixture with cold water and mould it into a large ball.

•  Cover the dough with cling foil and set it aside.

For the filling:

•  Preheat oven to 250 degrees Celsius.

•  Cook the chicken breasts in a small saucepan until they change colour.

•  Add the crushed garlic, green onions, carrots, salt, pepper and half chicken cube and allow the mixture to simmer for a little while. Once this is done, drain the saucepan of the excess broth and set aside for later.

•  In a separate pan, cook the onions in butter until they become soft and translucent.

•  Stir in some flour, stirring continuously to avoid clumps.

•  Slowly, add water, milk, the remaining chicken cube and vegetable broth and simmer over medium-low heat until the mixture becomes thick. Take the pan off heat and set it aside to cool.

•  Cut the dough into 2/3 and knead it into a round shape large enough to cover your pot and its edges completely. Spread out one layer of the pie at the bottom of the pot and prick it with a fork.

•  Place the chicken mixture at the bottom of the pie and pour the hot liquid mixture over it.

•  Cover the top crust with dough, seal the edges of the pie and cut away the excess.

•  Use a sharp knife to make several small gashes on the top of the pie to allow steam to escape during baking.

•  Bake the pie for 30 to 35 minutes, until the pie is golden-brown in colour and bubbling at the centre.

•  Once the pie is cooked, put an egg-wash (mixture of egg and water) on the top for a more brown finish.

•  Allow the pie to cool for a while before serving. Your pie is now ready!

Saima Absar does her best to be a good wife, mother, community manager and citizen. She enjoys reading and holds a degree in media management. Follow her on www.pinterest.com/saimaabsar

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, April 27^th, 2014.