Chicken Leek Mushroom Pot Pie

Ingredients

• 700 gram chicken breasts (see note 1)
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon mixed herbs
• 1 teaspoon chilli flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 3 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoon butter
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1 onion (diced)
• 8 baby leeks (see note 2)
• 250 gram portobellini mushroom (wiped and chopped)
• 2 tablespoon cornflour
• 1 cup chicken stock (low sodium)
• 1 cup fresh cream
• 2 teaspoon dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon cream cheese
• salt
• pepper
• 400 gram puff pastry

Instructions

1. 1

   --- Marinating and Cooking the Chicken ---

2. 2

   Chop the chicken breasts into little cubes. Add the chilli, mixed herbs, garlic and black pepper and mix well.

3. 3

   Heat 2 tablespoon oil in a large pan and cook the chicken (preferably in two batches) until it just turns white. Do not overcook. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.

4. 4

   --- Making the Filling ---

5. 5

   Add 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter to the pan

6. 6

   Add the onion and leeks together with the fresh thyme. Cook until slightly translucent and add the chopped mushroom. Add the remaining tablespoon of butter.

7. 7

   Cook until the mushrooms have softened. Don't cook too much as you don't want the leeks turning brown (see note 3).

8. 8

   Add the bay leaf. Mix the cornflour into the chicken stock and add to the pan. Allow it to thicken a little, add the cream and the dijon mustard. Return the chicken to the pan. Allow it to cook on a high heat for 2 minutes and remove from the stovetop. Mix in the cream cheese. (see note 4)

9. 9

   Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius or 392 degrees fahrenheit

10. 10

    Allow the filling to cool, should take at least an hour. Cut a piece of pastry to fit the top of the baking dish. Cut 4 thin strips from the remaining pastry, brush with some water and stick them on the edges of the baking pan. If it doesn't fit exactly, stretch it gently with your hands.

11. 11

    Place the filling inside the dish. Cover with the pastry. Beat one large egg and brush the top of the pastry. Make a cross in the middle of the pastry.

12. 12

    Bake for 30 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown in colour.