Chicken Pot Pie With Herb Scone Topping

Fragrant, warming, and flavoursome.

Cold days demand warm and hearty dishes, such as this one; a chicken pot pie with a herby scone topping. The filling is made of chunks of vegetables and chicken pieces smothered with a fragrant cream sauce, covered with a delicious scone topping flavoured with herbs. Its relatively simple, albeit a slightly lengthy process, so maybe it would be best not to make it when one is in a rush, such as I did. The recipe can be originally found in the DK step-by-step baking book, although I changed it slightly, as is my wont. I cannot stop tampering with things, it is my one weakness...
If you want a vegetarian version of this recipe, simply omit the chicken. You can also experiment with herbs and spices that you prefer. The original recipe calls for parsley, but I found that I had run out, so I used basil instead, and it still tasted lovely.
As always, this recipe serves approximately 6-8, so if you're cooking for less, simply cut down the ingredients. This recipe can be made in individual ramekins if one so wishes. I used a casserole dish, because with a large family, that is easier. If you do decide to use ramekins, simply mix the chicken, vegetables, and cream sauce in a separate mixing bowl, and then spoon into ramekin dishes before topping with scones. I cooked the chicken in crushed ginger and garlic, and green chillies before adding it to the vegetables. You can cook it however you wish.

CHICKEN POT PIE WITH HERB SCONE TOPPING
INGREDIENTS
1 litre chicken/ vegetable stock
3 Carrots, sliced into thick chunks
4-5 large potatoes, diced into large chunks
3 celery sticks, diced
175g peas
500g cooked boneless chicken, diced.
60g butter
1 onion, diced finely
30g Plain flour
175ml Double cream
Whole nutmeg, for grating
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste.
Leaves from one small bunch parsley, chopped

METHOD:

1. Bring stock to boil in a pot. Add the vegetables, and simmer until tender. Drain vegetables, and retain the stock.
2. Place the vegetables in an oven proof casserole dish. (Alternatively, if making  in individual ramekins, place the vegetables and chicken in a large mixing bowl or dish.)
3. In a small saucepan, melt the butter, add onion and cook over medium heat until tender. Stir in the flour and let do for two minutes. Add in the retained stock, stir, and bring to boil. Simmer gently until thickened, then stir in cream, and bring to boil again, and let thicken. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.

   

   My star cutter was the closest on
   hand, so stars it was!

   remove from heat and stir in the fresh chopped parsley, or herb of your choice. Combine with the vegetable mixture.
4. Top with scones, then bake at gas mark 7 in a preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to gas mark 4, and bake for a further 10 minutes until the scones are golden and the mixture is bubbling. Serve immediately.

HERB SCONE TOPPING
INGREDIENTS:
250g Plain flour
1tbsp Baking powder
1tsp Salt
60g butter
parsley, chopped
150ml milk.

METHOD:

1. Mix plain flour, baking powder, salt, and herbs in a bowl.
2. Rub in butter, until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
3. Stir in milk until it comes together. The mixture will be quite sticky.
4. Turn onto a floured surface ands knead until smooth. Pat dough out to a thickness of 1cm. Cut out circles (or shape of your choice) and place on top of the filling.
5. Brush scones with milk.

Warm and hearty chicken pot pie.

Rosemary & Sea Salt Focaccia

Finally got round to the focaccia recipe I mentioned earlier. So, here it is! Have at it!

ROSEMARY & SEASALT FOCACCIA
INGREDIENTS:
1tbsp dried yeast
425g/ 15oz Strong White Bread Flour, plus extra for dusting
2tsp finely crushed Sea Salt
Leaves from 5-7 Rosemary sprigs, two-thirds finely chopped
90ml/ 3floz Olive Oil, plus extra for greasing
1/4tsp freshly ground black pepper
Sea Salt, to sprinkle

METHOD:

1. Sprinkle yeast over 4tbsp warm water. Leave for 5 minutes, stirring once.
2. In a large bowl, mix the flour with the salt and make a well in the centre.
3. Add the rosemary, 4tbsp olive oil, yeast, pepper, and 240ml/ 8floz lukewarm water.
4. Gradually draw in the flour and work it into the other ingredients to form a smooth dough. The dough should be soft and sticky. do not be tempted to add more flour to dry it out.
5. Sprinkle the dough with flour and knead for 5-7 minutes on a floured surface. When ready, the dough will be very smooth and elastic. Place in an oiled bowl.
6. Cover with a damp tea towel. Leave to rise in a warm place for for one- one and a half hours until doubled in size.

   

   Ready for the oven!

7. Place the dough on a floured work surface and knock out the air. Cover with a dry tea towel and let it rest for 5 minutes. Brush a 38x23cm tin with oil.
8. Transfer the dough to the tin. With your hands, flatten the dough to fill the tin evenly.
9. Cover with a tea towel and  leave to rise in a warm place for 35-40 minutes until puffed. Preheat oven to Gas Mark 6 (200C/400F). Scatter the reserved rosemary leaves on top.
10. With your fingers, poke the dough all over to make deep dimples. Pour spoonfuls of the remaining oil all over the dough and sprinkle with Sea Salt.
11. Bake on the top shelf for 15-20 minutes until lightly browned. Transfer to a wire rack. Let cool slightly, cut and enjoy.

The smell of freshly baked bread is one of the best in the world!

This recipe is courtesy of the DK Step-By-Step Baking recipe book, an amazing book by Caroline Bretherton, which consists of hundreds of easy recipes. Do yourself a favour and purchase it. I swear you wont regret it!