Ham, Leek and Potato Pie
We had this pie for dinner because I had so much ham left over from New Year's Day dinner. I had everything that it called for except creme fraiche but luckily found that on sale so this was a very inexpensive meal but quite spectacular in appearance. It would make a very impressive main course for a lunch or dinner with guests. The fact that there were potatoes in the pie, meant that I only had to make vegetables.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 large onion , finely chopped
- 3 leeks , finely sliced
- 2 large potatoes , cut into small cubes
- 2 tbsp plain flour , plus extra for dusting
- 300ml chicken or ham stock
- 100ml pot crème fraîche (or use leftover double cream)
- 2 tsp wholegrain mustard
- 200g cooked ham , shredded
- 4 bay leaves , optional
- 375g pack puff pastry
- 1 egg , beaten, to glaze (or use milk)
- Heat a large frying pan, melt the butter, then add the onion and leeks. Cover, then very gently cook for 15 mins until soft. Add the potatoes after 5 mins cooking.
- Stir in the flour, turn up the heat, then add the stock, stirring until the mix thickens a little. Take off the heat, then stir in the crème fraîche, mustard and ham. Season to taste, then cool, if you have time. Spoon the mix into a large pie dish, adding a couple of bay leaves. Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7.
- Roll out the pastry on a floured surface to the thickness of a £1 coin. Cut a pastry strip the same width as the lip of the dish, wet the edge of the dish with egg, then fix the strip around it. Brush the top with egg, then lay over the remaining pastry.
- Trim pastry to the edge of the dish, then ruffle the cut edges with the knife blade to help the layers rise. Cut a few slits to let the steam escape, decorate with bay leaves, if you like, then brush all over the top with egg. Can be done up to a day ahead, keep chilled. Bake for 30 mins until risen.
