A Flaky, Flavorful Feast: The Ultimate Chicken and Ham Pie Recipe

This recipe delivers a comforting, classic chicken and ham pie that's perfect for a family dinner or a special occasion. We'll guide you through creating a perfectly flaky pastry crust and a rich, savory filling, ensuring your pie is a resounding success. Get ready to impress!

Ingredients:

For the Pastry:

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
• ½ cup ice water

For the Filling:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 lb cooked chicken, shredded (rotisserie chicken works great!)
• 8 oz cooked ham, cubed
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)

Instructions:

Making the Pastry:

1. Combine dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.
2. Cut in the butter: Add the chilled butter cubes and use a pastry blender or your fingertips to cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Work quickly to prevent the butter from melting.
3. Add ice water: Gradually add the ice water, mixing gently until the dough just comes together. Don't overmix.
4. Chill the dough: Form the dough into a disc, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This allows the gluten to relax, resulting in a flakier crust.

Preparing the Filling:

1. Sauté vegetables: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
2. Make the roux: Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. This creates a roux, which will thicken the sauce.
3. Add remaining ingredients: Stir in the chicken broth, thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened slightly.
4. Combine chicken and ham: Stir in the shredded chicken, cubed ham, and frozen peas. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, until heated through. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

Assembling and Baking the Pie:

1. Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Roll out the dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out half of the pastry dough into a 12-inch circle. Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate.
3. Add the filling: Pour the chicken and ham filling into the pie crust.
4. Top with remaining dough: Roll out the remaining pastry dough and either place it over the filling or cut it into strips for a lattice top. Crimp the edges to seal.
5. Egg wash: Brush the top crust with the beaten egg for a golden brown finish.
6. Bake: Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. If the crust starts browning too quickly, cover the edges with foil.
7. Cool: Let the pie cool slightly before slicing and serving.

Serving Suggestions:

This chicken and ham pie is delicious on its own, but you can also serve it with a side salad, roasted vegetables, or mashed potatoes for a complete meal.

Tips for Success:

• Use high-quality ingredients: The better the ingredients, the better the pie will taste.
• Don't overwork the pastry dough: Overworking the dough will make it tough.
• Chill the dough thoroughly: Chilling the dough is crucial for a flaky crust.
• Vent the top crust: If using a full top crust, make sure to cut a few slits in it to allow steam to escape.

Enjoy your homemade chicken and ham pie! It's a recipe that's sure to become a family favorite. Remember to share your delicious creations using #ChickenHamPie on social media!