Indo-Andalusian Chicken and Leek Pie

Arre yaar! "Jerez meets Mumbai" is the aim of this pie!

Take a good chicken & leek pie recipe, add Amontillado and Curry Paste... and hey presto! A flavour sensation which will whisk you from the dusty and dry bodegas of Jerez to the sultry and teeming streets of Bombay with every mouthful.





















Ingredients (serves 4):

• 4 large organic chicken breasts
• 2 leeks sliced
  
• baby carrots diced
  
• 2 cloves garlic crushed and chopped
  
• 2 spring onions finely chopped
  
• 1 1/2 cups (330 ml) chicken stock
• Dash of Amontillado (Dry Jerez Sherry)
• 1 tbs good curry paste (Pataks, Sharwoods or your own)
• 1/2 cup (110 ml) cream
• Bunch of fresh parsley
  
• Ready-made pie crust
• Corn starch to thicken
• Olive oil
  

Instructions:
1. Heat casserole (dutch oven), add olive oil and gently fry the garlic, then add the chicken.

2. Fry chicken until no longer pink, then add diced carrots and chicken stock. Bring to boil, then simmer gently.










3. Meanwhile, heat another pan, add olive oil, leeks and spring onions. Cook gently for a few minutes.










4. Add curry paste to the leeks and stir-in.















5. Add the stock to the leeks and stir.











6. Add the Amontillado and cream and stir.














7. Mix a teaspoon of corn-starch and cold water and add to the leek mixture to thicken. Then add the chicken and carrots and mix well.















8. Snip some fresh parsley and stir. Simmer gently for a couple of minutes, then transfer to a deep pie dish.











9. Cover the pie dish with the crust. Prick some holes with a fork.











10. Place in the oven at 350 F (180C) and cook for 30 minutes or until crust is golden brown










11. Remove, serve and enjoy!

Basic Pizza Dough

Most folks are impressed if you mention you make your own pizza dough - I'm not sure why, as it's dead easy to make (as you'll see below), especially if you use a food processor. The results are way better than any store-bought ready-made pizza base. But, do try to get hold of a pizza stone - they make a world of difference.

Tip - I cook the base first, this makes it easier to add the topping and also makes it much crispier.




















Ingredients (Makes 1 medium pizza base)

• 8oz (220g) white organic flour
• 1 tbs (5g) active yeast
• 1 tbs olive oil
• salt
• 1 tsp brown sugar (alternatively: honey or maple syrup)
• About 1/2 cup of lukewarm water

Instructions
1. Heat water so that it is lukewarm - not boiling.

2. Put yeast into cup and add the sugar (or honey/maple sryup). Add a little water and stir.




















3. Leave yeast to rise, takes about 5 mins.










4. Measure the flour into a food processor. Add the yeast mixture, 0live oil and a little salt. Mix for a few seconds until combined.




















6. Gradually add water to the mix, until a single "clump" of dough is formed.


















7. Remove dough and shape into a ball with your hands. Add a little flour if it is too wet.









8. Wipe a bowl with a little olive and add the dough. Loosely cover with cling-film. Leave to rise (about 10-15 mins) whilst you prepare your pizza toppings.










9. Remove dough from the bowl and roll-out into a pizza base.










10. Place on pizza stone in a pre-heated hot oven (450F) and cook for 2-3 minutes.









11. Remove and add toppings.

12. Cook pizza.

13. Serve and enjoy!