When it comes to country cooking, no one does it better than the Country Women’s Association. The esteemed women’s group is renowned for its delicious recipes and timeless cookbooks, and has now released an updated version of its popular Country Classics. The book is filled with scrumptious recipes that are perfect for cosy nights in, big family gatherings and nostalgic meals that’ll take you right back to your childhood. 

This hearty chicken pie is a favourite in kitchens across the country and is perfect with a side of greens and creamy mashed potato. 

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 small potato, grated
• 1 tablespoon cornflour
• 600ml chicken stock
• 250g cooked chicken
• 1 × 130g can mushrooms in butter sauce
• a little lemon juice
• salt and pepper to taste 1 egg, beaten
• 2 tablespoons cream
• 2 sheets puff pastry

Method

1. Preheat oven to 210°C.
2. Heat oil and cook onion and potato. Add cornflour and cook for a few more minutes. Remove from heat and add chicken stock. Return to heat and stir until mixture thickens.
3. Add chicken, mushrooms, lemon juice and salt and pepper. Mix egg with cream, then add to chicken mixture.
4. Line a deep 20-cm pie dish with one sheet of pastry. Fill with mixture. Wet pastry edges and cover with remaining pastry sheet. Trim and seal edges. Glaze top with a little milk. Make a slit in the top of pastry to allow steam to escape.
5. Bake for about 30 minutes, until pastry is crisp and golden. It’s also very nice cold.

This is an extract from Country Women’s Association Country Classics (Penguin Random House, RRP 45.00) which is available now.