Chicken pastry are a match made in culinary heaven. The tender, juicy chicken wrapped in a flaky, buttery pastry creates a delightful contrast of textures and flavors that is simply irresistible. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or looking for a comforting meal for your family, homemade chicken pastry are sure to impress. The process of making a chicken pastry recipe from scratch allows you to infuse love and care into each bite, making the experience even more enjoyable for both the cook and the diners.
Ingredients for Chicken Pastry
To make your own homemade chicken pastry, here are the ingredients you’ll need:
Creamy Chicken Filling:
- 3 tbsp butter
- ½ onion, chopped
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 lb chicken breast, diced into ½-inch pieces
- 1 leek, chopped and rinsed
- 8 oz Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 4 oz sour cream
- ¼ cup half and half
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ tsp paprika
- 3 tbsp chopped chives
For the Pastry:
- 3 lbs puff pastry (you may have some leftovers)
- 2 small eggs, beaten with 1 tbsp water (egg wash)
How to Make Chicken Pastry
Step 1: Prepare the Creamy Chicken Filling
Start by preparing the chicken filling. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once the butter is melted and bubbling, add the chopped onions and sauté them until they become translucent. This will take about 3-4 minutes.
Next, sprinkle in the flour and stir well to form a smooth paste. Allow the flour to cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently to avoid burning. This step ensures the flour is cooked through and helps thicken the filling.
Add the leeks, chicken, sour cream, and half and half to the pan. Season with salt and pepper, then stir everything together. Cook the mixture for about 20 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
Afterward, stir in the paprika, chopped chives, and shredded Monterey Jack cheese. Allow the filling to simmer for an additional 10-15 minutes, ensuring all the flavors meld together. Once done, remove the pan from the heat and set the filling aside to cool.
Step 2: Prepare the Pastry
While the filling cools, preheat your oven to 375°F (200°C) and line your baking sheets with parchment paper.
Lightly dust a clean surface with flour and roll out the puff pastry to about 2/8 inch in thickness. If you’re using puff pastry sheets, make sure to roll them out evenly. Using a 3 to 3.5-inch round cutter, cut as many circles as possible from the rolled-out dough. You should be able to make around 40-45 circles, depending on the size of your cutter.
Step 3: Assemble the Pastries
Once you have your pastry circles, brush the edges of one circle with egg wash. Spoon a small amount of cooled chicken filling into the center of the circle. Be careful not to overfill it. Top with another pastry circle and press down the edges to seal.
Use a fork to crimp the edges and ensure they are sealed tightly. For a clean finish, you can also use the round cutter to trim off any excess pastry, giving your pastries a neat and uniform look.
Once assembled, place the pastries on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch of space between them. Brush the tops of the pastries with the remaining egg wash and make two small slits on top to allow steam to escape during baking.
Step 4: Bake the Pastries
Bake your chicken pastries in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and puffed up. When done, remove them from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy these warm, delicious pastries!
Serving Suggestions and Variations
Chicken pastries are incredibly versatile and can be served in various ways. Here are a few serving suggestions and variations to try:
- Serve the pastries with a side salad for a light and balanced meal.
- Pair them with a bowl of soup for a warm and comforting dinner.
- Add different vegetables to the filling, such as mushrooms, bell peppers, or spinach, to customize the flavor.
- Experiment with different herbs and spices, like thyme, rosemary, or paprika, to add depth to the filling.
- For a cheesy twist, sprinkle some grated cheese over the filling before sealing the pastries.
Serving chicken pastry with a side salad provides a refreshing contrast to the rich and savory pastries. A crisp, green salad with a tangy vinaigrette complements the flavors and adds a touch of freshness to the meal. Pairing the pastries with a bowl of soup, such as creamy tomato or hearty chicken noodles, creates a comforting and satisfying dinner that is perfect for chilly evenings.
Customizing the filling with different vegetables allows you to experiment with flavors and textures. Mushrooms add an earthy richness, bell peppers provide a sweet crunch, and spinach adds a vibrant color and a hint of bitterness. Herbs and spices, such as thyme, rosemary, and paprika, can elevate the filling by adding aromatic and savory notes. For those who love cheese, sprinkling grated cheese over the filling before sealing the pastries adds a gooey, melty element that takes the pastries to the next level.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
If you have any leftover chicken pastry, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. To reheat, place the pastries on a baking sheet and warm them in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through. Avoid microwaving the pastries, as this can make the pastry soggy.
Properly storing and reheating leftover chicken pastry ensures that they retain their deliciousness. Using an airtight container prevents the pastries from drying out and helps maintain their freshness. Reheating in the oven allows the pastries to regain their crispness, making them taste almost as good as freshly baked. Microwaving, on the other hand, can cause the pastry to become soggy and lose its flaky texture, so it’s best to avoid this method.
Why Homemade Chicken Pastry Are Worth the Effort
While it may be tempting to buy pre-made chicken pastry from the store, making them from scratch is well worth the effort. Homemade chicken pastry allows you to control the quality and freshness of the ingredients, resulting in a superior taste and texture. Plus, the process of making these pastries can be a fun and rewarding experience, especially if you involve family or friends in the kitchen.
When you make chicken pastry at home, you have the freedom to choose the best ingredients, ensuring that each component is of the highest quality. This results in a more flavorful and satisfying final product. The process of making the pastries from scratch allows you to customize the recipe to suit your preferences, whether it’s adjusting the seasoning, adding your favorite vegetables, or experimenting with different herbs and spices. Involving family or friends in the cooking process can turn it into a fun and interactive activity, creating lasting memories and a sense of accomplishment.
Conclusion: Impress Your Guests with Homemade Chicken Pastry
With this detailed recipe, you can confidently create a delicious chicken pastry that will impress your guests and leave them wanting more. The combination of tender chicken and flaky pastry is a timeless classic that never fails to delight. So, roll up your sleeves, gather your ingredients, and get ready to enjoy the homemade goodness of chicken pastry. Whether you’re serving them at a dinner party, a family gathering, or simply as a comforting meal for yourself, these homemade chicken pastry are sure to be a hit.
As you take that first bite into the golden, flaky pastry and savor the rich, savory chicken filling, you’ll realize that the effort was truly worth it. The satisfaction of creating something delicious from scratch, combined with the joy of sharing it with loved ones, makes homemade chicken pastry a culinary experience to cherish. So go ahead, give this recipe a try, and let the magic of homemade chicken pastry elevate your cooking to new heights.
Simple chicken pastry recipe
Ingredients
Creamy Chicken Filling:
- 3 tbsp butter
- ½ onion chopped
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 lb chicken breast diced into ½-inch pieces
- 1 leek chopped and rinsed
- 8 oz Monterey Jack cheese shredded
- 4 oz sour cream
- ¼ cup half and half
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ tsp paprika
- 3 tbsp chopped chives
For the Pastry:
- 3 lbs puff pastry you may have some leftovers
- 2 small eggs beaten with 1 tbsp water (egg wash)
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Creamy Chicken Filling
- Start by preparing the chicken filling. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once the butter is melted and bubbling, add the chopped onions and sauté them until they become translucent. This will take about 3-4 minutes.
- Next, sprinkle in the flour and stir well to form a smooth paste. Allow the flour to cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently to avoid burning. This step ensures the flour is cooked through and helps thicken the filling.
- Add the leeks, chicken, sour cream, and half and half to the pan. Season with salt and pepper, then stir everything together. Cook the mixture for about 20 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- Afterward, stir in the paprika, chopped chives, and shredded Monterey Jack cheese. Allow the filling to simmer for an additional 10-15 minutes, ensuring all the flavors meld together. Once done, remove the pan from the heat and set the filling aside to cool.
Step 2: Prepare the Pastry
- While the filling cools, preheat your oven to 375°F (200°C) and line your baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Lightly dust a clean surface with flour and roll out the puff pastry to about 2/8 inch in thickness. If you’re using puff pastry sheets, make sure to roll them out evenly. Using a 3 to 3.5-inch round cutter, cut as many circles as possible from the rolled-out dough. You should be able to make around 40-45 circles, depending on the size of your cutter.
Step 3: Assemble the Pastries
- Once you have your pastry circles, brush the edges of one circle with egg wash. Spoon a small amount of cooled chicken filling into the center of the circle. Be careful not to overfill it. Top with another pastry circle and press down the edges to seal.
- Use a fork to crimp the edges and ensure they are sealed tightly. For a clean finish, you can also use the round cutter to trim off any excess pastry, giving your pastries a neat and uniform look.
- Once assembled, place the pastries on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch of space between them. Brush the tops of the pastries with the remaining egg wash and make two small slits on top to allow steam to escape during baking.
Step 4: Bake the Pastries
- Bake your chicken pastries in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and puffed up. When done, remove them from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy these warm, delicious pastries!