I think hodgepodge pies are fantastic. As the name suggests, the contents are typically what you have available. This version is for Christmas roast leftovers. If you have mash or any cooked greens add those to the pie, too (you can use them instead of the Brussels sprouts).
Prep time: 30 minutes/Cook time: 90 minutes/Serves: 10 (+30 minutes chilling)
Ingredients:
2 rashers of smoked streaky bacon
25g unsalted butter
olive oil
2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
2 leeks
2 field mushrooms
2 tsp wholegrain mustard
50g plain flour
1l chicken or turkey stock (you can use the leftover turkey bones for this)
2 tbsp crème fraîche
500g leftover cooked turkey and/or stuffing
200g Brussels sprouts, (uncooked)
2 tbsp cranberry sauce
1 large egg
For the Pastry:
500g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
250g cold, unsalted, butter
1 large egg
Method:
For the pastry, combine the flour and 1 tsp of sea salt into a bowl, cube and add the butter, then use your thumbs and forefingers to rub the butter into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs.
Beat the egg, then stir into the bowl with 3 to 4 tbsp of ice-cold water. Use your hands to gently bring the ingredients together into a ball, but don’t overwork it. Divide into two pieces and flatten each into a circle (for the top and bottom of your pie), then wrap in greaseproof paper and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
Finely chop the bacon, then place in a large non-stick frying pan on a medium heat with the butter and 1 tbsp of olive oil (or turkey fat, if you have any). Pick, roughly chop and add the rosemary, then cook for 3 minutes, or until golden.
Wash, trim and roughly chop the white part of the leeks (save the green part for making stock or soup) and thickly slice the mushrooms, then add to the pan. Season with a pinch of sea salt and black pepper, then cook for 10 minutes, or until soft and caramelised, stirring occasionally.
Stir in the mustard, then the flour, and pour in the stock – any leftover turkey gravy will add great bonus flavour here, too. Bring to the boil and simmer gently for 15 to 20 minutes on a medium-low heat, then turn off the heat and add the crème fraîche. At this stage, you can either leave it chunky or use a stick blender to whiz it to your preferred consistency. Leave to cool completely.
Once cold, set aside half of the sauce to serve, then tear up the turkey meat and stir it into the pan, adding some stuffing, if you’ve got it. Trim, finely slice and stir in the Brussels sprouts.
Pre-heat your oven to 170°C (325°F/gas mark 3) and grease the bottom of a round 30cm diameter pie dish with a little oil (or leftover turkey fat, if you have any). Roll out half the pastry on a clean flour-dusted surface to ½cm thick and use it to line the pie dish, then tip in your turkey pie filling. Dollop the cranberry sauce on top. Beat the egg, then use it to brush the edges.
Roll out the remaining pastry to ½cm thick and a little bigger than the pie dish. Use a selection of cutters to cut out shapes in the middle, and set aside. Carefully place the pastry left behind on top of the pie dish and brush with beaten egg, then place the reserved pastry shapes on top, filling any gaps. Trim off any pastry, then roll out again and cut out more shapes, until all the gaps are filled.
Brush the top with beaten egg, and press a fork around the edges to seal. Bake at the bottom of the oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and the filling is piping hot.
When you’re nearly ready to serve, reheat the remaining sauce until piping hot, then take it to the table alongside the pie. Delicious served with steamed greens and peas.
