Sometimes I get mail, asking me whether I’m into pickles and condiments business. It seems there is a brand called Maria’s pickles! Well, it’s not mine. I’m not into any commercial ventures…yet. Ohh yes, there is always a possibility of starting something in the future. There is no harm in dreaming about things, right? If wishes were horses…
Ok, so my dream is… I dont know whether I told you this before, anyways… my dream is to start a bakery and coffee shop sometime. That reminds me of another one of my dreams..it was my dream to start a boutique for Salwars. There is a slight problem though.. I dont think I’ll be able to sell any pieces, because I’d love to keep all those Salwars for myself ;) Anyways, coming back to bakery… I love bakery, because it’s always filled with so much of positive energy and life.
Tell me, why do you go to bakery usually? Ok, the reasons that usually take me to a bakery are
: if I want to just hang out with my friends and relax
: If I want to celebrate any special occasion
: to get some goodies if I’m visiting friends
etc etc…
Did you notice anything common in the above reasons? It’s all kind of happy situation.People usually go to bakery when they are happy, right? and I want to be a part of their happiness :) In short my bakery/coffees shop should be something like Central Perk in Friends. I better stop describing my bakery… Even otherwise, Jose always complains that I live in my own La La Land. If I go on with the bakery description, you might wanna support him, so…
Talking about the menu in the bakery, I’d love to keep it pretty basic. I love to serve food which people can relate to. I dont want anything fancy schmancy, I want simple and tasty food. I want to have the kind of food that welcomes you and comforts you and not the type that intimidates you. So if and when I start a bakery, this will be one of the items in the menu! It’s a kind of dish that makes you happy and content!
It’s a simple pie, you can either have it as a main dish along with some salad or as a starter. It’s a good choice for brunch too…
Please dont get scared seeing the length of the recipe. I assure you, it’s a simple one.
Step by step pictures for you…
Rub in the butter cubes to the plain flour till it resembles coarse bread crumbs. Add beaten egg and water (if required) and make a soft dough. Do not knead it too much. Keep the dough in the fridge for a minimum of 25 mins…
Heat oil and add chopped onion ad cubed capsicum. When the onions and capsicum have become soft (it doesn’t have to brown), add grated/chopped ginger,garlic and green chilli. Cook for 2-3 mins…
Add chopped celery, spring onion,salt and pepper powder. Cook for 4-5 mins. Add cooked and shredded chicken pieces and mix well. Cook for 2-3 mins, till everything comes together…
Melt butter in a sauce pan. When it’s completely melted, add plain flour and stir. Cook for 3-4 mins on low flame, till the raw taste of flour is gone. Make sure it doesn’t turn brown. Add a cup of milk and stir well, so that everything is combined…
Add pepper powder, salt and Italian seasoning. When the sauce begins to thicken, switch off the flame and let it cool. Mix together the white sauce and the chicken filling…
Transfer the rolled out dough to the pie dish. Prick the base all over with a fork. Bake the pastry in the pre heated oven for 7-8 mins, till the colour of the pastry changes to that of a light biscuit colour. Take the baked pastry out of the oven and fill it with the chicken and white sauce filling…
Make lattice on top (optional) and brush the lattice with a beaten egg. Return the pies to the oven and bake for 12-15 mins, increase the oven temp to 200 C and bake for 5 more mins, till the lattice has a light golden brown colour…
- Plain flour (maida) – 200 gms ( 1⅓ cups+2tbsp)
- Butter – 100 gms (kept @ room temp for 15 mins)
- Egg – 1
- Water – 1 tbsp
- Cooked and shredded chicken – 1 cup
- Onion – 1 med-big, finely chopped
- Capsicum – 1 small, cut into small cubes
- Chopped/grated garlic – 1.5 tsp
- Chopped/grated ginger – 1 tsp
- Green chilli – 2, chopped
- Celery – ¼ cup, chopped
- Spring onion – ¼ cup, chopped
- Pepper powder – ½ -1 tsp
- Salt
- Oil – Sunflower/Olive oil
- Butter – 1 tbsp (refer notes)
- Plain flour – 1 tbsp
- Milk – 1 cup
- Pepper powder – ¼ tsp
- A pinch of Italian seasoning
- Preheat the oven @ 180 C, 10 mins before baking.
- To make the pastry
- Rub in the butter cubes to the plain flour till it resembles coarse bread crumbs. Add beaten egg and water (if required) and make a soft dough. Do not knead it too much. Keep the dough in the fridge for a minimum of 25 mins.
- To make the filling
- Heat oil and add chopped onion ad cubed capsicum. When the onions and capsicum have become soft (it doesn’t have to brown), add grated/chopped ginger,garlic and green chilli. Cook for 2-3 mins. Add chopped celery, spring onion,salt and pepper powder. Cook for 4-5 mins. Add cooked and shredded chicken pieces and mix well. Cook for 2-3 mins, till everything comes together. Switch off the gas and let it cool.
- To make white sauce
- Melt butter in a sauce pan. When it’s completely melted, add plain flour and stir. Cook for 3-4 mins on low flame, till the raw taste of flour is gone. Make sure it doesn’t turn brown. Add a cup of milk and stir well, so that everything is combined. Keep stirring and make sure that there are no lumps. Add pepper powder, salt and Italian seasoning. When the sauce begins to thicken, switch off the flame and let it cool.
- Assembling the pie
- Grease the pie tins with butter. Roll out the refrigerated dough depending on the size of the tin you are using. Transfer the rolled out dough to the tin and trim the edges, if required. Prick the base all over with a fork. Bake the pastry in the pre heated oven for 7-8 mins, till the colour of the pastry changes to that of a light biscuit colour.
- Meanwhile mix together the white sauce and the chicken filling. Take the baked pastry out of the oven (let the oven be on and keep the oven door closed) and fill it with the chicken and white sauce filling. Make lattice on top (optional) and brush the lattice with a beaten egg.
- Return the pies to the oven and bake for 12-15 mins, increase the oven temp to 200 C and bake for 5 more mins, till the lattice has a light golden brown colour.
- Remove the pie from the oven. Let it cool in the tin for 5-10 mins. Remove from the pie tin and serve hot/warm. You can have it with some salad on the side.
