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Spider pies – Halloween recipe

With a delicious pastry topping, this Halloween-themed chicken pie recipe is sure to become a year-round favourite.

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 40 mins
Serves 4

Nutritional information

Per serving:

  • 1,806kJ / 431kcals
  • 31g protein
  • 18g fat, of which 5.6g saturates
  • 33.3g carbohydrate, of which 7.5g sugars
  • 5.8g fibre
  • 0.6g salt
Pastry spider with peas as eyes, sat on-top of a chicken pie

Ingredients

  • 250g potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 400g chopped tomatoes
  • 1 leek, sliced
  • 1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs
  • 3 handfuls (or 200g) cauliflower, broken into small florets
  • 100g broccoli, broken into small florets
  • 300g uncooked chicken breasts, cut into small chunks
  • 200ml reduced-salt vegetable or chicken stock
  • 100g frozen mixed vegetables
  • 150g uncooked shortcrust pastry
  • 10g plain flour
  • 4 tablespoons skimmed milk (to glaze)
  • 2 teaspoons (8g) poppy seeds
  • 8 frozen peas (to make the eyes)

Method

  1. Cook the potatoes in gently boiling water until tender.

  2. Meanwhile, heat the vegetable oil in a non-stick frying pan and add the chicken, cooking for 3 to 4 minutes until sealed and browned.

  3. Add the tomatoes, herbs, cauliflower, broccoli and stock. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes, until the vegetables are tender, adding an extra splash of water, if needed.

    Information:

    Use frozen broccoli and cauliflower instead, though cook for just 4 to 5 minutes.

  4. Stir the frozen mixed vegetables into the chicken mixture. Share between 4 large ramekin dishes or individual baking dishes and level the tops. Stand the dishes on a large baking sheet.

    Information:

    Try not to fill the dishes with too much liquid, or it could spill over the sides.

  5. Drain the potatoes and mash them with two tablespoons of the milk.

  6. Preheat the oven to 200C (fan oven 180C, gas mark 6). Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface. For each spider pie, cut out 8 strips for the legs, and 1 small circle for the head. Arrange on the pies and brush with milk. Place a scoop of mashed potato on top of each pie for the spider's body. Sprinkle with poppy seeds.

    Information:

    You could make one giant spider pie in a round baking dish.

  7. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, then serve with the peas placed on the spiders' heads to look like eyes.

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