Leek, potato & cheddar pie

February 10, 2021February 11, 2021 ~ Corrie ~ 4 Comments

If there was ever a time to bake a pie…

Leek, potato and cheddar pie
Serves 4-8 / Hands on time 1 hr 45 mins / Total time 2 hrs 15 mins + resting / V
You’ll need: 25cm flan tin (preferable with a removable bottom) / baking paper / rolling pin /
For the rough-puff pastry:
250g strong white bread flour
250g cold unsalted butter
1tsp sea salt flakes
100 ml cold water
For the filling:
150ml tap water
½ vegetable stock pot or cube
250g potatoes, cubed
250g leeks, trimmed and roughly chopped
½ white onion, peeled and chopped
100g mature vegetarian cheddar
1 egg, beaten

TIP: This recipe is split into 3 parts to give you the option of making the pie in stages – making a pie all in one day can be exhausting. I usually make the pastry the day before filling the pie and then refrigerate the pie over night before baking.

TIP: Alternatively, you can always use shop bought puff pastry.

PART 1:
Make the rough-puff pastry (Hands on time 45 mins + 30 mins resting)
1. Mix the salt and the flour together in a large bowl before grating in a third of the cold butter. Using your hands, coat the butter in the flour before grating in another third of the butter and repeat with the last third. Adding the butter in batches makes it easier to incorporate.
2. Using your fingers, rub the butter loosely until it resembles breadcrumbs. This should take 10 to 15 mins so pop the radio on.
3. Make a well in the bowl and add 100 ml of cold water. Mix with a butter knife before using your hands to bring the crumbly dough together – being careful not to over work the dough.
4. Turn out onto a large piece of cling film and gather up the corners until you have a firm ball of pastry. Refrigerate for at least 30 mins. If making the filling the same day, use the next 30 mins to jump to PART 2.

5. Once the pastry has rested, remove from the fridge and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Using your hands, mould the crumbly pastry into a rough rectangle (the pastry will be very crumbly but don’t let that scare you, it will start to come together at you roll it out). Flour your rolling pin and roll the pastry away from you in one direction only, until roughly three times the original length, flouring the surface as you go if needed.
6. Fold the top third of the pastry down to the centre, then the bottom third up and over that. Give the dough a quarter turn to the left or right, flour the surface and your rolling pin if needed and roll out again to three times the length in one direction.
7. Fold as before, before wrapping well in cling film and refrigerating again for at least 20 mins. The pastry can be kept refrigerated for up to 1 month or freeze for up to 6 months.

PART 2:
Make the filling (Hands on time 25 mins + cooling)
1. Chop 250g potatoes into cubes (I leave the skins on, but you can peel them if you prefer) and add them to a medium sized saucepan along with 150ml of tap water and half a stock cube or stock pot. Bring to the boil and cook over a high heat for 5 mins.
2. Add 250g of chopped leeks and half a chopped onion to the pan and simmer with the lid on for 8 mins or until the vegetables are tender and all the liquid has evaporated, stirring regularly.
3. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside to cool fully. The filling can be refrigerated for up to 5 days if you’re planning on assembling your pie another day.

PART 3:
Assemble the pie (Hands on time 30-35 mins + 30 mins baking time)
1. Grease the tin well and dust with flour before lining the base with baking paper. Put to one side.
2. Remove the chilled pastry from the fridge and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Cut a third of the pastry off and put to one side (this will be your pastry top). Roll out the pastry until it’s a few millimetres thick and big enough to comfortably line the tin, flouring the surface and the rolling pin as you go.
3. Drape the pastry over the tin and carefully push the pastry into the edges and up the sides using your fingertips. You will need the overhanging pastry but trim off any excessively long pieces and put to one side (these will be used to decorate your pie later). Prick the bottom of the pastry with a fork and turn your attention back to the filling.
4. Grate the cheddar and incorporate into the cooled leek mixture. Season well with salt and black pepper before spooning into the tin. Spread the filling out evenly and put the pie to one side. Before you preheat your oven, line the bottom of the oven with foil to catch any melted butter. Preheat your oven to 220°C/200°C fan/425°F/gas mark 7.
5. Mould the third of the pastry you saved for the top into a ball and roll out on a floured surface. Using a sharp knife, cut out a circle, big enough to fit snugly over the exposed filling (this doesn’t need to be too perfect, if the pastry is slightly too big to sit comfortably in the tin simply trim more off).
6. Fold the excess pastry back in on top of the pie lid and crimp around the edges to give a decorative crust – again, this doesn’t have to be perfect.
7. Use any excess pastry you removed earlier to decorate the pie. I cut out leaf shapes but you can decorate your pie however you like. If you are planning on baking the pie another day, now is a good time to wrap it in clingfilm and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before baking.
8. Egg wash the pie all over before making 2 small incisions in the centre to allow steam escape. Bake on the middle shelf for 30-35 mins or until the pastry is golden.
9. Allow the pie to cool for 10-15 mins before removing carefully from the tin and discarding the baking paper. I do this by placing a lightweight chopping board or plate over the top of the pie and flipping it on its head. This allows you to lift off the tin (do not do this when the pie is still hot as it may not hold its structure). Repeat the same trick with a cooling rack to get the pie right side up.
10. Serve warm or cold with a simple green salad.
The pie will last for up to 4 days wrapped up in the fridge.

Want more? Take your pie making skills to the next level by enrolling on the ultimate pie making course with River Cottage chef Tom Morrell. He will teach you all the skills necessary to make a variety of savoury pastry recipes – including shortcrust, rough puff, hot water crust and suet.

If you’ve had a go at making any of my recipes, I’d love to hear from you. Follow me now @corrieheale and tag your recipe pictures using #corriesrabbitfood.

V – Vegetarian

Leek & cheddar loaf

February 3, 2020March 24, 2020 ~ Corrie ~ 2 Comments

Currently unemployed/freelance, I seem to spend most of my days, actively avoiding doing any form of work. Whether it be cleaning, job hunting or working on my ‘brilliant’ life changing new business ideas, I just seem to find myself watching episode after episode of Judge Rinder and eating slice after slice of this delicious leek and cheese loaf. Well a girl has got to eat and Judge Rinder is very wise… I can change my life tomorrow.

This loaf goes great with hearty soups and can also be enjoyed as a breakfast on the go or simply toasted spread with butter. So get your loaf on and become a lazy bum like me #lifegoals.

Leek and cheddar loaf
Makes 1 loaf / Hands on time 20 mins / Total time 1hr 20 mins + cooling / V ❄
You’ll need: 2lb/900g loaf tin, baking paper
Rapeseed oil or butter for greasing
150g leek (1 medium leek) finely chopped
75g strong mature vegetarian cheddar, grated
250g self-raising flour
50g wholemeal flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp sea salt flakes
250ml semi-skimmed milk
2 eggs
Few springs of thyme, leaves picked
Black pepper
40g vegetarian Italian hard cheese or Parmesan*, grated
Small handful pumpkin seeds

TIP: If you have any extra root vegetables to use up, replace the leeks with whatever you have to hand. Grate hard vegetables such as carrots and butternut squash and finely chop fibrous greens. You can also replace the cheddar with a cheese of your choice.

Method
1. Preheat an oven to 180°C/160°C fan/ 350°F/gas mark 4. Grease a loaf tin with oil or butter and line the bottom with baking paper. Put to one side.
2. Finely chop the leek and grate the cheddar. Mix together in a medium sized bowl and add the Italian hard cheese, keeping a handful a side for later.
3. In a larger mixing bowl, measure out the flours, baking powder, salt and mix until combined. Add the leek and cheese mixture, thyme leaves and a good crack of black pepper and mix well until the ingredients are evenly distributed.
4. In a mixing jug, measure out 250ml of semi-skimmed milk and crack in 2 eggs. Beat with a fork until fully incorporated. Pour straight into the dry mixture and mix quickly until combined – adding the wet ingredients to the dry activated the baking powder so the sooner you can get it in the oven the better.
5. Pour into a loaf tin and top with the remaining cheese and a sprinkling of pumpkin seeds. Bake in the oven for 1 hr.
6. Remove and cool in the tin for 10 mins before turning out and cooling fully on a rack. However, if you’re desperate to eat it warm feel free, just bear in mind the loaf will be a little soft so slice carefully. Serve on its own or spread with butter. Wrap in foil and keep refrigerated for up to 5 days.

V – Vegetarian
❄ – Once cooled, slice and wrap well in cling film or foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost fully in the fridge before consuming.
*Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiani) is always made using animal rennet, therefore it is not vegetarian. Substitute for Italian hard cheese if applicable.

If you’ve had a go at making any of my recipes, I’d love to hear from you. Follow me now @corrieheale and tag your recipe pictures using #corriesrabbitfood.

Leek & cheese muffins

July 16, 2018January 21, 2020 ~ Corrie ~ 1 Comment

Muffins seemed like a good idea until I realised I’d have to turn the oven on in my already stiflingly-hot flat. What the hell was I thinking? It’s 30°c in London today, I should be lying under a tree somewhere, sucking on a Calippo and reading a sonnet. But no, instead, I’m angrily chopping leeks and grating cheese in a bid to jazz up my breakfasts. Was it worth it? Well, it was for Jamie. I’d only eaten one before he got to them – they never had a chance.

Leek & cheese muffins
Makes 6 large or 12 regular muffins / Hands on time 20 mins / Total time 45 mins + cooling / V ❄
Dry
2 leeks (150g) finely diced
100g vegetarian Italian hard cheese or *Parmesan, grated
Few sprigs of Thyme, leaves picked
¼ tsp Nutmeg
½ tsp dried parsley
½ tsp herbs de Provence
1 tbs pumpkin seeds (extra for sprinkling)
200g spelt or wholemeal flour
50g oats
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
Wet
2 large eggs
250g semi-skimmed milk
4 tbs rapeseed oil
1 tsp Dijon mustard

Method
1. Preheat an oven to 200°C/180°C fan/400°F/gas mark 6. Line a tin with muffin cases and finely dice your leeks – put both to one side. Combine the dry ingredients together (excluding the leeks and a small handful of grated Italian hard cheese) in a large bowl and give it a good mix.
2. In a separate smaller bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients until fully incorporated.
3. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir with a wooden spoon until roughly combined, being careful not to over-mix. Add the diced leeks and stir until evenly distributed.
4. Evenly spoon into the muffins cases and top with a sprinkling pumpkin seeds and a little parmesan. Bake in the oven for 20 mins for 12 muffins or 25-30 mins for 6 large muffins. The muffins are cooked when a toothpick is inserted and comes out clean. Leave to rest in the tin for 5 minuets before turning out onto a cooling rack. Serve warm with butter or leave to cool completely and enjoy on the go.
STORE: Either in an airtight container and gobble up within a couple of days or freeze and defrost on demand (that’s what I do).

If you’ve had a go at making any of my recipes, I’d love to hear from you. Follow me now @corrieheale and tag your recipe pictures using #corriesrabbitfood.

V – Vegetarain
❄ To freeze, cool fully before wrapping individually in a few layers of clingfilm and freeze for up to 3 months.
*Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiani) is always made using animal rennet, therefore it is not vegetarian. Substitute for Italian hard cheese if applicable.

Leek mac and cheese

April 9, 2018July 10, 2022 ~ Corrie ~ 2 Comments

This was actually suppose to be a jalapeño mac and cheese, but the ones I had in my fridge had gone all manky, and there appeared to be a jalapeño shortage in north London. I was a bit peeved about this, until I spoke to my friend, Abbie, who informed me that the best mac and cheese she had ever eaten was Delia’s leek and bacon. I pondered for a moment – maybe I didn’t need jalapeños. I certainly didn’t need bacon. Maybe I just needed leeks. Leeks and cheese make excellent bed fellows, so why not throw them together to make hot, passionate cheesy love?
Gosh, where did that come from? Anyway, enjoy – I certainly did.

Leek mac and cheese

Serves 4-6 / Hands on time 30 mins / Total time 50 mins / V

You’ll need: Deep casserole dish and a food processor (if making breadcrumbs)

250g macaroni

2 tbs unsalted butter

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1 large leek, roughly chopped

3 tbs plain flour

250ml semi-skimmed milk

250g vegetarian cheeses (you can use a mixture of any cheeses you like as long as it melts easily. I used a mix of Emmental and cheddar)
Breadcrumbs

50g of stale bread

1 garlic clove
1 knob of butter
30g vegetarian Italian hard cheese or *Parmesan, grated
To serve
leaves and pickles

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 200°C/180°fan/400°F/gas mark 6. Cook your macaroni according the the packet instructions, drain and put to one side. Meanwhile, make your breadcrumbs by blitzing up 50g of stale bread in a food processor, put to one side. Add a knob of butter to a large frying pan along with a crushed garlic clove on a medium heat. Once melted add the breadcrumbs and fry until golden brown. Put to one side.
2. In a large saucepan add the butter, crushed garlic cloves and dijon mustard on a medium heat. Add the roughly chopped leek stir until well coated in the mix. Put the lid on and allow to sweat for 10 mins, keeping an eye on the mixture to make sure it doesn’t burn. Meanwhile, use this time to grate the cheese.
3. Once the leeks have softened, add the the flour, stir and continue to cook for a minute stirring continually. Add the milk bit by bit and incorporate into the leeks stirring well until smooth (as smooth as it can be with the leeks in it). Season well with salt and pepper and take off the heat.
4. Add the cheese a handful at a time and stir after each addition, until you have a thick, silky cheese sauce. Stir in the macaroni and pour into an oven proof dish. Sprinkle over the breadcrumbs, grate over the Italian hard cheese. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Once cooked, leave to stand for 5 minutes before serving with a simple salad and few pickles.

If you’ve had a go at making any of my recipes, I’d love to hear from you. Follow me now @corrieheale and tag your recipe pictures using #corriesrabbitfood.

V – Vegetarian
*Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiani) is always made using animal rennet, therefore it is not vegetarian. Substitute for Italian hard cheese if applicable.

Leek, potato & chive soup

January 6, 2017January 31, 2020 ~ Corrie ~ Leave a comment

Why is leek and potato soup always a gross white colour? Aren’t leeks green? I know the bottom part of them is white and potatoes are white but unless it’s yogurt, I tend to have a bit of a problem with white food. Anyway, feeling nostalgic, I bought a can of leek and potato soup recently and was bitterly disappointed. What a horrible bowl of white grainy slop! I should have known, canned soup can never compete with homemade, with the exception of Heinz Tomato Soup of course, it’s the best.
So I came up with this rather GREEN version and added some chives and cheddar cheese (because everything in life can be improved with a bit of cheese – that’s just a fact.

Leek, potato & chive soup (As featured in Families First Magazine)
Serves 4 / Hands on time 25 mins / Total time 40 mins / V Gf ❄
You’ll need: A food processor or hand blender
3 leeks, roughly chopped
½ large onion, roughly sliced
350g baking potatoes (roughly 3 big ones), peeled and roughly chopped
25g chives, chopped
Knob of butter
1 ½ litres vegetable stock, I use Knorr
150g plain yogurt
Mature vegetarian cheddar cheese, grated to serve (optional)
Pomora extra virgin olive oil

TIP: This soup also works well as a broth, so if you don’t have a blender or simply prefer a broth, then chop everything up nice and small and follow the recipe without blending.

Method
1. Sauté the onions in the butter on a medium to low heat whilst you wash and chop your leeks. Add the leeks and sweat down for 10 mins. Meanwhile, wash, peel and chop your potatoes. Roughly chop most of the chives (saving a small sprinkle for decoration) and add to the pot. Give it a good stir and cook for a further 5 mins.
2. Pour in the stock, season generously with salt and pepper and bring to the boil. Once boiling bring down to a simmer and cook for 15 mins.
3. Take off the heat and blend with either a hand blender or a food processor. Once blended add the yogurt and blend again until smooth. Season to taste. Ladle into bowls and serve topped with a handful of grated cheese, a sprinkling of chopped chives, a swirl of extra virgin olive oil and a good crack of black pepper.

If you’ve had a go at making any of my recipes, I’d love to hear from you. Follow me now @corrieheale and tag your recipe pictures using #corriesrabbitfood.

V– Vegetarian Gf– Gluten free
❄– Suitable for home freezing once cooled. Consume within 3 months.

Leek & mushroom breton with chickpea mash

February 13, 2016July 10, 2022 ~ Corrie ~ Leave a comment

Leek & Mushroom Breton with Chickpea Mash

It’s Valentines Day tomorrow. Does anyone care? Thought not. I don’t have a problem with flowers, chocolates or even ugly bears with hearts sewn to their paws, but I do have a problem with couples who shell out on real gifts. There is just something inherently pushy about Valentines Day and the presumption that you would buy anything other than flowers and chocolates deeply offends me. I mean who does that? If Jamie bought me a fancy Jo Malone candle for Valentines Day I’d be very angry. That money could have gone towards a very affordable microwave!

Anyway, I did actually make Jamie a romantic dinner a few weeks back – because I’m nice like that. The velvety breton sauce is the key to this dish, it’s easy but takes about an hour to make. Once made though, the rest of the recipe is quick and simple. I tend to make the sauce the night before and pop it in the fridge until I’m ready to use it. Breton sauce is not traditionally vegetarian (being French) but I was determined to create a vegetarian dish that could stand up in a French restaurant. Oh and if you’re not keen on the idea of chickpea mash then normal mash will suffice. Bon appetite mon amie.

Leek and mushroom breton with chickpea mash
Serves 4 / Hands on time 50 mins / Total time 1 hour 40 minutes / V ❄
You’ll need: Hand blender or food processor for the mash
Sauce
1 carrot, peeled and roughly chopped
1 large onion, roughly chopped
1 celery rib, roughly chopped
85g unsalted butter
40g plain flour
1 litre vegetable stock, I use 2 knorr vegetable stock pots
2 large crushed garlic cloves
1 bay leaf
½ tsp black peppercorns
1 tsp vegetarian Worcestershire sauce*
100ml vegetarian red wine
2 tbs tomato purée
Vegetables
2 large leeks, sliced
2 carrots, peeled and thickly chopped
5 chestnut mushrooms, thickly chopped
Fresh parsley, finely chopped
Chickpea mash
3 cans of chick peas
3 large garlic cloves, crushed
½ an onion, chopped
Knob Butter

TIP: Substitute chickpea mash for regular mash if you prefer.

Method
1. Melt the butter in a large heavy bottomed pot and add the roughly chopped onion, carrot, celery and a good pinch of salt. Cook on a low heat with the lid on for around 10 mins until soft.
2. Add the flour and stir into the carrot and onion mixture. Add the vegetable stock in a fast stream and whisk to eliminate any lumps.
3. Add the garlic, bay leaf, red wine, peppercorns, Worcestershire sauce, tomato purée and bring to the boil. Turn the heat down and simmer gently for 40 mins, mixing occasionally to remove any skin and to prevent sticking.
4. Sieve the sauce into a large bowl. The sauce will be thick so I use a spoon to press it down before leaving it for 10 mins. Disregard the pulp and either refrigerate the sauce and pour back into the pot. Bring to the boil.
5. To the sauce, add the chopped mushrooms, leeks and carrots and simmer for 15 mins.
6. Meanwhile make the mash in a large saucepan by adding half a chopped onion, crushed garlic and butter over a medium heat. Cook for 5-7 mins until soft, adding a dash of water if needed). Add the drained chickpeas and heat through before seasoning well with salt and pepper. Blitz in a food processor or use a hand blender until the chickpeas resemble a thick mash. Finish with a generous knob of butter and a good season of salt and pepper.
7. Finish by dividing the mash onto plates and top with the breton sauce vegetables. Serve sprinkled with chopped fresh parsley.

If you’ve had a go at making any of my recipes, I’d love to hear from you. Follow me now @corrieheale and tag your recipe pictures using #corriesrabbitfood.

V – Vegetarian
❄ The breton sauce is suitable for home freezing once cooled. Consume within 3 months.