27 December 2023 , 11:00
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With the big day officially out of the way, many kitchens across the UK will be brimming with Christmas leftovers - fortunately we have a succulent pie recipe to help your festive feast go further.
Professional chef John Gregory-Smith has revealed his comforting turkey, bacon and leek pie recipe, which is the perfect dish to indulge in during the holiday season. Taking to TikTok, the expert kicked off the video with footage of the delicious deep-filled pie, topped with golden, crispy pastry.
Surprisingly, research by Asda has shown that around 90 million plates of festive leftovers are thrown away every year, despite more than 50 percent of the population claiming to prefer them to the main meal. So, if you fancy impressing friends and family with your post-Christmas culinary skills, why not try this hearty recipe out for yourself?
Ingredients (Serves four)
- 500g leftover cooked turkey (shredded)
- 130g cubed pancetta or bacon
- Two large leeks (thinly sliced)
- Salt and pepper
- One tbsp olive oil
- Four cloves garlic (crushed)
- Two tbsp plain flour
- 150ml water
- 300ml double cream
- Two tsp English mustard
- ⅓ lemon zest
- 320g pack ready rolled puff pastry
- One egg (whisked)
Method
- To start making this winter warmer, preheat the fan oven to 200°C. Then, place a large non-stick frying pan over a high heat and add the bacon. Wait until the fat starts to render, then cook for around six to eight-minutes, stirring occasionally, until crispy.
- Once cooked, remove the meat from the pan with a slotted spoon and place aside for the time being. Next, add the oil to the pan and throw in the sliced leeks. Season with salt and pepper, and cook for five to six-minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetable has wilted down.
- Chuck in the garlic, and cook for a further 30-seconds. In a bigger saucepan, over a medium heat, mix in the leeks and bacon. Stir in the flour and water to "thicken" the contents, and cook for another two-minutes.
- Then, add the turkey, cream, mustard and lemon zest and mix until fully combined. John explained: "It should be getting thicker but still nice and moist. Check the seasoning, adding salt and pepper to taste."
- It’s now time to transfer the mixture into a deep pie dish, and top with the premade pastry. Brush this over this egg wash and season with salt. Then, bake in the oven for around 25-minutes, until perfectly golden. All that’s left to do is enjoy!
Foodie-lovers rushed to the comments section to share their response to the seasonal dish, as one user penned: "This looks amazing John, I’ll definitely be trying it!" While another gushed: "Just made this with leftover chicken from Sunday. It’s so delicious and really easy. Totally recommend."
A third shared: "Ingredients are on my grocery list…now to wait for Christmas and leftovers!!" While a fourth quipped: "Well I wasn’t going to bother with turkey this Xmas but now I want one just so I can do this recipe lol." To check out John’s full recipe on his website, visit HERE.
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