Best Leek Cheese Pie Recipes

LEEK, CHEESE & POTATO PIE

Steps:

• To make the pastry, sieve the flour into a large mixing bowl and add 1 tsp sea salt. Coarsely grate in the cold butter, then use your fingertips to work into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs. Pour over the vodka and use a butter knife to mix it in, then pour over 2 tbsp cold water and stir again with the knife. If you need to, add a little more water until it comes together as a dough, about 1-2 tbsp. Lightly knead the pastry to a smooth dough in the bowl, dust lightly with flour and wrap in baking parchment. Rest for at least 30 mins.
• Peel and cut the potatoes into 5mm- thick slices and put them in a lidded saucepan. Cover with cold water, add a generous pinch of salt, bring to the boil with the lid on, then lower to a simmer and cook for 8-10 mins until just tender. Drain and leave to steam-dry.
• In a large non-stick frying pan, heat the olive oil, bay leaf and butter together over a medium heat, then add the leek and onion. Season well and add a good grating of nutmeg. Cook, stirring, for 8-10 mins, until softened. Add about 100ml water, and cook until most of it has evaporated. Discard the bay leaf and stir in both the mustards and parmesan. Set aside to cool. Butter and flour a 20cm round pie dish.
• Roll ¾ of the pastry out on a lightly floured surface in a circle larger than the pie dish, then line the dish. Roll the rest into a large circle for the lid and chill both for 10 mins. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• Spoon a layer of the leek mixture into the lined dish, grate over some cheddar and top with a layer of potatoes and the melting cheese slices. Repeat the layering until you have filled the pie dish - press down to compact it.
• Brush some of the egg around the edges, top with the pastry lid and crimp together. Egg wash the lid, scatter over some sea salt and cut two slits in the lid. Bake for 45-50 mins until golden.
• Remove from the oven and allow to sit for 10 mins, then slice and serve with a watercress salad, if you like.

TRADITIONAL ENGLISH COTTAGE PIE WITH CHEESE AND LEEK TOPPING

Steps:

• To make the pie filling:.
• Fry the onions and carrots if using, in the butter or beef dripping until they are soft.
• Add the minced/chopped beef and cook for about 10 to 20 minutes or until the onion and carrot have browned and the minced beef has taken on some colour and is firm. (It also depends if you are using cooked or raw minced beef.).
• Season well with salt and pepper, then add the mixed herbs. Stir in the flour, and mix well.
• Mix the tomato puree and Worcestershire sauce with the stock and add it to the meat mixture, bringing it all to simmering point. Simmer until the stock has reduced by aboout a third, add the peas if using and take off the heat. Set aside whilst you make the topping.
• To make the topping:.
• Boil the potatoes in slightly salted water then mash them well, adding half of the butter and all of the milk gradually. Season to taste.
• If using fresh leeks, fry the leeks gently in the remaining butter, until soft and slightly coloured.
• Stir the cooked leeks into the mashed potato mixture and give it all a good mix.
• Assemble:.
• Put the meat mixture into a large and deep well greased baking dish and spread the potato mixture on top; then sprinkle with the grated cheese. You can also use 4 - 6 smaller pie dishes if you wish.
• Put into a pre-heated oven, 200C/400F/Gas Mark 6 for about 25 to 30 minutes until the topping is crusty, golden and bubbling.
• Serve with an assortment of fresh seasonal vegetables and a jug of gravy.

SPINACH, LEEK, AND CHEESE PIE

Steps:

• 1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onion and a pinch of salt. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, 6 minutes. Add the leek, season with more salt and the pepper, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are very soft and translucent, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set in an ice bath to cool.
• 2. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 325°F.
• 3. Generously coat an 8-inch round nonstick springform pan with butter and chill.
• 4. Sift together the flour and baking powder in a medium bowl; set aside.
• 5. Combine the yogurt, feta, onion-and-leek mixture, spinach, and dill in a large bowl. Add the eggs and stir to combine. Using a rubber spatula, gently stir in the flour mixture and season with more salt and pepper. Pour into the prepared pan, gently tapping the sides to level the top.
• 6. Bake for 30 minutes. Increase heat to 425°F and bake until golden brown and set in the center, about 10 minutes more.
• 7. Transfer to a wire rack and cool for 10 minutes before unmolding.
• 8. Cut into wedges and serve.

SWEET POTATO, CHEESE AND LEEK PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F
• Mix the oil, garlic and crème fraîche together in a large bowl.
• Add the sweet potato slices and toss until coated.
• Lightly grease a gratin dish.
• Layer in sweet potato mixture and leeks ending with potato on the top.
• Top with cheese and breadcrumbs or just the cheese.
• Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, removing foil for the last 5 minutes of the cooking time.

CHEESE, ONION, LEEK & POTATO PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C fan forced (200°C normal)/350°-375°F/4-5 gas mark.
• Heat a little oil in a heavy-based - preferably non-stick - pan and gently sauté the onions, spring onions and leek until softish, stirring now and again; remove the pan from the heat; add the minced garlic and thyme to the pan and mix to combine the ingredients.
• Combine all the tasty cheese with the crème fraiche or sour cream.
• Place several layers of potato in the base of a well-greased round oven dish and season well with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper; top with half of the sautéed onions, leek and garlic; add several dollops of the cheese mixture (there is no need to spread this out as the cheeses will spread out as the pie starts to cook and the cheeses melt); repeat these steps, ending with the cheese layer.
• Cut a round of pastry to cover and slightly overlap the dish in which the pie is to be cooked.
• Beat together the egg and milk; brush the outside edges of the dish just below the rim with the egg wash and place the pastry round on top of the pie, overhanging the edge of the dish; press down the sides of the pastry onto the sides of the dish and brush the top of the pie and the overlapping edges of the pastry with the egg wash.
• Cook the pie in the lower part of the oven for about 30 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown.
• Serve the pie with a salad greens.

CHEESE, SWEDE & LEEK PIE

Steps:

• First, make the pastry. Tip the flours into a bowl and mix with the parmesan, thyme and cayenne pepper. Rub in the butter until it resembles breadcrumbs, then pour in 2-3 tbsp of cold water. Mix it in with a cutlery knife, then use your hands to bring together into a dough - you might need to add a bit more water. Knead the dough briefly until smooth, then split in half, press into two discs - one larger than the other - wrap in cling film, and refrigerate for 30 mins.
• Meanwhile, put the leek, swede, milk, a large pinch of salt and the bay leaf in a pan and bring to the boil. Simmer for 10-15 mins until the swede is tender. Season with black pepper and nutmeg. Strain through a sieve, reserving the milk, and put the veg in a bowl. Using the same saucepan, melt the butter, then add the flour and cook for 2 mins. Slowly pour the milk back into the pan, whisking constantly to create a silky sauce. Stir in the cheddar and wine and stir until it's melted, then remove from the heat and allow to cool for a couple of mins before adding 1 beaten egg and the mustard. Season and stir the veg into the mix.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Butter and flour a 23cm pie dish. Roll the pastry out into two discs, using the large disc first to line the dish. Spoon in the filling, and brush a little of the sauce from the filling onto the edges of the pastry. Press the other disc on top and crimp the edges. Make two slits in the top of the pastry, brush with the remaining egg and bake for 30-35 mins until golden.

LEEK & CHEESE PIE

Steps:

• Make your pastry roll it out to fit the tin or tins if making small ones.
• Preheat oven to200c or 400f.
• Slice the leeks and saute in the melted butter or margarine until soft but not brown. Season with cayenne pepper and nutmeg and allow to go cold.
• Whisk eggs, milk, soured cream and salt together.
• Sprinkle half the cheese on the bottom of the flan or flans,spread the leeks on top then sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top pour the egg custard mix on top and bake in oven for 30 minutes.
• Serve hot or cold.

FILO-CRUSTED SMOKED HADDOCK, CHEESE & LEEK PIE

Steps:

• Bring the milk, bay and peppercorns to a simmer in a large shallow pan. Drop in the haddock, turn off the heat, cover with a lid or foil and leave to cool for 30 mins - the haddock will be just cooked. Carefully remove the haddock and set aside on a plate, then strain the milk through a sieve into a jug. To prepare the haddock, remove the flesh from the skin, making sure all bones and spices have been discarded - the fish should break into natural bite-sized flakes. Set aside until needed.
• Heat the oil and a small knob of butter in a pan. Add the onion and garlic and cook until softened, about 15 mins. Add the leeks and continue cooking for 2 mins. Drain in a colander and leave to cool.
• In the same pan, melt the 75g butter, then stir in the flour to form a paste. Cook for 3-4 mins without colouring, then slowly ladle in the warm milk, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until you have a glossy sauce. Stir in the mustard poweder, lemon juice and some seasoning, then pass through a fine sieve.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. To assemble the pie, place the leeks in the bottom of a 1.6-litre pie dish (about 22cm) and top with a third of the sauce. Follow with the flaked smoked haddock and another third of the sauce. Finally, scatter over the cheese and top with the remaining sauce, making sure the filling is completely covered.
• For the filo crust, melt the butter in a small pan, then add the garlic. Heat gently for 5 mins to allow the garlic to infuse. Lay one sheet of filo on a chopping board and brush all over with the garlic butter, then sprinkle with some chives and cracked black pepper. Place another sheet of pastry on top at a slight angle and repeat. Continue in this way until you have used up all the pastry and almost all the garlic butter. You should have created a jagged-edged pastry circle. Lay this on top of the pie dish, then use a sharp knife to trim the edges, but still leave an overhang. Brush with a final layer of butter, sprinkle with flaky sea salt and bake for 40 mins or until the pastry is golden and crisp. Serve with the Charred Baby Gem, watercress & bacon salad (see recipe, Goes well with).