ROAST BUTTER CHICKEN PHYLLO PIE

- METHOD -

Fry the onion in butter over low heat until translucent but not browned. Add the Cape Herb & Spice Butter Chicken Exotic Spice blend and tomato paste and fry for a further minute. Add the flour and fry for a minute. Add the water and cream and cook with the lid off while stirring until it starts to thicken. Add the flaked chicken and cook (still with the lid off) until the filling is very thick and creamy – 5-10 minutes. (You don’t want it runny as it will make your pastry soggy.) Taste for salt and adjust if necessary.

Lay out a phyllo sheet and lightly paint it with melted butter. Top with another sheet and repeat the procedure with the remainder of the phyllo sheets. Paint a 15cm non-stick loose-bottomed cake tin lightly with butter and gently line it with the phyllo. Spoon in the chicken, fold over the phyllo edges to close it and bake in a pre-heated oven at 160˚C until crisp and golden.

I like serving this pie with a simple yet punchy herb salad of peppery watercress, parsley, mint and coriander lightly kissed with a drizzle of oil, a squeeze of lemon and a grinding of black pepper.

Recipe concept & photography by Lizet Hartley.

Lizet Hartley is a freelance stills and reel food stylist, food photographer and recipe developer. In her spare time she – rather predictably – cooks. Get more of her recipes on her blog at http://www.melkkos-merlot.co.za