We were invited to take part in the Aldi Winter Warmer Challenge and create a delicious winter warming recipe of which I chose a Roasted Turkey, Braised Leek and Caledonian Blue Cheese Pie. I was heading home for the weekend so I thought I would treat my mum. I was sent £20’s worth of Aldi vouchers, so off I went to get the ingredients. I went on a busy Saturday morning so had to substitute some of the ingredients for similar ingredients, including the blue cheese for Stilton!!

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 onion, peeled and chopped
  • 1 large carrot, peeled and sliced
  • 3 large leeks, trimmed and sliced
  • 1 tbsp. plain flour
  • 200ml double cream
  • 200ml chicken stock
  • 500g cooked turkey, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 100g chestnut mushrooms, halved
  • 3 sprigs thyme
  • 100g Caledonian blue cheese, crumbled (or Stilton in my case!)
  • Salt & pepper
  • 375g ready-rolled puff pastry
  • 1 egg, beaten

 

I enlisted the help of my sis in law in the prep (even though she couldn’t eat it as not gluten free…sorry Jen) while the kids were running around!

Method

  • Preheat the oven to 200°C/Gas mark 6.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large pan and cook the onion for 3-4 minutes, until starting to soften.
  • Add the carrots and leeks and cook for 4-5 minutes.
  • Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute before stirring in the cream and stock and bringing to a simmer, cooking for 3-4 minutes until starting to thicken.
  • Add the turkey, mushrooms, thyme, blue cheese and seasoning.
  • Spoon into a pie dish.
  • Cut a strip of pastry to cover the rim of the dish, then moisten the rim and cover with the remaining pastry to make a lid. Trim the edges.
  • Make a small slit in the centre to allow steam to escape then brush with the beaten egg.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the pastry is golden.
  • Serve with steamed green vegetables.
I don’t often make pies so I was pleased with the crispy looking pastry when it came out the oven. We made some savoy cabbage, asparagus and mash to go with the pie and paired it with the recommended red wine; The Exquisite Collection Hawkes Bay Bordeaux Bland.
We all enjoyed the pie with its nice crispy pastry, tender turkey and subtle blue cheese taste in the sauce. I was worried the blue cheese taste would be overpowering, but it was just the right mixed with the cream, although my mum would have preferred the blue cheese taste to be stronger (maybe it would have been if I had the right blue cheese!). The pie was delicious but it was definitely an indulgent winter warming treat as it contained blue cheese, cream and puff pastry. I bought all the ingredients for around £15 which is £3.75 per portion (this price included 6 eggs and a bottle of oil so would be less), plus the wine for about £6 which went well with the blue cheese taste.
There was lots left over so I took a portion home for my husband so he didn’t miss out! Definitely a winter warming treat that I would make again! Cheers!
Disclaimer: I was given £20 worth of Aldi vouchers in return for making and blogging about the Turkey, leek and blue cheese pie recipe and Hawkes Bay red wine from Aldi. All views are my own.