Hoenderpastei ~ Chicken Pie

Sturdy enough to eat on the go, these Hoenderpastei, Chicken hand pies, pass the test for convenient comfort food at its finest.

Hoenderpastei, or Chicken Pie in English, is a South African dish consisting of a shortcrust pastry shell filled with pieces of chicken, vegetables such as onions, carrots, and celery, hard-boiled eggs, and seasonings such as pepper, lemon juice, salt, and bay leaves.

Ways to Make Hoenderpastei

Hoenderpastei is a South African recipe, but with British and Dutch influences, is also known as Boer chicken pie. It can be made in a full pie dish, individual ramekins, or folded over into half circles as we have done in this recipe. Some recipes only call for a top crust layer and will have more sauce in the pie. However, if you want a top and bottom crust, this recipe is your ticket as it has a moderate amount of sauce and will allow the bottom crust to cook and not turn to mush.

The spices, vegetables, and other fillings in our recipe are typical of this South African dish, but chicken pot pie comes in many variations.

Hoenderpastei ~ Chicken Pie
Hoenderpastei ~ Chicken Pie

How to Store Leftover Chicken Pie

Freshly baked chicken pie will keep for about 3 to 5 days in the fridge; refrigerate covered with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Can you freeze chicken pie? Yes, to freeze: wrap chicken pie tightly with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, or place it in a heavy-duty freezer bag.

History of the Hoenderpastei

Simple, yet delicious, Hoenderpastei has been a street food favorite for many years in South Africa. The recipe for chicken pie was brought to South Africa by Dutch Settlers, hence the name Hoenderpastei, in the 1700s when the Dutch was colonizing South Africa.

The Metropolitan City of Pretoria, South Africa

Pretoria is one of South Africa’s three capital cities, serving as the seat of the executive branch of government, and as the host of all foreign embassies to South Africa. Cape Town is the legislative capital whereas Bloemfontein is the judicial capital.

A Brief History of Pretoria, South Africa

The Southern Transvaal Ndebele occupied the river valley, which was to become the location of the city of Pretoria. Pretoria itself was founded in 1855 by Marthinus Pretorius, a leader of the Voortrekkers, who named it after his father Andries Pretorius.

The Boer Republics of the ZAR and the Orange Free State were united with the Cape Colony and Natal Colony in 1910 to become the Union of South Africa.

On 14 October 1931, Pretoria achieved official city status. When South Africa became a republic in 1961, Pretoria remained its administrative capital.

After the creation of new municipal structures across South Africa in 2000, the name Tshwane was adopted for the Metropolitan Municipality that includes Pretoria and surrounding towns.

Tourism in Pretoria, South Africa

Pretoria boasts lush gardens, buzzing nightclubs and eateries, and a whole lot of rich South African history. Alongside its natural wildlife sanctuaries, Pretoria’s urban life is centered around great eats and entertainment, and it comes alive in the evenings, thanks to its large university student population.

Places of Intrest

Nature Reserves

The Cuisine of South Africa

South African cuisine reflects the diverse range of culinary traditions embodied by the various communities that inhabit the country. Among the indigenous peoples of South Africa, the Khoisan foraged over 300 species of edible food plants, such as the rooibos shrub legume, whose culinary value continues to exert a salient influence on South African cuisine.

Subsequent encounters with Bantu pastoralists facilitated the emergence of cultivated crops and domestic cattle, which supplemented traditional Khoisan techniques of meat preservation. In addition, Bantu-speaking communities forged an extensive repertoire of culinary ingredients and dishes, many of which are still consumed today in traditional settlements and urban entrepôts alike.

Pedros Flame Grilled Chicken
218 Bloed St, Pretoria Central, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
Telephone: +27 12 321 1098

Pedros Flame Grilled
Pedros Flame Grilled

Bringing a unique flavor to the market, we’re here to combine the art of food and retail into a culturally diversified brand of flamed grilled masters. We know we’re going to disrupt the QSR market by combining our strong, consistent product with the coolest clucking chicken brand on the market.

How to Make This Chicken Pie Recipe

This recipe is not that hard to make but it does take a little bit of time. In our first batch, we used the pre-made puff pastry sheets but they did not hold their shape very well and had a tendency to tare open when wrapping them around the filling. So we added the directions for homemade pie dough which were just as tasty and flaked apart as well as the store-bought dough but held its shape and did not tare when wrapping the filling.

What You Need to Make Hoenderpastei

Hoenderpastei ~ Chicken Pie
Hoenderpastei ~ Chicken Pie

Equipment

For the Filling

For the Sauce

For the Pie Crust

How to Cook Chicken Pie

Hoenderpastei Cooking Directions

  1. Cut the Chicken

    Wash and dry the chicken. Cut the chicken into small cubes and place them in a mixing bowl.

  2. Season the Chicken

    Season the chicken with salt, pepper, oregano, basil, garlic powder, ginger powder, and nutmeg. Mix well and set aside for later use.

  3. Cook the Chicken

    Over medium-high, heat the oil. Add the seasoned chicken, onions, and carrots to the pan. Stir the chicken until all sides are browned. Cover the pan and allow the chicken to cook for an additional 10 minutes.

  4. Add the Peas and Mushrooms

    Remove the lid and add the peas and sliced mushrooms, stir the mix. Cover the pan and cook for another 10 minutes.

  5. Remove from the Heat

    Remove from heat, stir in sliced hard-boiled eggs, and set aside for later use.

  6. In a Stockpot

    On medium heat melt the butter in a stockpot.

  7. Stir in the Flour

    Stir in the flour to the melted butter. Stir continuously to prevent burning.

  8. Add the Milk

    Add the milk slowly stirring continuously until it thickens.

  9. Add the Nutmeg and Parmesan

    Add the nutmeg and parmesan cheese and mix well.

  10. Add to the Chicken Mix

    Pour the sauce into the chicken mix. Stir until thoroughly mixed. Let this mixture cool to room temperature, then chill completely in the fridge, for at least 3 hours.

  11. For the Pie Crust

    Pulse the flour and salt together in a food processor 10 times, to combine. Add the cubed butter and pulse about 20 times until the butter is chopped up into pea-sized pieces.

  12. Add the Water

    Drizzle in the ice water and pulse until the dough comes together. You want to stop adding water when it looks crumbly, but if you pinch a bit of the dough, it holds together.

  13. Refridgerate the Dough

    Dump the dough out onto the counter, bring it together into a flat disk with your fingers, then wrap it in plastic. Chill in the fridge for 2 hours.

  14. Preheat the Oven

    Preheat the oven to 400ºF.

  15. Roll the Dough

    Cut the pie crust into 8 even peaces. Roll each peice out to about 1/8 inch thick, and 6-inch round circles. Repeate this process untill you have 8 circles.

  16. Fill the Pie

    Place a few spoonfuls of filling into each circle, then enclose by crimping with your fingers. Repeat with the remaining ingredients, then place four pies each on two sheet pans.

  17. Brush with Egg Wash

    Cut vent slits into each pie, then brush with egg wash. Sprinkle on sesame and poppy seeds.

  18. Bake the Pies

    Bake for 25–30 minutes until golden brown and crusty.

  19. Cool and Serve

    Let the pies cool for at least 5 minutes, then enjoy!

This Chicken Pie has a flaky, buttery crust, a creamy sauce, and a hearty mix of chicken and vegetables your family will love.

If you liked this dish please Rate This Recipe and leave a comment.

Hoenderpastei ~ Chicken Pie

Hoenderpastei ~ Chicken Pie

Recipe Author | Captain Cook
This homemade chicken pot pie is super easy to prep, making it a great recipe for beginner cooks and busy families alike.

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Cooling Time 3 hours
Total Time 4 hours
Servings 8 servings
Calories 381 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the Filling

For the Sauce

For the Pie Crust

Instructions
 

For the Filling

  • Wash and dry the chicken. Cut the chicken into small cubes and place them in a mixing bowl.
    1 chicken breast
  • Season the chicken with salt, pepper, oregano, basil, garlic powder, ginger powder, and nutmeg. Mix well and set aside for later use.
    ½ tsp black pepper, ½ tsp dried oregano, ½ tsp dried basil, ½ tbsp garlic powder, ½ tsp ground ginger
  • Over medium-high, heat the oil. Add the seasoned chicken, onions, and carrots to the pan. Stir the chicken until all sides are browned.
    1 cup yellow onion, 2 tbsp vegetable oil, 1 cup carrot
  • Cover the pan and allow the chicken to cook for an additional 10 minutes.
  • Remove the lid and add the peas and sliced mushrooms, stir the mix. Cover the pan and cook for another 10 minutes.
    1 cup peas, 1 cup white mushrooms
  • Remove from heat, stir in sliced hard-boiled eggs, and set aside for later use.
    2 egg

For the Sauce

  • On medium heat melt the butter in a stockpot.
    2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • Stir in the flour to the melted butter. Stir continuously to prevent burning.
    2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • Add the milk slowly stiring continuously until it thickens.
    1 cup milk
  • Add the nutmeg and parmesan cheese and mix well.
    ½ tsp ground nutmeg, 1 tbsp parmesan cheese
  • Pour the sauce into the chicken mix. Stir until thoroughly mixed. Let this mixture cool to room temperature, then chill completely in the fridge, for at least 3 hours.

For the Pie Crust

  • Pulse the flour and salt together in a food processor 10 times, to combine.
    3 ¾ cup all-purpose flour, ½ tsp salt
  • Add the cubed butter and pulse about 20 times until the butter is chopped up into pea-sized pieces.
    3 sticks unsalted butter
  • Drizzle in the ice water and pulse until the dough comes together. You want to stop adding water when it looks crumbly, but if you pinch a bit of the dough, it holds together.
    ½ cup cold ice water
  • Dump the dough out onto the counter, bring it together into a flat disk with your fingers, then wrap it in plastic. Chill in the fridge for 2 hours.

Assemble the Pie

  • Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
  • Roll the pie crust out to about 1/8 inch thick, and cut 6-inch wide circles. If you re-roll the scraps, you should be able to get 8 circles total.
  • Place a few spoonfuls of filling into each circle, then enclose by crimping with your fingers. Repeat with the remaining ingredients, then place four pies each on two sheet pans.
  • Cut vent slits into each pie, then brush with egg wash. Sprinkle on sesame and poppy seeds.
    1 egg, sesame seeds, poppy seeds
  • Bake for 25–30 minutes until golden brown and crusty.
  • Let the pies cool for at least 5 minutes, then enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1pieCalories: 381kcalCarbohydrates: 12.1gProtein: 46.4gFat: 15.3gSaturated Fat: 3.9gCholesterol: 177mgSodium: 204mgPotassium: 913mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4.1gCalcium: 77mgIron: 2mg
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Other Recipes That Go Well With Hoenderpastei ~ Chicken Pie

Quick Pickled Cucumbers and Onions
The cucumbers and red onions will soak up the sweet and tangy vinegar making them fresh and delicious. Properly stored they will last for a few weeks in your refrigerator.
Check out this recipe
Pickled Cucumbers and Onions in a Jar

Photo Credits:

  • By Taste The World Cookbook – Copyright 2022 All rights reserved.
  • By Pedros Flame Grilled Chicken – By https://www.facebook.com/pedros.flamegrilled
  • By Jérôme Bon from Paris, France – Prétoria, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17776481
  • By Țetcu Mircea Rareș, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9659490
  • By Theobresler at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8575390
  • By Original photo by Leo za1, perpective corrected, highlights and contrast modified by Slaunger. – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47959933
  • By Hein waschefort – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22304704
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Captain Cook
Captain Cookhttps://notallwhowanderarelost.com/
If you strip away the labels and isms and meta tags, what are you left with? Are you strong and free enough as an individual to survive the loss of all those crutches and maintain reason and meaning? Can you use the power of thought and choice to walk the road of life?
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