WE CANNOT – or would choose to – all spend £22 on a chicken with its head sticking out.
Still, that didn’t stop London’s foodies from getting a slice of the action – devouring every part of the bird served in the traditional pastry case.
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James Liveris puts supermarket brands to the test and rates the best Credit: Jon Bond
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Foodies spend £22 on chicken with head sticking outCredit: INSTAGRAM/WILL MURRAY
But hearts, livers and legs aren’t for everyone, and there’s no evidence to suggest that conventional poultry pies are likely to leave the taste of poultry in connoisseurs’ mouths.
James Liveris puts supermarket brands to the test and rates the best.
Here are his pies and pies…
Morrisons Baked Chicken Pie – £3.15, 204 calories per 100g
★★★☆☆
Following the directions on the traffic light, this would be the healthiest pie.
It might take 55 minutes to cook from frozen, but the wait would be worth it on a cold winter’s eve.
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Morrisons opted for a larger baking pan – this pie feeds four Credits: Jon Bond
The crust is thin, but the sauce is thick and the chicken is big.
Morrisons also opted for a larger baking dish – this pie can feed four.
This should be in every family’s freezer for a rainy day.
Waitrose Chicken and Gravy Pie – £2.57, 266 calories per 100g
★★★☆☆
Boasting the First For Animal Welfare badge, you know the ingredients have come from a good source.
A word of warning though, don’t wear a white shirt while tucking into this delight.
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Waitrose’s pie was at the most expensive end of the scale and scored 3 out of 5 Credits: Jon Bond
Its crumbly unstable shell is a trap for gluttons with a rich chicken stock sauce that flows without end.
And since it’s at the more expensive end of the scale, customers can expect a little more diligence.
However, the tender poultry is beautiful and paired with the excellent jus is rated above average.
Sainsbury’s Chicken & Gravy Shortcrust Pie – £4.25, 256 calories per 100g
★★★☆☆
HOMEMADE chicken cooked in a rich sauce that is coated in a crispy batter, enough said.
Sainsbury’s option will be a perfect crowd pleaser when the kids come home from an evening of sport and you need something on the table straight away.
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Sainsbury’s option would be a perfect crowd pleaser when the kids come home from an evening’s sport and you need something on the table immediately Credit: Jon Bond
It’s a very authentic pie because you can feel the crunch of the onions in the sauce and the chicken pieces are nice and firm.
While the flavors are good, there is nothing special about the whole package.
However, this creation also serves three people, so you can definitely mark it as a great deal.
Lidl Chicken Gravy Pie – £1.59, 257 calories per 100g
★★★☆☆
FOR the cheapest pie on offer, Lidl should be proud.
The base of shortcrust pastry and the cover of puff pastry gives it a home-made taste.
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Lidl’s pie was the cheapest and received a noble rating of 3 out of 5 Credit: Jon Bond
I can honestly say that I could not stop cutting into this pie.
Juicy pieces of chicken and creamy sauce make this the perfect all-rounder.
This humble pie would be the guilty pleasure of any craftsman when he was hungry.
Marks & Spencer Chicken Leek Pie – £5.50, 310 calories per 100g
★★★★★
The MOST cheeky pie on the supermarket shelves.
The chicken and leek pie has cemented its place in the brand’s fine dining line-up, and rightly so.
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M&S’s offering got full marks and was creamy and undeniably satisfying Credit: Jon Bond
It is creamy and undoubtedly filling.
The golden butter pastry is topped with a mustard and vegetable filling that takes the chatter to new heights.
Although this is the most expensive option, it gets a near perfect score from me.
Tesco Chicken Gravy Pie – £2, 250 calories per 100g
★★☆☆☆
THIS pie has a strong structure and for good reason.
Inside is a tasteless murky sauce that wouldn’t appease any hungry customer.
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Tesco’s pie is a tasteless murky sauce that would fail to appease any hungry customerCredit: Jon Bond
It’s a shame as Tesco seems to have put a lot of effort into every element within this pastry to get value for money.
The sauce is fair, the stock is thick, and the portion of chicken is decent.
Unfortunately, though, it could be less is more – keep this option out of the cart.
Aldi Deep Stuffed Puff Pastry with Chicken and Gravy – £1.49, 227 calories per 100g
★★★★☆
As soon as you open this, a thick creamy sauce will ooze out.
While it may be deep-filled with delicious British chicken, it certainly presents itself as a neat little meal.
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As soon as you open this, a thick creamy sauce oozes out Credit: Jon Bond
The pastry was well balanced, but lacked a little of the textbook golden sheen.
Considering its extremely affordable price – this creation cannot be ignored.
I believe that this pie would occupy and silence even the loudest football fans.
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Hearts, livers and feet are not for everyone Credit: INSTAGRAM/FOWL
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The Sun reported on fancy chicken pie
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education