Chicken, Leek & Fennel Gratin
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Total: 45 mins
This creamy gratin is made with aniseedy fennel and tender pieces of organic chicken leg fried with sweet leeks and fragrant garlic in a rich crème fraîche sauce fired up with a spicy dollop of wholegrain mustard.
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498 kcal
(per portion)
Ingredients you'll need
  • 250g diced chicken leg
  • 2 leeks
  • 1 fennel bulb
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • A handful of chives
  • 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
  • ½ x 200ml half fat crème fraîche
  • 50g breadcrumbs
  • ½ tbsp cider vinegar
  • 50g peppery salad mix
From your kitchen
  • 1½ tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp + 150ml cold water
  • Sea salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
You'll need
  • Deep frying pan or shallow casserole dish with lid
  • Baking tray (optional)
  • Measuring jug
  • Ovenproof dish (optional)
Step by step this way
  • 1.

    Warm a deep frying pan or casserole dish on a medium heat for 1 min, then add 1 tbsp olive oil and the diced chicken leg. Fry, turning a few times, for 5-6 mins till the chicken is golden brown all over and cooked through.

  • 2.

    While the chicken fries, trim the roots and top 2cm off the leeks. Halve them, rinse out any grit, then finely slice them. Trim the dry tips off the fennel bulb, then finely slice it, setting any feathery fronds aside for later. Peel and grate or crush the garlic.

  • 3.

    Add the leeks, fennel and garlic to the pan with the chicken. Add 2 tbsp cold water. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, stir and cover with a lid (or use a baking tray if you don’t have a lid). Fry, stirring often, for 10 mins till the veg have softened and started to brown. If they start to catch or the pan starts to dry out, turn the heat down and add another splash of water.

  • 4.

    Preheat your grill to high. Finely chop the chives. Stir half the chives and 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard into the pan. Pour in 150ml water, stir, pop the lid back on and simmer for 15 mins, stirring now and then. The chicken should be cooked through and the veg very tender.

  • 5.

    Take the pan off the heat and add half the pot of half fat crème fraîche. Gently stir to mix. Taste the chicken and add more salt or pepper if you think it needs it. If your pan can go under the grill, scatter the breadcrumbs over the creamy chicken mixture. If not, transfer the chicken, veg and sauce to an ovenproof dish and sprinkle over the breadcrumbs. Grill for 6-8 mins till the gratin is golden and bubbling.

  • 6.

    While the gratin cooks, measure out ½ tbsp cider vinegar and whisk it with ½ tsp olive oil and some salt and pepper to make a dressing. Toss the salad leaves with the dressing. Serve the chicken, leek and fennel gratin on a couple of warm plates with the salad leaves on the side.

  • Tip

    Keep it fraîche
    You can add all of the half fat crème fraîche to the gratin, but this will affect the nutritional information. The extra can be kept in the fridge, covered, for a couple of days, and if you’d like some inspiration for how to use it up, why not celebrate the start of soup season with a rich, simmering pan of Carrot, Chervil & Crème Fraîche Soup. You can search for the recipe over at abelandcole. co.uk/recipes.

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