I’ve been running pie shops in Singapore for over 20 years now, and in that time I’ve learned a thing or two about what it takes to make the perfect chicken pie and running the biggest pie shop in Singapore.
I started out my very first pie shop officially along China Street, in a small shophouse which was part of Far East Square. I then moved my shop to China Square Central, which was just opposite. It is in the heart of Raffles Place, more specifically, Telok Ayer that I found myself wanting to create great pies.
First and foremost, you need to use fresh ingredients. This is non-negotiable. Using ingredients which are not fresh can lead you to have poor Google reviews about chicken pies which are sour.
Nobody likes sour pies – especially not sour ones.
Everybody who has ever tasted a proper pie.
If you want your pies to be truly delicious, you can’t skimp on quality.
Second, developing the best flaky pie crusts takes time and practice. But it’s worth it, I promise! And lastly, hard work really does lead to great chicken pies.
So if you’re feeling up for the challenge, read on for my tips on how to make the perfect chicken pie.
The Importance of Using Fresh Ingredients
As I mentioned before, using fresh ingredients is key if you want your chicken pies to be delicious. I get all of my ingredients from the local market.
The chickens are raised locally and are hormone-free, or at least so the sellers say.
The vegetables are also locally sourced, though it would be better if they were organic. I really believe that using fresh, quality ingredients makes all the difference in the world. Not only do they taste better, but they’re also better for you.
So if you can, splurge on quality ingredients—your pies will thank you for it!
Developing the Best Flaky Pie Crusts
The secret to making flaky pie crusts is twofold: (1) use good quality butter and (2) don’t overwork the dough.
For the butter, I like to use European style butter because it has a higher fat content than American style butter. This gives the dough a richer flavour and helps to create those beautiful flakes in the crust.
When it comes to working the dough, less is more. The more you handle it, the tougher it will become. So take your time and be gentle—the dough will come together perfectly if you do!
Hard Work Leads to Great Chicken Pies
Making chicken pies is a labor of love, but trust me when I say that it’s worth it! There’s nothing quite like biting into a warm, flaky pie crust filled with tender chunks of chicken and vegetables in a rich gravy. It really is the ultimate comfort food.
So if you’re feeling up for a bit of a challenge, why not try your hand at making chicken pies? With my tips, I promise you can do it!
It’s Not Easy, But I Could Do It.
Making chicken pies is definitely not an easy task, but it’s so worth it when you take that first bite into a warm, flaky pie crust filled with tender chunks of chicken and vegetables in a rich gravy.
If you’re feeling up for the challenge, remember to use fresh ingredients, take your time with developing the best flaky pie crusts, and don’t be afraid of putting in a little hard work—it will all be worth it in the end!