Chef's Delight: Chicken hotpot

This week's Chef's Delight recipe comes from Slimming World...

A WORD FROM THE CHEF

When you’re craving comfort, you can’t go wrong with this dish of pulled chicken and lentils in gravy, topped with crispy sliced potato and the best part - it’s syn free!

INGREDIENTS

Low-calorie cooking spray

Three skinless and boneless chicken breasts, halved lengthways

Two bay leaves

Four garlic cloves, finely sliced

Six fresh thyme sprigs, leaves picked and chopped

Six fresh sage leaves, chopped

One chicken stock cube, crumbled

1tbsp tomato purée

One onion, finely chopped

Half a small swede, peeled and cut into small chunks

Four carrots, cut into small chunks

Four celery sticks, finely chopped

500g floury potatoes, such as Maris Piper, thinly sliced

400g can green lentils, drained

1tsp Marmite

3tbsp Worcestershire sauce

METHOD

Spray a large, wide non-stick saucepan with low-calorie cooking spray and place over a high heat. Add the chicken and sear until golden brown on all sides.

Reduce the heat to medium and add the bay leaves, garlic, thyme, sage, stock cube, tomato purée, onion, swede, carrots, celery and 700ml boiling water. Bring back to the boil, then reduce the heat to a slow simmer, cover and cook for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the potatoes in a saucepan of boiling water over a high heat for five minutes, then drain and set aside to cool.

Pick out the cooked chicken from the other pan and allow to cool slightly before shredding with two forks. Set aside.

Add the lentils to the vegetables and continue to simmer for 10 minutes or until the liquid has reduced by half. Stir in the Marmite, Worcestershire sauce and shredded chicken.

Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/gas 6.

Tip the chicken mixture into a deep ovenproof dish.

The stock should be just under the level of the meat and veg – if it’s lower, just add a little water to the mix.

Top with the potatoes, spray with low-calorie cooking spray and cook in the oven for 25 minutes.

Serve hot with your favourite vegetables.

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