Spring Greens Chicken Pie with Maldon Sea Salt Flakes
This spring Greens Chicken Pie is a celebration of seasonal produce, comforting flavours and thoughtful seasoning. Created in partnership with Margie Nomura, this recipe brings together her instinctive, produce-led style with the unmistakable finishing touch of Maldon Sea Salt flakes.
Perfect for a relaxed weekend supper or a springtime family dinner, this dish balances richness with freshness: tender chicken thighs, vibrant green vegetables and a silky crème fraiche sauce, all tucked beneath golden, flaky puff pastry,
About Margie Nomura
Margie Nomura is a professional trained chef, food writer and the creator of the hugely popular Desert Island Dishes platform and podcast, where food is used as a way of telling people’s life stories. After graduating from Oxford University, Margie trained at the world-renowned Ballymaloe Cookery School before building a career that has seen her work as a private chef, teach cookery internationally and cook for high-profile clients.
Through Desert Island Dishes, Margie champions simple, well-balanced recipes designed for real life, with a focus on low-effort, high-reward cooking that puts flavour first. Her approach is grounded in seasonality, comfort and generosity – creating food that feels reassuring yet refined, and always rooted in quality ingredients.
Why This Chicken and Spring Greens Pie Works
This recipe is rooted in classic British comfort food, but lifted with fresh, spring-led ingredients:
- Chicken thighs provide richness and depth, staying juicy throughout baking
- Leeks, asparagus, courgette and peas bring freshness, sweetness and colour
- Crème fraiche and Parmesan add gentle tang and savoury balance
- Puff pastry delivers lightness and crunch, creating contrast with the creamy filling
It’s a dish that feels hearty without being heavy – ideal for bridging the gap between winter comfort and lighter spring cooking.
Why Maldon Sea Salt Flakes Are Essential in This Dish
Maldon Sea Salt flakes play a crucial role throughout the recipe, not just as seasoning, but as a flavour enhances and textural finish
- During cooking, Maldon Sea Salt dissolved cleanly, seasoning the chicken and vegetables evenly without overwhelming their natural flavours.
- In the sauce, Maldon Sea Salt sharpens the creamy elements, helping to balance richness with clarity.
- As a finishing touch, a sprinkle of Maldon Sea Salt over the puff pastry brings a delicate crunch and bursts of salinity that elevate each bite.
The light, pyramid-shaped flakes are especially effective on pastry, where they enhance crispness and add contrast – something that fine salt simply can’t achieve.
How to Make a Chicken Pie with Spring Greens
- Add some olive oil to a large pan – I use a pan big enough that I can make the pie in to save on washing up, but you can always tip the filling into a pie dish later and do it that way. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken pieces. Season with Maldon Original Sea Salt flakes and pepper and fry until lightly browned. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Add the leeks and onion, season with Maldon Original Sea Salt flakes and some freshly ground black pepper and fry gently for about 5 minutes until softened. Then add in the courgette and asparagus.
- Add the butter and one melted, add the flour. Cook out for a few minutes before adding in the chicken stock and then let bubble away for a few mins.
- Stir through the crème fraiche and then add the chicken back in. Add the peas and then the Parmesan.
- Cut the puff pastry into squares and cover the top of the pie. Brush with egg wash, sprinkle over the dried tarragon and finish with Maldon Original Sea Salt flakes. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown and crisp.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this Spring Greens Chicken Pie with a crisp green salad for a lighter meal, or pair with garlic new potatoes and spring greens medley for full comfort-food satisfaction.
Either way, this is a dish that celebrates thoughtful seasoning, seasonal cooking, and the quiet confidence of using exceptional ingredients.
