Our hearty, budget-friendly bake has layers of chicken, bacon, mushrooms and spinach. Make it on the weekend, then freeze it for a no-fuss meal when you really need it.
Ingredients
- 1kg medium Desiree potatoes (see note)
- 500g sweet potato (kumara), peeled, halved crossways
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 short-cut bacon rashers, chopped
- 1 brown onion, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- 200g button mushrooms, thinly sliced
- 1/2 large Roast Chicken, skin and bones removed, meat shredded
- 100g baby spinach leaves, cooked, excess water removed, finely chopped
- 60g butter
- 40g (1/4 cup) plain flour
- 750ml (3 cups) milk
- 60g (3/4 cup) finely grated parmesan
- Melted butter, to grease
- Steamed broccolini, to serve
Method
- Step 1Bring potatoes and sweet potato to boil in a saucepan of water over medium-high heat. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until just tender. Drain. Set aside to cool. Peel potatoes. Thinly slice potato and sweet potato.
- Step 2Meanwhile, heat half the oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Cook the bacon and onion for 5 minutes or until onion is soft. Transfer to a bowl. Heat remaining oil in pan. Cook garlic and mushroom for 3-5 minutes or until mushroom is tender. Add to the bowl. Stir in the chicken and spinach.
- Step 3Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat until foaming. Add flour. Stir for 1-2 minutes or until mixture bubbles. Remove from heat. Gradually whisk in milk. Stir over medium heat for 5 minutes or until sauce thickens. Stir in two-thirds of the parmesan. Season with salt and pepper. Add to bacon mixture, reserving 250ml (1 cup) sauce.
- Step 4Brush a 3L (12-cup) capacity baking dish with melted butter. Place one-third of the potato, slightly overlapping, over the base. Top with half the sweet potato and half the chicken mixture. Continue layering with remaining potato, sweet potato and chicken mixture, finishing with potato. Top with reserved sauce. (To freeze, see note).
- Step 5Preheat oven to 200ºC. Sprinkle with remaining parmesan. Bake for 50 minutes or until golden. Serve with broccolini.
- Low carb
- Lower gi
Nutrition
2226 kj
Energy
28g
Fat Total
14g
Saturated Fat
6g
Fibre
24g
Protein
76mg
Cholesterol
625.09mg
Sodium
16g
Carbs (sugar)
44g
Carbs (total)
Notes
If Desiree potatoes are unavailable, use Royal Blue or Red Rascal.
To freeze: Prepare to the end of step 4 in a freezerproof baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to chill. Cover the dish with 2 layers of foil. Label, date and freeze for up to 3 months.
To thaw: Place in the fridge for 24 hours or until thawed completely.
To cook: Discard plastic wrap and foil. Continue from step 5.
- Author: Miranda Farr
- Image credit: Ben Dearnley
- Publication: Australian Good Taste