375g/13oz medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1.5cm slices
2 celery sticks, thinly sliced
350g/12oz floury potatoes, such as King Edwards or Maris Piper
2 slender leeks, trimmed and cut into 2cm/¾in slices
150g/5½oz small button mushrooms, wiped and halved or quartered if large
2 medium onions, halved and sliced
2 tsp dried thyme
600ml/20fl oz chicken stock, made with 1 stock cube
400g/14oz can chopped tomatoes
1 bay leaf
flaked sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp cornflour
1 tsp fine sea salt
flaked sea salt
250g/9oz self-raising flour, plus extra for rolling
3 tbsp sunflower oil
100g/3½oz cold butter, cut into cubes
125ml/4fl oz full-fat milk, plus extra for brushing
4 rashers rindless smoked streaky bacon, cut into 2cm/¾oz wide strips
8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs