Spring brings us wonderful and versatile ingredients like asparagus — grown in many regions of Italy and the star of this simple yet impressive recipe. This Chicken and asparagus pie is a complete meal that combines flavour, nutritional balance and practicality. It’s perfect for anyone following a gluten-free diet with a mindful eye on the recipe’s composition, particularly its carbohydrate content.
Asparagus is an excellent source of fibre, B vitamins (especially folate), vitamin K and natural antioxidants. Thanks to its asparagine content, it also supports kidney function and has a natural diuretic effect. Combined with chicken, a great source of lean protein, and brown rice flour, which adds fibre and complex carbohydrates, this dish offers all the essential macronutrients and is suitable for those with specific dietary needs.
The crisp gluten-free puff pastry topping adds a rustic and visually appealing touch, making it ideal even for a last-minute dinner with guests when you don’t want to give up on seasonal vegetables. If you’re looking for another all-in-one dish, try the Vegetarian Moussaka too!
Chicken and asparagus pie with Feta cheese
7.8g carbohydrates per 100g
Ingredients for 6 servings
- 1 pack of gluten-free puff pastry** (you will use about 200g)
- 850g chicken breast
- 420g asparagus
- 120g Feta cheese
- 70g leek
- 30g brown rice flour*
- 1 egg for brushing the surface
- meat or vegetable stock*
- extra virgin olive oil
- salt and papper
**Ingredients specific for celiacs
*Ingredients whose labels must read “gluten-free” (or, in Italy, present on Prontuario AIC)
Preparation
- Slice the leek and let it soften in a non-stick pan with a drizzle of olive oil. Add the chicken breast cut into cubes and cook until it turns white on all sides.
- Trim the woody ends off the asparagus, then divide the stalks from the tips. Cut the stalks into small pieces and add them to the chicken. Pour in a few ladles of broth, season with salt and pepper, and cook.
- When the chicken is nearly done, add the asparagus tips. Sprinkle in the rice flour and, if needed, add another ladle of broth — it will thicken into a sauce similar to béchamel.
- Transfer the chicken and asparagus mixture into a baking dish, top with crumbled Feta cheese and cover the top with the puff pastry. Seal the edges well to create a lid, cut a few slits to allow steam to escape, and brush the surface with beaten egg.
- Bake in a preheated fan oven at 180°C for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, let rest for 10 minutes, then serve.






















