Basil Chicken Pot Pies Food

FAMILY-STYLE CHICKEN "POT" PIE

Steps:

• To make the pastry: Combine the flour and salt in a very large mixing bowl. Add the butter and mix with a pastry blender or your hands until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pour in the ice water and work it in to bind the dough until it holds together without being too wet or sticky. Squeeze a small amount together, if it is crumbly, add more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time. Wrap the large ball of dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate while preparing the rest of the recipe (feel free to make the dough the night before if you prefer.)
• To make the chicken broth: Put the chicken in a large stockpot and cover with 3 quarts of cool water. Add the vegetables and herbs and bring it up to a boil over medium-high heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour; skimming frequently as the oil rises to the surface. What we're doing here is not only cooking the chicken but also creating the base sauce for the pot pie. It's the old trick of killing two birds with one stone -- or one pot as the case may be. Remove the chicken to a platter to cool. When it's cool enough to handle shred the chicken meat, discarding the skin and bones, and set aside. Using a colander, strain the chicken broth into another pot and discard the solids; you should have about 2 quarts when you're done.
• To make the pot pie filling: Wipe out the stockpot and put it back on the stovetop over medium-low heat. Melt the butter and just as the foam subsides, add the flour, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or whisk to prevent lumps. This is a roux, which will act as a thickener. Cook and stir the roux until it's the color of a California blonde. Now, gradually pour in the reserved chicken broth, whisking the entire time to prevent lumps. Whisk and simmer for 10 minutes to cook out the starchy taste of the flour and thicken the broth; it should look like cream of chicken soup. Fold in the carrots, pearl onions, peas, garlic, rosemary, thyme, and lemon juice; stir to combine. Simmer for 10 minutes to soften the vegetables a bit; season the mixture with salt and pepper. Stir in the shredded chicken until incorporated, remove from the heat and cool to room temperature; it will get quite thick as it cools down.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Take the dough out of the refrigerator and set it out on the counter for 5 minutes to warm up a bit, making it easier to roll out.
• Sprinkle the counter and a rolling pin lightly with flour. Roll the dough out into a big 14 by 20-inch rectangle. Carefully transfer the dough to a large rectangular pizza stone or standard sheet pan, leaving about 1 foot of the pastry hanging off 1 end. Spoon the cooled chicken filling on the pastry that is on the pizza stone, leaving a border around the sides. Lightly beat the egg with 3 tablespoons of water to make an egg wash and brush it on the dough border. Fold the "free" dough over the filling like a blanket and crimp the ends with a fork to form a tight seal; it should look like a big pillow. Brush the top of the giant chicken pie with the remaining egg wash, sprinkle with the coarse salt, and cut tiny slashes in the top so steam can escape. Place the chicken pie in the oven and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour until puffed and golden. Let the chicken pie rest for 10 minutes before moving it. Run a spatula underneath the pot pie to loosen it from the pizza stone. Scoop out the chicken pie with a large serving spoon.

CHICKEN POT PIE

Steps:

• Place the flour, sugar and salt into a bowl and mix well.
• Add the butter and using a pastry cutter or two forks, mix until the butter is pea sized.
• Add the water, just a few tablespoons at a time, stirring gently with a fork until the dough is just coming together but is still crumbly. Test that the dough is ready by squeezing the dough in your hands until it holds.
• Smash the dough together and separate into two balls.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and rest in the fridge for 1 hour. Allow to sit out for a few minutes and then roll out dough.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Roll out half of the dough into the pie plate. Set pie plate and remaining dough in plastic wrap in the fridge.
• Place the carrots, corn and peas in a pan with just enough water to cover them. Heat over medium heat until soft, about 15 minutes. Drain.
• Stir together the chicken and veggies in a bowl. Set aside.
• In a large dutch oven or pot, add the butter and once melted add the onions, celery and garlic, cooking until translucent, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in flour and seasonings, and herbs. Cook, stirring continuously for 30 seconds.
• Slowly add the broth and milk, stirring frequently until thick. Remove from heat.
• Stir in the chicken and veggies and pour into a pie dish.
• Roll the remaining pie crust over the top and pinch the edges shut. Cut slits in the top of the pie.
• Whisk together the egg and the water and brush it all over the top crust.
• Bake for 30 minutes at 425 degrees F, or until golden brown.
• Allow to cool slightly and serve!

SPICED CHICKEN POT PIES

Steps:

• For the spice blend: Mix all the ingredients together. Store at room temperature in an airtight jar for up to 3 months.
• For the chicken pot pie: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Heat the oil in a large ovenproof skillet, braiser or pot over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the chicken thighs generously on both sides with salt and pepper and place skin side down in the skillet. Cook until the skin is golden and crisp, about 10 minutes. Then turn the thighs over and transfer the pan to the oven and bake until an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, 10 to 15 more. (Alternatively, you can turn the chicken thighs and on the stove and not for 15 to 18 minutes more, but it might get spitty!.) Transfer the chicken to a plate leaving the fat in the pan. Heat the pan over medium and add the onion, carrot, celery and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring, until softened, 7 to 10 minutes. Add the ginger and hawaij to the vegetable mixture and cook for another minute, add the flour and cook, stirring, for another minute.
• Meanwhile, bring the stock to a simmer in a small saucepan. Gradually add a ladle of the stock into the vegetable mixture and cook, stirring, allowing it to thicken before adding another ladle full. Stir in the dill, parsley and peas and then reduce to low. Pull the chicken off the bones, discard or snack on the skin, chop the chicken into bite-size pieces and add it to the pan. Stir in the heavy cream. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
• Ladle into 4 1/2-quart oven proof bowls or cocottes and place them on a rimmed baking sheet, which will make them easier to transfer and will also catch any of the mixture that overflows in the oven.
• On a work surface, roll out the puff pastry sheet so that it's big enough to cut into 4 squares that are about an inch larger than the bowls. Cut into four equal squares and cut two slits in the center (it's easiest to do this while the puff pastry is on the counter versus on top of the pies). Lay the puff pastry on top of the bowls so that it sits comfortably. Brush the tops with egg wash and sprinkle with a pinch of flaky salt and cover liberally with sesame seeds. Bake until the pastry is golden, about 20 minutes. Let cool slightly and serve.

BASIL BISCUIT TOPPED CHICKEN POT PIE

Steps:

• For the Base: Combine all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl
• Spread evenly in a 8 x 8 casserole dish
• For the Biscuit Topping:
• Place flour, basil, sugar, baking powder, salt, pepper, and powdered milk into a medium bowl
• Cut shortening into ingredients with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles fine crumbs
• Stir in just enough water so dough leaves side of bowl and forms a ball
• (Too much liquid will make dough sticky; not enough will make it dry) Place dough onto lightly floured surface
• Knead lightly 20 to 25 times
• Roll or pat 1/2 inch thick
• Spread over filling and brush with egg
• Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until crust browns and filling bubbles

INDIVIDUAL CHICKEN POT PIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• For the filling: Place the chicken breasts in a large stockpot along with 2 teaspoons of the salt and enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the chicken is tender, about 30 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate to cool, reserving 3 cups of the broth; supplement with canned chicken stock if you are short. When cool enough to handle, cut the chicken into bite-size pieces.
• While the chicken is cooking, combine the potatoes and the remaining 2 teaspoons salt in a medium stockpot. Fill with water to cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat and cook until the potatoes are tender but not mushy, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain the potatoes in a colander and set aside to cool.
• Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the carrots and cook for 5 minutes. Add the celery, onion and a pinch of salt and pepper; cook until the onions are soft and almost translucent, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the remaining 4 tablespoons butter and, once melted, add the flour to make a roux. Cook the flour for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, then add the milk and reserved chicken broth. Simmer, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the chicken, corn, peas, celery seeds and garlic powder. Remove from the heat.
• Grease eight 10-ounce ramekins with butter and place on a large, rimmed baking sheet or jellyroll pan. (Alternatively, grease one 9-by-13-inch baking dish.)
• Evenly divide the potatoes among the ramekins. Spoon the filling over the potatoes, leaving about 1/4-inch of space at the top for the crust.
• For the crust: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the baking mix and pepper until well blended. Whisk in the melted butter and buttermilk until smooth. Stir in the Parmesan. Pour some batter into each ramekin and smooth over the top, being careful not to mix it into the filling. Bake until the crust is crispy and nicely browned, 40 to 45 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

CHICKEN POT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the chicken breasts on a baking sheet and rub them with olive oil. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, or until cooked through. Set aside until cool enough to handle, then remove the meat from the bones and discard the skin. Cut the chicken into large dice. You will have 4 to 6 cups of cubed chicken.
• In a small saucepan, heat the chicken stock and dissolve the bouillon cubes in the stock. In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter and saute the onions over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until translucent. Add the flour and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Add the hot chicken stock to the sauce. Simmer over low heat for 1 more minute, stirring, until thick. Add 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and heavy cream. Add the cubed chicken, carrots, peas, onions and parsley. Mix well.
• For the pastry, mix the flour, salt, and baking powder in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Add the shortening and butter and mix quickly with your fingers until each piece is coated with flour. Pulse 10 times, or until the fat is the size of peas. With the motor running, add the ice water; process only enough to moisten the dough and have it just come together. Dump the dough out onto a floured board and knead quickly into a ball. Wrap the dough in plastic and allow it to rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Divide the filling equally among 4 ovenproof bowls. Divide the dough into quarters and roll each piece into an 8-inch circle. Brush the outside edges of each bowl with the egg wash, then place the dough on top. Trim the circle to 1/2-inch larger than the top of the bowl. Crimp the dough to fold over the side, pressing it to make it stick. Brush the dough with egg wash and make 3 slits in the top. Sprinkle with sea salt and cracked pepper. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 1 hour, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling hot.

ITALIAN CHICKEN POT PIE WITH BASIL BISCUITS

Steps:

• In deep 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook onion and garlic in oil 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft. Stir in zucchini, chicken, tomato sauce, beans, tomatoes, salt and pepper. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to medium-low. Cover; simmer 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in medium bowl, mix Bisquick mix, cornmeal, milk and basil just until moistened. Drop dough by 18 rounded tablespoonfuls onto hot chicken mixture. Cover; cook 8 minutes.