Elaines Chicken Pot Pie Guide Food

CHICKEN POT PIE

Steps:

• Make the dough: Combine the flour, sugar, salt, thyme and chives in a food processor and pulse a few times to evenly combine. Add the butter and pulse 7 or 8 times until the butter is in pea-size bits. Add the vinegar and 2 tablespoons ice water and pulse just until the dough starts to come together into a ball. (Add 1 to 2 more tablespoons ice water if the dough is too dry.) Form the dough into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate while you make the filling, at least 1 hour.
• Make the filling: Pile the 2 crushed garlic cloves, bay leaf, lemon peel, peppercorns and coriander seeds on a square of cheesecloth. Bring the corners together to form a pouch and tie with a piece of kitchen twine.
• Combine the chicken, chicken broth and cheesecloth pouch in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a rapid simmer and cook until the chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate using tongs. Strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium bowl; discard the cheesecloth pouch. Wipe out the saucepan; return the strained broth to the pan and keep at a very gentle simmer over low heat. Shred the chicken using 2 forks.
• Melt the butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the potato, 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook until the potato is slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add the 3 minced garlic cloves and the thyme and cook until softened, 1 minute. Add the vinegar and cook until the liquid has evaporated, about 1 minute. Stir in the flour until the vegetables are evenly coated. Pour in 1 3/4 cups of the strained chicken broth (save the rest for another use). Bring to a gentle boil and cook until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the heavy cream. Add the shredded chicken, parsley and peas and stir to combine and heat through; season with salt and pepper. Transfer the filling to a 9 1/2-inch deep-dish pie plate and let cool until no longer steaming, about 20 minutes.
• Bake the pot pie: Preheat the oven to 375˚ F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pie dough into an 11-inch round, about 1/8 inch thick. Place it over the filling. Roll the overhanging dough under itself and crimp the edges with your fingers. Cut vents in the top of the dough. Beat the egg and 1 teaspoon water in a small bowl. Brush the crust all over with the egg wash. Place the pot pie on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until the crust is a deep golden brown, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Let cool 20 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.

MODERN CHICKEN POTPIE

Steps:

• Heat oil and garlic together over low heat. When it sizzles, add bacon and onions and cook, stirring often, until fat is rendered and bacon is golden brown. Adjust the heat so the bacon slowly gives up its fat. Remove garlic clove and add mushrooms. Cook, stirring, until mushrooms are browned and slightly softened.
• In a sealable plastic bag, combine flour, thyme, paprika, 2 large pinches salt and 1 large pinch pepper. Add chicken and shake well to coat.
• In the skillet with the bacon and mushrooms, add butter and melt over medium heat. Add chicken pieces and any flour that remains in the bag. Cook, stirring, until chicken pieces are golden and the flour on the bottom of the pan is browned. Pour in stock, Marsala and vinegar. Scrape bottom of pan, and let simmer about 5 minutes, until thickened. Taste for salt, pepper and vinegar and adjust the seasonings. Turn off heat and stir in parsley.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees.
• Transfer chicken and sauce to 9-inch round pie dish or 8-inch square baking dish. Roll out pie crust to desired shape and size. Drape crust over filling, making a few slits or decorative holes on top. Tuck edges down around filling and brush crust with egg wash. If the dish is piled high with filling, place on a baking sheet to catch any overflow before transferring to oven.
• Bake until crust is browned and filling is bubbling, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Let cool slightly, at least 10 minutes, before serving with a big spoon. If desired, garnish each serving with parsley.

DELICIOUS CHICKEN POT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Saute onion, celery, carrots and potatoes in margarine for 10 minutes.
• Add flour to sauteed mixture, stirring well, cook one minute stirring constantly.
• Combine broth and half and half.
• Gradually stir into vegetable mixture.
• Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until thickened and bubbly.
• Stir in salt and pepper; add chicken and stir well.
• Pour into shallow 2 quart casserole dish and top with pie shells.
• Cut slits to allow steam to escape.
• Bake for 40-50 minutes or until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly and cooked through.