Chicken Pot Pie

425* preheated oven

For the crust
9 oz. (2 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. table salt
6 oz. (12 Tbs.) cold unsalted butter, cut into 10 pieces

 

For the filling
5 Tbs. olive oil
2-1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 lb. medium mushrooms, quartered (2 cups)
1-1/2 cups frozen pearl onions, thawed and patted dry
4 medium carrots, peeled and sliced 1/2 inch-thick (1-1/2 cups)
3 medium cloves garlic, minced
2 oz. (4 Tbs.) unsalted butter, cut into 3 pieces
2-1/4 oz. (1/2 cup) unbleached all-purpose flour
3 cups chicken broth
1 cup half-and-half or heavy cream
1-3/4 lb. red potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch dice (5 cups)
1 cup frozen petite peas, thawed
1/4 cup dry sherry
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 Tbs. chopped fresh thyme
1-1/2 Tbs. Dijon mustard

 

To Make a crust: Put the flour and salt in a food processor and pulse to blend. Add the butter and pulse until the butter pieces are the size of peas, 10 to 12 pulses. Drizzle 3 Tbs. cold water over the mixture. Pulse until the dough forms moist crumbs that are just beginning to clump together, 8 or 9 pulses more.

Turn the crumbs onto a large piece of plastic wrap and gather into a pile. With the heel of your hand, gently smear the dough away from you until the crumbs come together (two or three smears should do it). Shape the dough into a 4-inch square, wrap tightly in the plastic, and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours.

 

Now for the filling Heat 2 Tbs. of the oil in a 7- to 8-quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat until very hot. Generously season the chicken with salt and pepper. Working in two batches, brown the chicken well on both sides, 4 to 5 minutes per side, adding 1 Tbs. oil with the second batch. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and cut into 3/4- to 1-inch pieces (it’s fine if the chicken isn’t fully cooked; it will finish cooking later). Put the chicken in a large bowl.

Add 1 Tbs. oil to the pot and heat over medium-high heat until hot. Add the mushrooms. Cook without stirring for 1 minute. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until well browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the mushrooms to the bowl of chicken.

Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining 1 Tbs. oil and then the onions and carrots to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the edges are browned, 8 to 9 minutes. Add the garlic and stir constantly until fragrant, about 30 seconds more. Scrape the vegetables into the bowl of chicken and mushrooms.

Melt the butter in the same pot over low heat. Add the flour and cook, whisking constantly, until the texture, which will be clumpy at first, loosens and smooths out, about 4 minutes. Slowly whisk in the chicken broth and half-and-half. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Reduce the heat to low and add the potatoes, chicken, and vegetables (and any accumulated juice), and a generous pinch each of salt and pepper. Partially cover the pot and simmer gently (adjusting the heat as necessary), stirring occasionally, until the potatoes and carrots are just tender, 15 to 18 minutes. Stir in the peas, sherry, parsley, thyme, and mustard. Season to taste with salt and pepper.  Place filing into deep casserole dish. (2 may be necessary to handle all the filing)

 

Let the dough soften slightly at room temperature, about 20 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a 1/8-inch-thick rectangle. Cut to size to fit casserole dish.  Cut one small X in the center of each.

Bake the pies Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 425°F. Put the pot pies on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Bake until the filling is bubbling and the crust is deep golden-brown, about 45 minutes. Cool on a rack for 20 to 30 minutes before serving.

You may also make individual pies in 6" ramikins and top with crust.

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!