Chicken Pot Pie With Exotic Mushrooms And Tarragon Recipes

CHICKEN, HAM, AND TARRAGON PIE

Steps:

• Roll out the pastry on a floured counter and, using your pie dish as a template, cut out a piece to generously fit the top. From the trimmings, cut a 3/4-inch wide strip (it can be in pieces) to fit around the rim of the dish. Dampen the edges and stick the strips in place around the rim.
• Mix the ham and tarragon into the chicken filling, then spoon this into the dish. Dampen the top of the pastry strip and place the pastry round on top. Trim the edges and press down gently. Decorate the top if you wish with pastry shapes made from the trimmings, then brush with the beaten egg and make a small slit in the top for a steam hole. Either freeze or cook within 4 hours (keep the pie in the fridge).

CHICKEN-TARRAGON POT PIE

Steps:

• To make the crust, combine flour, butter, shortening, salt and sugar in a food processor. Pulse together just until the mixture is crumbly and butter is broken into small pieces. Pour 1/3 cup ice water into the machine, and pulse 3 or 4 times. Squeeze a little dough in your hand to see whether it clumps together and is evenly moist. If not, add another tablespoon of water, and pulse 1 or 2 times more. Don't overmix so that the dough forms a ball.
• Turn out dough on a large sheet of plastic wrap. Lift ends of plastic to gather dough together inside. Press into a large disk, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until ready to use, up to 2 days.
• To make the filling, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add carrot, celery, leeks and tarragon, and cook, stirring, just until slightly softened but not browned (reduce the heat if necessary to prevent browning), about 3 minutes. Transfer cooked vegetables to a bowl, wipe out the skillet, and place it back on the stove.
• Add remaining 3 tablespoons butter, and melt over medium heat. Whisk in flour, and cook, whisking, until the mixture bubbles and smells cooked. Do not let it brown. Whisk in 2 cups broth, and cook, whisking, 1 minute. Whisk in cream, and cook 2 or 3 minutes, just until thickened. Add salt and pepper. If the sauce is too thick, whisk in remaining broth.
• Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Add cooked vegetables and peas, chicken and sauce to 8-inch deep pie dish or other baking dish, mix gently, and taste for seasoning.
• Flour a work surface. Remove dough from refrigerator. Roll out the dough, turning and flouring often, and cut a shape approximately the size of your baking dish plus 1 1/2 inches overlap all around.
• Roll dough up onto the rolling pin, and unroll over dish, so it rests evenly on top of filling. Fold the edges under and crimp. Poke tip of knife through crust to create 3 vent holes near the center. Whisk the egg with a teaspoon of cold water. Use a pastry brush to lightly coat the entire crust with egg wash. Place on cookie sheet, and place in oven.
• Bake 20 minutes, then reduce temperature to 375 degrees. Bake 25 to 30 minutes more, until crust is golden and filling is bubbling through vents. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

COUNTRY CHICKEN AND MUSHROOM POT PIE

Steps:

• Combine 1 cup boiling water and chicken bouillon in a liquid measure; set aside to dissolve.
• Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a pot over medium heat. Add onions and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high and add mushrooms; fry for about 3 minutes. Remove onion-mushroom mixture from the pot.
• Add remaining butter to the pot with chicken pieces. Stir chicken and splash Worcestershire sauce over top. Cook, stirring continuously, until chicken is seared on all sides but not cooked through, about 3 minutes. Stir in onion-mushroom mixture, bouillon, and pepper.
• Add milk and 1/4 cup water; boil for 20 minutes. Add frozen vegetables and boil for 10 more minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease an 8-inch oven-proof dish and lay down bottom crust in it. Set top crust aside.
• After filling has boiled for 10 minutes, use a large ladle to scoop out approximately 1 cup sauce from the mixture and pour into a cup. Add cornstarch to the cup and stir until all lumps have dissolved. Add cornstarch mixture back to the pot; cook and stir until filling has thickened to your liking.
• Bake bottom crust in the preheated oven for approximately 5 minutes. Remove from the oven, add filling, and cover with the top crust, making sure the edges are sealed. Make cute decorations with pastry cut-offs and use a knife to make several small slits in the top to allow steam to escape. Lightly paint egg yolk over the top crust.
• Bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Ovens vary so baking time may vary-keep an eye on it.

CHICKEN POT PIE WITH CHANTERELLE MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a pie dish. Separate parsley leaves and stalks. Chop both and set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken breasts in the hot oil until both sides are browned, 7 to 10 minutes. Slice into 1/2-inch chunks. Return the chicken to pan, add mushrooms and garlic, and cook and stir until soft, about 5 minutes. Strain off and save the juices from the mushrooms as they cook.
• Transfer pan contents to the prepared pie dish along with carrots and peas; add parsley leaves. Mix to get a good distribution of ingredients throughout the dish.
• Combine chicken broth, reserved mushroom juices, milk, parsley stalks, thyme, and rosemary in a pot. Bring to a boil. Mix cornstarch and water together to make a paste and add to the pot. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Strain the gravy over the pie dish and season with salt and pepper.
• Roll out the thawed pastry until it will cover the pie dish. Lay over pie and press down at the sides, cutting away excess pastry. Brush beaten egg yolk over the pastry. Cut a small "X" in the middle of the pie to vent.
• Bake in the preheated oven until browned and bubbly, about 30 minutes.