Country Captain Pie Recipes

COUNTRY CAPTAIN

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 325 degrees.
• Combine the flour, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper and the thyme in a bowl. In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat until it foams. Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture, shaking off excess, and fry, in batches if needed, until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and drain off all but 1 tablespoon of the fat in the skillet.
• Return the skillet to medium heat, add the bacon and fry until crispy. Transfer to a plate. Once cool, crumble and set aside.
• Add the onion, pepper, celery, garlic, curry powder and 1 tablespoon of the currants to the skillet and sauté over medium-high heat until soft and fragrant, about 7 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and their juices, bring to a boil and simmer over medium-low heat for 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Spread 1 cup of the tomato sauce in the bottom of an ovenproof casserole large enough to hold the chicken snugly in one layer. Arrange the chicken on top. Pour the remaining sauce over and around the chicken. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove the foil and cook for 15 minutes more.
• Top with the crumbled bacon, remaining currants and slivered almonds. Serve with cooked rice and any condiments you wish.

COUNTRY CAPTAIN CHICKEN

Steps:

• In small nonstick skillet, toast almonds over medium heat, stirring often, 3 to 4 minutes or until lightly toasted. Tip onto a plate; let cool.
• Cut chicken breasts crosswise in half. Season with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt. Lightly coat with flour, patting off excess. In a 5-quart saucpean or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add chicken; cook 3 minutes on each side or until lightly browned but not cooked through. Remove chicken to a plate.
• Add onion and bell peppers to the saucepan. Cook and stir 5 minutes or until vegetables are softened. Stir in garlic, curry powder, thyme and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add tomatoes (with juice) and wine; heat to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes. Stir in currants.
• Return chicken to saucepan, pushing it down into the sauce. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat and partially cover saucepan. Cook 10 to 15 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of chicken reads 160°F and juices run clear. Sprinkle with almonds.

COUNTRY CAPTAIN

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cover currants with warm chicken stock. Set aside.
• Fry the bacon in a nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp, drain on paper towels, crumble and reserve. Drain all but 3 tablespoons bacon grease from pan.
• Heat grease in the skillet over medium heat. Dredge chicken in seasoned flour. Shake off excess and cook in grease until tender, about 30 minutes, turning pieces frequently for uniform browning.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Remove chicken to a bowl. Add celery, onions, bell pepper and garlic to drippings in pan. Sauté vegetables, about 5 minutes. Strain stock from currants and add stock to skillet along with the tomatoes, curry, brown sugar, salt, thyme, mace and pepper.
• Stir tomato mixture, bring to boil and reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for about 10 minutes.
• Place chicken pieces in a large shallow baking dish, cover with tomato mixture and bake for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with reserved currants, almonds, parsley and the crumbled bacon and return to oven for 10 to 15 minutes more. Serve hot with steamed rice.

COUNTRY CAPTAIN

Steps:

• Combine the ginger-garlic paste with the turmeric, chile powder and vinegar in a large bowl, then toss the chicken in the marinade to coat. Let the chicken rest at room temperature while cooking the vegetables to give the spices time to infuse the meat.
• Heat an inch of oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high until it reaches 340 degrees on an instant-read thermometer. (If you don't have an instant-read thermometer, drop a nub of potato into the oil to test: If you get a fervent sizzle, the oil is hot enough.) Add the onion and fry, turning occasionally with a spider or slotted spoon, until the onion is soft and uniformly dark chestnut brown in color, 9 to 11 minutes. Scoop out the onion and let drain on a plate lined with paper towels.
• Bring the oil back up to 340 degrees. Add the diced potato and fry, turning occasionally, until golden brown on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes. Scoop out the potatoes and let drain on a plate lined with paper towels. Season generously with salt while still hot.
• While the potatoes cook, set a large cast-iron or other heavy skillet over high heat. When the pan is just beginning to smoke, drizzle in 2 tablespoons of oil from the saucepan and swirl to cover the bottom of the pan. Add half of the marinated chicken, making sure to leave space between the pieces. Let cook undisturbed until browned and crisp, 4 to 5 minutes, then flip and cook to brown the other sides, another 4 to 5 minutes. Scrape chicken and any accumulated juices onto a serving platter or bowl. Repeat with remaining chicken, cooking in 2 tablespoons oil from the saucepan.
• Add the onion and potato to the dish with the chicken. Stir gently, just enough for the juices from the chicken to gloss the onion and potato. Serve immediately with the bread.

COUNTRY PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, combine ground beef, onion soup mix, 8 ounces tomato sauce, chopped onion, bread crumbs, 1/2 teaspoon oregano, and 1/2 cup shredded cheese. Mix thoroughly and press into a 9 inch pie plate.
• In a medium bowl, combine instant rice, water, 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce, 1/2 teaspoon oregano, basil, and rosemary. Mix well and pour over meat layer. Cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil and sprinkle top with remaining 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese. Return pie to oven for an additional 10 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.

COUNTRY PIE

Steps:

• Crust: Combine ground beef, 1/2 a can of tomato sauce, bread crumbs, onion, green pepper & spices.
• Pat mixture down & up sides of a 9 inch pie plate (I use a deep dish).
• Set aside.
• Filling: Combine rice, all the remaining tomato sauce (1 1/2 cans), 1 cup water & 1/2 cup of cheese.
• Pour on top of crust.
• Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 25 minutes.
• Sprinkle with rest of cheese & bake 10 -15 more minutes or.
• until cheese is melted.

COUNTRY CAPTAIN PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil; add onion, apple, garlic.
• Cook until soft; remove.
• Cut chicken into small bites; add remaining oil to skillet; fry until browned.
• Add flour, stirring to coat chicken.
• Add tomatoes; cook until thickened.
• Add raisins, parsley, curry powder, and thyme; mix.
• Add apple mixture; simmer 5 minutes.
• Pour into 2 quart baking dish.
• Roll puff pastry 1 inch longer than baking dish; place over chicken mixture; cut slits.
• Bake 30 minutes.