Spring Vegetable Chicken Pot Pie Recipes

SPRING VEGETABLE CHICKEN POT PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
• In 4-quart saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms; cook 4 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned. Add 2 tablespoons of the butter, the onion and carrots; cook 4 to 6 minutes longer or until vegetables are just tender. Add flour; cook and stir about 1 minute or until mixture is coated and flour begins to brown. Beat in chicken broth and milk. Cook and stir 3 to 4 minutes or until thick and bubbly. Add potato cubes; cook 5 minutes. Stir in chicken, asparagus, 2 tablespoons of the parsley, 1 teaspoon of the thyme, and the salt and pepper. Cook 2 to 4 minutes or until potatoes are tender and mixture is hot. Pour into baking dish.
• Evenly place biscuit pieces on top. Bake 12 to 16 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown and cooked through. In 1-quart saucepan, melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter over low heat. Remove from heat; stir in remaining 1 tablespoon parsley and 1/2 teaspoon thyme. Brush biscuits with herbed butter.
• To freeze: Line 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with plastic wrap, leaving enough overhang to completely enclose assembled pot pie filling. Cool filling completely in shallow pan, covered, 1 hour in refrigerator. Pour cooled pot pie filling into dish; cover with another layer of plastic wrap. Freeze pot pie filling about 8 hours or until completely frozen. Transfer frozen pot pie filling to labeled 2-gallon resealable freezer plastic bag. Remove air; seal and freeze up to three months. To bake: Remove plastic wrap; transfer to 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Cover tightly with foil; thaw in refrigerator up to 48 hours or until completely thawed. Bake, covered, at 400°F about 40 minutes or until filling is hot (165°F in center). Uncover; stir mixture, and place biscuit pieces on top. Bake 12 to 16 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown and cooked through. In 1-quart saucepan, melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter over low heat. Remove from heat; stir in remaining 1 tablespoon parsley and 1/2 teaspoon thyme. Brush biscuits with herbed butter.

ROASTED CHICKEN POTPIE WITH SPRING VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°.
• Season the chicken generously with salt and pepper and arrange in a single layer in a heavy flameproof pan, such as a large skillet or small roasting pan.
• Roast the chicken until tender and the juices run clear, or it registers 175° on an instant-read thermometer, about 45 minutes.
• Transfer the chicken to a plate and let it cool until you can handle it easily.
• Pour all the fat from the pan into a small bowl; do not rinse out the pan; the cooked juices will be part of the sauce.
• Meanwhile, put the broth in a medium saucepan and bring it to a boil.
• Add the carrots and cook until just barely tender, about 3 minutes; scoop them out with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Add the asparagus to the boiling broth and cook for about 30 seconds; scoop out and add to the carrots; set aside the vegetables and the broth.
• When the chicken has cooled, pull off the skin, cut off the meat, and cut into small pieces; add to the vegetables.
• Put the roasting pan over medium heat and add back about 2 tablespoons of the chicken fat.
• Add the flour and whisk to make a smooth paste.
• Cook for about 1 minute, whisking constantly, then slowly whisk in the broth to create a smooth sauce.
• Cook the sauce, whisking frequently, until it is reduced to about 3 cups, is very smooth, and has the consistency of thick gravy, 10-15 minutes.
• Remove from the heat, add the herbs, lemon zest, lemon juice, and a generous amount of pepper; taste for salt and add if needed.
• Preheat oven again, at 400°.
• On a lightly floured counter, roll the pastry just a bit larger than the size and shape of the top of your baking dish (at least 1 1/2 quart capacity); you can also make this using individual oven-proof bowls or ramekins.
• Slide the pastry onto a baking sheet and bake until puffed and light brown, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, fold the cooked vegetables, the peas, and chicken into the sauce, and simmer gently to heat everything through.
• When the pastry is ready, scrape the filling into the baking dish, transfer the pastry top over the filling.
• Brush the top with a little heavy cream and sprinkle with grated Parmesan.
• Return to potpie to the oven and continue cooking until the filling is hot and the pastry is deep golden brown, another 3-4 minutes.
• Serve immediately.
• **You can prepare the chicken, vegetables, and sauce one day ahead; refrigerate the sauce separately.