Beef Pot Pie With Polenta Crust Recipes

BEEF POT PIE III

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, brown the pieces of meat on all sides. Pour in some water to almost cover. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer until meat is tender and falls apart easily; about 2 to 3 hours. Transfer meat to a large mixing bowl. Shred the meat slightly and add salt and pepper to taste.
• In another 2 quart saucepan over medium heat, pour in beef broth and add carrots and potatoes. Cook until almost tender; about 15 to 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• When the carrots and potatoes are done, transfer to the large mixing bowl with the beef; leaving the liquid in the pan. Combine the peas with the carrots, potatoes and beef.
• Dissolve the cornstarch with the 1/3 cup of water. Pour into the saucepan of beef broth, stirring constantly. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat; cook for 5 minutes.
• Line a 9 inch pie plate with one of the pie crust following the package directions. Place the beef mixture into the pie crust. Pour the gravy over the top of the mixture, then cover with the other pie crust. Bake in a preheated oven until the crust is golden brown; about 25 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

POLENTA TAMALE PIE

Steps:

• Sauté beef in heavy large pot over medium-high heat until no longer pink, breaking up meat with back of fork, about 3 minutes. Add chili powder and cumin; stir 1 minute. Add salsa, beans and broth. Simmer until mixture thickens, about 10 minutes. Mix in 1/4 cup cilantro; season with salt and pepper.
• Oil 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Place half of polenta in dish. Top with sauce and 1 1/2 cups cheese, then remaining polenta, cheese and cilantro. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with foil; chill.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake freshly assembled pie, uncovered, until heated through and sauce bubbles, about 35 minutes, or bake refrigerated pie, covered, 20 minutes, then uncover and bake until heated through, about 35 minutes.

BEEF POT PIE WITH POLENTA CRUST

Steps:

• Pat the cubes of beef dry with a paper towel and sprinkle all sides with salt and pepper; Dip them into flour to coat, remove excess flour.
• In a heavy four quart casserole, heat the oil over high heat and brown the beef in the oil, turning them them evenly brown, transfer meat to plate.
• In the same pan, add onions and saute 5 minutes until soft but not brown; pour in water or stock and bring to a boil over high heat while scraping the browned particles clinging to the sides and bottom of the pan; add beef cubes and bay leaf, reduce heat, simmer partially covered for 1 hour: then add potatoes, carrots and peas; partially cover the pan again and simmer 20 to 30 minutes longer, or until vegetables are tender.
• As beef and vegetables simmer, check the pan from time to time; if liquid seems to be cooking away, reduce heat and add a little more water; When all is tender, remove from heat and let cool uncovered to room temperature.
• For crust: In a food processor with fitted metal blade, combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt; process just to mix; Add butter and process in short burst, scraping down sides of bowl if necessary, until the mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs.
• Add the whole egg, egg yolk and 1 tablespoon ice water and process for a few short burst, scraping down sides until dough comes together but still crumbly; If dough seems to dry, sprinkle with up to one more tablespoon water; DO NOT overprocess or the crust will be tough.
• Turn dough out onto a floured surface and work together into a ball the consistency of play-doh, Press down into a round disk and wrap with plastic, put in refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Roll dough to fit the casserole that has the meat veggie mixture in; Place dough over mixture and bake in 350°F oven until crust is brown and stew is bubbling, Serve.

BEEF POT PIE WITH MASHED POTATO CRUST

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325ºF. Have a shallow 3 quart baking dish ready.
• Coat meat with flour, shaking off excess. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Brown meat in 2 to 3 batches, adding more oil as needed. Remove to baking dish with a slotted spoon.
• Add carrots and onions to dish. Mix wine, garlic, salt and herbs. Add and stir to distribute. Cover tightly with lid or foil.
• Bake 2 hours or until meat and vegetables are tender. (If making ahead, refrigerate stew and mashed potatoes separately up to 3 days.).
• To serve: (If made ahead, reheat stew, covered, in 375ºF oven 40 to 45 minutes until hot and bubbling). Increase oven temperature to 425ºF. Spoon mashed potatoes on stew and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Bake 10 to 15 minutes longer until edges of potatoes are golden brown.

VEGETABLE POT PIE WITH WINE SAUCE AND POLENTA CRUST

Steps:

• For filling:
• Preheat oven to 425°F. Blanch pearl onions in large pot of boiling water 2 minutes. Drain onions and cool. Peel onions.
• Cut carrots, potatoes, rutabagas and bell pepper into 1/2-inch pieces. Place in heavy large baking pan with onions, leek and mushrooms. Add olive oil and herbes de Provence and toss to coat. Roast until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour. Transfer vegetables to 8-inch square glass baking dish. Stir in peas. Season vegetables to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover tightly and refrigerate.)
• Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Mix 1 cup vegetable broth and 3/4 cup dry red wine in heavy small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to simmer. Stir remaining 1/4 cup red wine and 1 tablespoon cornstarch in small bowl until smooth. Add to broth mixture and simmer until sauce thickens slightly, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. Pour sauce over roasted vegetables.
• For polenta:
• Combine vegetable broth and 1 cup water in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to boil. Gradually stir in cornmeal and salt. Cook until polenta thickens and pulls away from sides of pan, stirring constantly, about 10 minutes. Pour warm polenta over vegetable mixture. Using spatula, smooth top, covering vegetables completely. Sprinkle polenta with Romano cheese.
• Bake pot pie until polenta is firm to touch and vegetable mixture is heated through, about 15 minutes. Preheat broiler. Broil pot pie until polenta is golden, about 4 minutes.
• Spoon pot pie onto plate; serve hot.