Miss Cecilias Chicken Pot Pie Recipes

SPICED CHICKEN POT PIES

Steps:

• For the spice blend: Mix all the ingredients together. Store at room temperature in an airtight jar for up to 3 months.
• For the chicken pot pie: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Heat the oil in a large ovenproof skillet, braiser or pot over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the chicken thighs generously on both sides with salt and pepper and place skin side down in the skillet. Cook until the skin is golden and crisp, about 10 minutes. Then turn the thighs over and transfer the pan to the oven and bake until an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, 10 to 15 more. (Alternatively, you can turn the chicken thighs and on the stove and not for 15 to 18 minutes more, but it might get spitty!.) Transfer the chicken to a plate leaving the fat in the pan. Heat the pan over medium and add the onion, carrot, celery and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring, until softened, 7 to 10 minutes. Add the ginger and hawaij to the vegetable mixture and cook for another minute, add the flour and cook, stirring, for another minute.
• Meanwhile, bring the stock to a simmer in a small saucepan. Gradually add a ladle of the stock into the vegetable mixture and cook, stirring, allowing it to thicken before adding another ladle full. Stir in the dill, parsley and peas and then reduce to low. Pull the chicken off the bones, discard or snack on the skin, chop the chicken into bite-size pieces and add it to the pan. Stir in the heavy cream. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
• Ladle into 4 1/2-quart oven proof bowls or cocottes and place them on a rimmed baking sheet, which will make them easier to transfer and will also catch any of the mixture that overflows in the oven.
• On a work surface, roll out the puff pastry sheet so that it's big enough to cut into 4 squares that are about an inch larger than the bowls. Cut into four equal squares and cut two slits in the center (it's easiest to do this while the puff pastry is on the counter versus on top of the pies). Lay the puff pastry on top of the bowls so that it sits comfortably. Brush the tops with egg wash and sprinkle with a pinch of flaky salt and cover liberally with sesame seeds. Bake until the pastry is golden, about 20 minutes. Let cool slightly and serve.

CURRY CHICKEN POT PIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat the oil and 6 tablespoons of the butter in large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the celery, onions, curry powder and a large pinch of salt and cook until the vegetables are soft and the onions turn translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute, then stir in the peas and carrots. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes. Slowly add the chicken broth and milk, whisking to remove any flour lumps. Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the chicken and stir to combine.
• Pour the curry chicken into four 10-ounce ramekins or gratin-style bowls.
• Lightly dust a clean work surface with flour. Roll the pie crust large enough to cut 4 circles to fit over the ramekins. Lightly brush the edges of the ramekins with the egg wash. Place the pie crust over the top of the curry chicken, pressing to seal along the edges. Using a sharp paring knife, create a few slits in the top of the pies. Brush the top of the crust with the egg wash.
• Bake until the crust is a deep golden brown and the pot pies are bubbly, about 30 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving. Top with pats of the remaining 2 tablespoons butter right before serving.

MISS CECILIA'S CHICKEN POT PIE

Steps:

• Dress and cut chickens into serving pieces.
• Place in a stewpan and barely cover with boiling water; simmer until tender.
• Prepare pastry, using a little less shortening than called for in recipe. Divide dough into two parts.
• Roll out one piece very thin and line sides of 2 quart baking dish with part of it and cut remainder into strips.
• Arrange a layer of chicken in dish; season with salt and pepper. Cover with pastry strips and continue until all the chicken and strips are used.
• Add milk and about 1/4 cup of stock in which the chickenwas cooked.
• Roll out the second piece of dough; dot with butter, fold and roll again until butter is blended into dough.
• Roll out thinly; make small gashes in it to allow steam to escape and cover top of pie.
• Press edges together and bake in a preheated 400F oven until crust is well browned.
• Variation: Omit pastry and butter. Arrange chicken in baking dish; add seasoning, milk and stock. Place drop biscuits on top and bake as directed.

INDIVIDUAL CHICKEN POT PIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• For the filling: Place the chicken breasts in a large stockpot along with 2 teaspoons of the salt and enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the chicken is tender, about 30 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate to cool, reserving 3 cups of the broth; supplement with canned chicken stock if you are short. When cool enough to handle, cut the chicken into bite-size pieces.
• While the chicken is cooking, combine the potatoes and the remaining 2 teaspoons salt in a medium stockpot. Fill with water to cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat and cook until the potatoes are tender but not mushy, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain the potatoes in a colander and set aside to cool.
• Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the carrots and cook for 5 minutes. Add the celery, onion and a pinch of salt and pepper; cook until the onions are soft and almost translucent, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the remaining 4 tablespoons butter and, once melted, add the flour to make a roux. Cook the flour for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, then add the milk and reserved chicken broth. Simmer, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the chicken, corn, peas, celery seeds and garlic powder. Remove from the heat.
• Grease eight 10-ounce ramekins with butter and place on a large, rimmed baking sheet or jellyroll pan. (Alternatively, grease one 9-by-13-inch baking dish.)
• Evenly divide the potatoes among the ramekins. Spoon the filling over the potatoes, leaving about 1/4-inch of space at the top for the crust.
• For the crust: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the baking mix and pepper until well blended. Whisk in the melted butter and buttermilk until smooth. Stir in the Parmesan. Pour some batter into each ramekin and smooth over the top, being careful not to mix it into the filling. Bake until the crust is crispy and nicely browned, 40 to 45 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

WHITE CHICKEN POTPIE

Steps:

• Season chicken lightly with salt and pepper. Let rest 15 minutes. In a medium pot over medium heat, combine chicken, stock, wine, garlic, bay leaf, thyme and rosemary. Bring to a simmer and cook chicken gently until no longer pink, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer meat to a plate to cool completely. Strain and reserve cooking liquid (you should have about 2 3/4 cups). Once chicken is cool, shred into bite-size pieces.
• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with butter.
• Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add leeks and shallot and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Melt in 4 more tablespoons butter. Stir in 1/2 cup flour and cook, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in the strained stock and the cream. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Bring mixture to a simmer. Stir in celery root or carrot, and potato; simmer over low heat, stirring frequently, 10 minutes. Stir in chicken, peas if using and lemon zest. Scrape mixture into prepared pan.
• In a large bowl, whisk together 3 cups flour, the baking powder and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Cut the remaining 10 tablespoons butter into cubes; using a pastry cutter or two forks, mix into flour until mixture forms coarse crumbs. Stir in buttermilk. Dollop mixture on top of potpie filling (it's O.K. if there are spaces between biscuits). Brush tops with cream and sprinkle with almonds.
• Transfer casserole to oven; bake until top is golden brown and filling is bubbling, 35 to 45 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

MODERN CHICKEN POTPIE

Steps:

• Heat oil and garlic together over low heat. When it sizzles, add bacon and onions and cook, stirring often, until fat is rendered and bacon is golden brown. Adjust the heat so the bacon slowly gives up its fat. Remove garlic clove and add mushrooms. Cook, stirring, until mushrooms are browned and slightly softened.
• In a sealable plastic bag, combine flour, thyme, paprika, 2 large pinches salt and 1 large pinch pepper. Add chicken and shake well to coat.
• In the skillet with the bacon and mushrooms, add butter and melt over medium heat. Add chicken pieces and any flour that remains in the bag. Cook, stirring, until chicken pieces are golden and the flour on the bottom of the pan is browned. Pour in stock, Marsala and vinegar. Scrape bottom of pan, and let simmer about 5 minutes, until thickened. Taste for salt, pepper and vinegar and adjust the seasonings. Turn off heat and stir in parsley.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees.
• Transfer chicken and sauce to 9-inch round pie dish or 8-inch square baking dish. Roll out pie crust to desired shape and size. Drape crust over filling, making a few slits or decorative holes on top. Tuck edges down around filling and brush crust with egg wash. If the dish is piled high with filling, place on a baking sheet to catch any overflow before transferring to oven.
• Bake until crust is browned and filling is bubbling, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Let cool slightly, at least 10 minutes, before serving with a big spoon. If desired, garnish each serving with parsley.

DELICIOUS CHICKEN POT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Saute onion, celery, carrots and potatoes in margarine for 10 minutes.
• Add flour to sauteed mixture, stirring well, cook one minute stirring constantly.
• Combine broth and half and half.
• Gradually stir into vegetable mixture.
• Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until thickened and bubbly.
• Stir in salt and pepper; add chicken and stir well.
• Pour into shallow 2 quart casserole dish and top with pie shells.
• Cut slits to allow steam to escape.
• Bake for 40-50 minutes or until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly and cooked through.