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Yankee Recipe Featured on 'Today'
Individual Chicken Potpies
Yankee food editor Annie B. Copps demonstrated this recipe for Individual Chicken Potpies on the 'Today' show segment called "Comfort Food for Chilly Winter Days." You can try this recipe, too.
Individual Chicken Potpies
Poultry Recipes
Preparation Time: 40 minutes
Start to Finish Time: 90 minutes
Yield: 6 servings
This recipe is very flexible. You can eyeball the amounts and variety of vegetables, double the recipe for a larger group, prepare everything in advance and freeze, or make one large casserole-sized pie. We like individual servings because the kids each get their own special potpie (and it's more photogenic this way). You can tie the herbs together with kitchen string or cheesecloth for easier retrieval, but we just pick them out with tongs.
- 2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 cup diced celery (about 2 ribs)
- 1 large shallot or 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup diced carrots (about 3 carrots)
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 2 bay leaves
- 6 to 8 sprigs fresh thyme
- 6 to 8 sprigs fresh parsley
- 1-1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup peas (fresh or frozen)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Kosher or sea salt and freshly ground
- black pepper, to taste
- 1 egg white plus 1 tablespoon water (optional)
Heat oven to 400°. Roll out puff pastry and cut to fit tops (adding a 1/2-inch allowance around each for anchoring) of six 8-ounce ramekins or other ovenproof serving pieces. Lay dough on a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate until ready to use.
In a large saucepot over medium-high heat, melt butter with oil and sauté celery, shallot, and carrots 7 to 8 minutes. Add stock, bay leaves, thyme, parsley, and chicken. Lower heat and simmer until chicken is fully cooked, about 15 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside to cool. Raise heat to high and boil until liquid is reduced by half, about 15 minutes. Roughly chop or shred chicken and return to pan. Add cream and boil 8 to 10 minutes, then remove bay leaves and thyme and parsley sprigs. Add green beans, peas, and chopped parsley; season with salt and pepper.
Divide mixture into ramekins and top with prepared dough. Poke a few holes through the dough so air can escape. If desired, whisk together egg white and water in a small bowl and brush pastry tops. Place ramekins on a baking sheet and bake about 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
Reviews by Readers
My husband and I loved it. I made different sizes but the individual size was just right for me. It did take a little more time that I planned for but worth the effort. I would definitely make this again. Even leftover, the pastry top was still crunchy -- not mushy. – Anonymous Review
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Read more in Coming In from the Cold: Comfort Food and Family in Vermont
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