Chicken Pot Pie (without the peas!)

Everybody’s favourite Chicken Pot Pie! A creamy chicken and vegetable filling with a hint of thyme, topped with puff pastry. The smell when this is baking is SO GOOD! Makes 4 large, 6 medium or 1 large pie. Brilliant freezer standby meal.
From the fabulous www.recipetineats.com

CHICKEN & BROTH:

• 600 g/1.2lb chicken breast (or boneless thighs)
• 2 cups milk , any fat % (Note 1)
• 1 cup chicken broth (stock)
• 2 tsp chicken or vegetable stock powder (Note 2)
• 2 sprigs thyme , optional

CHICKEN POT PIE:

• 1 large onion , chopped
• 2 large carrots (3 small). chopped
• 3 celery ribs , chopped
• 2 garlic cloves , minced
• 50g / 3 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/3 cup white wine (sub more chicken stock)
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 cup frozen peas , no need to thaw
• 2 sheets puff pastry (enough to cover pots, with drape)
• 1 egg , lightly whisked

Instructions

CHICKEN:

1. Place milk, broth and stock powder in a large saucepan. Bring to a very gentle simmer over medium heat, add chicken and thyme.
2. Place lid on, simmer gently on medium low for 15 minutes (do not boil, can make milk split).
3. Remove chicken, shred or dice (don’t worry if inside a bit uncooked). Cover pot and set poaching liquid aside.

CHICKEN POT PIE:

1. Melt butter in a large pot over medium high heat. Add garlic and onion, cook for 2 minutes. Add thyme, carrot and celery, cook for 3 minutes or until carrot is softened.
2. Add wine. Stir, scraping the bottom of the pot, and cook for 1 1/2 minutes or until wine is mostly evaporated.
3. Add flour and stir for 1 minute.
4. Add about half the reserved poaching liquid and stir until all flour is incorporated – it will be a thick sludge.
5. Add remaining milk broth, parmesan, pepper. Stir.
6. Add chicken and peas, stir.
7. Once mixture is heated (you’ll see steam), cook for 3 minutes to thicken the sauce, stirring regularly. (Note 3)
8. Remove from heat. Spoon into oven proof pots – 4 large or 6 small (Note 4). Cool in fridge at least 30 minutes. (Note 5)

ASSEMBLY & BAKING:

1. Meanwhile, remove puff pastry from freezer to partially thaw. Then use a bowl as a guide to cut rounds from the pastry about 2.5cm / 1″ wider (all the way around) than the pots – be generous!
2. Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
3. Brush edge of pots with egg. Top with puff pastry, folding down the edges.
4. Brush pastry with egg. Cut a 2cm / 2/3″ slide in the middle with a small knife.
5. Bake 35 – 40 minutes until deep golden.
6. Serve immediately!

Recipe Notes:

1. Cream option– if you’d like to make it even richer, reduce milk by up to 3/4 cup and swap for cream. But DO NOT ADD when poaching chicken, stir it in when the poaching liquid is added into the pot after adding flour.
2. Sauce thickness– whatever the sauce thickness at this stage is what it will be when the pies comes out of the oven.