Name: Chicken, Ham and Fennel Pot Pies
Yield: Makes 8 Servings
Ingredients: 5 cups canned low-salt chicken broth; 2 small fennel bulbs, trimmed, halved lengthwise, triangular core discarded, thinly sliced; 1 3/4 pounds skinless boneless chicken breast halves, cut into 1-inch pieces; 1/2 cup diced carrot; 5 tablespoons unsalted butter; 5 tablespoons all purpose flour; 2 1/2 cups milk (do not use nonfat or low-fat); 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 2 teaspoons fennel seeds, crushed; 1/2 teaspoon (or more) salt; 1/4 pound thinly sliced country ham, cut into matchstick-size strips; 3 cups sifted all purpose flour; 3/4 teaspoon salt; 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces; 4 1/2 tablespoons chilled vegetable shortening, cut into pieces; 6 tablespoons (about) ice water; 1 egg white, beaten to blend (glaze)

These make-ahead savory pies are wonderful centerpiece dishes for a casual dinner.

Recipe information

Yield
Makes 8 Servings

Ingredients

5 cups canned low-salt chicken broth

2 small fennel bulbs, trimmed, halved lengthwise, triangular core discarded, thinly sliced

1 3/4 pounds skinless boneless chicken breast halves, cut into 1-inch pieces

1/2 cup diced carrot

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

5 tablespoons all purpose flour

2 1/2 cups milk (do not use nonfat or low-fat)

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons fennel seeds, crushed

1/2 teaspoon (or more) salt

1/4 pound thinly sliced country ham, cut into matchstick-size strips

For Pie Crust:

3 cups sifted all purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces

4 1/2 tablespoons chilled vegetable shortening, cut into pieces

6 tablespoons (about) ice water

1 egg white, beaten to blend (glaze)

Preparation

Step 1
Bring broth to boil in Dutch oven over medium heat. Add fennel; cook 7 minutes. Add chicken and carrot; simmer until fennel, chicken and carrot are tender, about 10 minutes. Pour into strainer set over bowl; reserve broth for another use.
Step 2
Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add flour; stir 2 minutes. Gradually add milk and whisk until sauce thickens, about 4 minutes. Add lemon juice, fennel seeds and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add chicken mixture and ham. Season with salt and pepper. Divide filling among eight 1 1/4-cup soufflé dishes or glass custard cups. Cool completely.
Step 3
Roll out pie crust on flour surface to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut out 8 rounds, each measuring 1/2 to 1 inch larger in diameter than soufflé dishes, gathering dough and rerolling as necessary. Cut out leaf decorations from dough scraps, if desired. Lay 1 dough overhang firmly to adhere to sides and top rim of dish. If using, brush bottom side of cutouts with water and place on dough; cut slits in dough for steam to escape. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover each with plastic; chill.)
Step 4
Preheat oven to 375°F. Place pies on large baking sheet. Brush crusts with glaze. Bake until pies heated through and crusts are golden, about 40 minutes.
To make pie crust:
Step 5
Combine flour and salt in processor and blend. Add butter and shortening and process, using on/off turns, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 4 tablespoons water; blend in. Add enough additional water by tablespoonfuls to form moist clumps. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic and chill until cold, at least 1 hour or up to 1 day. Makes 8 small cups.

TagsSavory Pie and Tart Pot Pie Fennel Root Vegetable Vegetable Chicken Breast Chicken Poultry Ham Meat Main Dinner Nut Free Weeknight Meals Make Ahead Baking Food Processor Dutch Oven Bon Appétit

Recipe information

Ingredients

For Pie Crust:

Preparation

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

To make pie crust:

Step 5

Recipe notes