Saturday, January 23, 2010

Chicken Curry Pot Pie

Did you know that today is National Pie Day? I learned this yesterday from my fifth grader and wouldn't you know . . . I was already planning on making chicken pot pie for dinner? How serendipitous!

I love chicken pot pie and I love curry. I came across a recipe for Curried-Chicken Potpie years ago from CookingLight magazine, and over the years have adapted it to my own version. It's one of my favorite comfort foods in the winter months and a dish my family loves.


Chicken Curry Pot Pie

Basic pie crust
2 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
2-3 tablespoons ice water

Filling
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 1/2 tablespoons curry powder
1 medium onion, diced
3 medium sized potatoes, cut into bite sized pieces
1 1/2 lbs. boneless chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups vegetables, such as diced red peppers, sliced carrots, peas, sliced mushrooms, corn and green beans
1/4 cup raisins
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
1 1/2 tablespoons ice cold water

PREPARE THE CRUST
Using a food processor:
Add flour and salt to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse once or twice to combine.

Add cold butter to flour mixture and pulse until mixture resembles a coarse meal.

Add olive oil and vinegar and pulse a few more times.

Add cold water, 1/2 tablespoons at a time until the dough comes together to a ball.

Turn dough out onto a sheet of waxed paper, shaping into a disc. Using a floured rolling pin, roll dough to the shape to cover the dish you are using for the potpie.

Without a food processor:
Combine flour and salt in a bowl, mixing with a fork. Add butter to flour and use a fork or a pastry blender to blend until mixture resembles a coarse meal.

Add olive oil and vinegar, blending with a fork or pastry blender. Slowly add the ice water, blending with fork or pastry blender until the dough starts to come together to a ball.

Turn dough out onto a sheet of waxed paper, shaping into a disc. Using a floured rolling pin, roll dough to the shape to cover the dish you are using for the potpie.

PREPARE THE FILLING
Preheat oven to 375 F.

Heat the cooking oil in a large skillet or large shallow sauce pan over medium high heat.

Add the curry powder and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add the onion, potatoes, and chicken, and cook over medium high heat until onion starts to soften and chicken starts to brown, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper.

Add vegetables, raisins and broth, stirring to combine. Lower heat to medium and simmer chicken mixture for 5-10 minutes.

Combine cornstarch and ice water in a small dish. Raise heat under chicken mixture if necessary to until mixture is at a boil. Add cornstarch mixture and stir until the sauce is thickened. Remove from heat.

Pour chicken mixture into a deep dish pie plate or other medium sized, shallow baking dish. Cover chicken mixture with rolled out crust, folding and pinching edges to the sides of the baking dish. Cut several small slits in top of pie crust to allow steam to escape.

Bake pot pie in oven for 20 minutes or until crust is browned and filling is bubbling. Remove from oven and serve hot. Yumm!


I imagine that most people think of sweet fruit, chocolate or custard pies and NOT chicken pot pie when they think of National Pie Day. My first pie thoughts would have been on apple, pumpkin, coconut custard, blueberry, mixed berry, peach, strawberry rhubarb, or lemon meringue pie. Yum. I love them all! :)


What is your favorite kind of pie?



14 comments:

  1. How yummy. I love pot pies, and curry is soooo delicious. Thanks for another great recipe.

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  2. Oh, now that is something I am going to make, Christine. I was just telling you that I like curry chicken! I doubt Devin will eat it like your kids do, but it sounds wonderful.

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  3. Looks really good Christine!

    Kudos for the crust...

    I love chicken pot pie (not much of a curry person) lol..

    Thanks for the recipe!

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  4. Oh my goodness that looks delicious! I love curry! I want to try this out now!

    As for my favorite kind of pie - Key Lime :)

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  5. You are determined to get me in the kitchen! LOL I don't like traditional pies. Weird, I know. But I do like pot pies and this one sounds delicious. :)

    My favorite "pie" recipe would be for Shepherd's Pie. Comfort food. Yum!

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  6. I agreee, that looks wonderful. Beign the lazy type, I'll use a pre-made crust. I know, cardboard.

    And what's my favorite pie? Apple with crumble topping. No ice cream. I eat it straight :-)

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  7. OK, YUM! Question - can you make it without the raisins? I just can't and I mean can't eat cooked raisins...or sultanas. Cold, not a problem. Hot...noooo.

    And when I think of pies I think of lemon meringue pie...the one my grandmother used to make me. It is divine!

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  8. Thanks for checking out my recipe!

    If you like curry, I hope you try this recipe. I think you'll really like it.

    If you don't like curry, I'm sure you can omit the curry and it will still taste very good. Maybe add a teaspoon of a dried herb like thyme or rosemary for some flavor.

    And store bought pie crust is ALWAYS an option. (Good idea, Phyl)! I've just gotten quick at making it at home in my food processor, so that's what I do. It's cheaper and I can control the quality of ingredients and the amount of fat, too.

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  9. Amused : Hi there! How could I forget Key Lime pie in my list? So refreshing, so sweet-tart. Yum!

    Leslie : Would you believe I have never had Shepherd's Pie before?! I need to remedy that!

    Phyl : I love apple pie with crumble topping, too. I'd eat it straight, too... but certainly wouldn't turn down ice cream to go with it. LOL!

    orannia : You can definitely omit the raisins. I think my husband would prefer that I omit them, too! LOL. But I love that sweet and savory combination in dishes like this. I hope you try the recipe.

    There is something very divine about lemon meringue pies. I'm really craving one now. ;)

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  10. Ooh, that looks yummy! My favorite pie happens to be Chocolate Cream Pie. *G* However, I make a chicken pot pie the family croons over. I may have to try this curry version! Can you believe I've never had curry?

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  11. I've shared this recipe @home and guess what I think we're having Chicken Curry Pot Pie this coming weekend! I can smell that typical curry flavor on it now...that delicious smell. Thanks Christine for sharing this easy to follow recipe.

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  12. LOL, I usually prefer fruit pies ^_^; But this one does look yummy!

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  13. Brandy, if you've never had curry before, you may want to reduce the amount I call for in my recipe. It's not spicy per se, but it can be a strong flavor. Maybe try 1 tablespoon? Maybe even a half a tablespoon? Start with less than taste it as you cook the filling. You can always add more curry powder, but you can never take some out, you know?

    Natalie! I'm thrilled that I inspired your family to try this recipe! I hope everyone likes it. :)

    nath, what kind of fruit pies? Apple? Berry? Peach? What's your favorite?

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