Delight in the heartwarming flavors of Florida Chicken and Vegetable Pot Pie, a dish that truly embodies the spirit of comfort food. This positively delicious pie is brimming with tender, succulent chicken and a medley of fresh, vibrant vegetables, all enveloped in a flaky, golden crust. Each ingredient is thoughtfully selected to bring out the rich, homestyle flavors that Florida is known for. Perfect for a cozy dinner, this pot pie promises to be a memorable culinary experience that will leave you feeling satisfied and content.

INGREDIENTS

  • 3 Florida chicken breasts or 4 thighs, diced medium
  • 2 cups Florida carrots, diced medium
  • 2 cups Florida potatoes, diced medium
  • 1 stalk Florida celery, diced small
  • 1/2 sweet onion, diced small
  • 2 cups frozen peas
  • 4-6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • Frozen/prepared pie crust or puff pastry for topping
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

 

PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Preheat a large pot over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and saute for 5 minutes. Add in the fresh thyme, garlic, onions, carrots, celery, peas and potatoes. Stir to combine and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle mixture with flour and stir to coat everything, then cook for 1 to 2 more minutes before slowly whisking in the stock (start with the least amount of liquid and add more until desired thickness). Bring to a boil for 3 to 5 minutes; remove from heat, add in heavy cream and stir to combine.

To assemble pot pies, start by cutting out the shape of the crust, making sure it is larger than the diameter of the dish (this will be for the top only). Pour pot pie mixture into individual ramekins or a casserole dish, top with pie crust or puff pastry and press to seal or crimp the edges. In a small bowl, add 1 tablespoon of tap water to the beaten egg. Whisk egg ingredients to combine into egg wash. Cut small slits in the middle of the pie crust or puff pastry for venting, and brush tops with egg wash. Place onto a baking sheet and bake for 30 to 60 minutes (depending on size of baking dish), or until tops are golden brown. Remove from oven and serve (will be extremely hot).

Fresh Tip: Any extra filling can be turned into soup for a bonus meal! Just add more chicken or vegetable broth and Florida vegetables, then cook until vegetables are tender!

Source: Fresh from Florida, followfreshfromflorida.com