Recipe: Chicken Pie with Biscuit Crust

Chicken Pie With Biscuit Crust
Serves 4
Source: Gourmet January 1991

FOR THE FILLING
4 c chicken broth
3 carrots; cut crosswise into 1/4-inch slices
3/4 lb red potatoes; quartered lengthwise and cut
crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces
2 lg ribs celery; cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces
2 1/2 c cubed cooked chicken; (the meat from a
3-pound chicken)
1 onion; chopped
3/4 stick unsalted butter; (6 tablespoons)
6 tb all-purpose flour
1/4 ts dried thyme; crumbled
1/4 ts freshly grated nutmeg; or to taste
1/2 c minced fresh parsley leaves

FOR THE BISCUIT CRUST
1 1/3 c all-purpose flour
1 1/2 ts double-acting baking powder
1/2 ts baking soda
1/2 ts salt
2 tb cold unsalted butter; cut into bits
2 tb cold vegetable shortening; cut into bits
1/3 c grated sharp cheddar
1 lg egg
1/3 c buttermilk; about
an egg wash made by beating 1 large; egg yolk with 1 tablespoon milk

Make the filling:
In a saucepan bring the broth to a boil, add the carrots, the potatoes, and the celery, and simmer the vegetables, uncovered, for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they are tender. Transfer the vegetables with a slotted spoon to a large bowl, reserving the broth, and add the chicken to the bowl. In another saucepan cook the onion in the butter over moderately low heat, stirring, until it is softened, add the flour, and cook the roux, stirring, for 3 minutes. Add 3 cups of the reserved broth in a stream, whisking, reserving any remaining broth for another use, and bring the mixture to a boil, whisking. Add the thyme and simmer the sauce, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Stir in the nutmeg, the parsley, and salt and pepper to taste, pour the sauce over the chicken mixture, and stir the mixture gently until it is just combined. Transfer the mixture to a 2-quart shallow baking dish or divide it among four 2-cup shallow baking dishes. The filling may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered and chilled. Bring the mixture to room temperature before continuing with the recipe.

Make the biscuit crust:
Into a bowl sift together the flour, the baking powder, the baking soda, and the salt, add the butter and the shortening, and blend the mixture until it resembles meal. Add the Cheddar and toss the mixture. Into a liquid measuring cup break the egg, add enough of the buttermilk to measure a total of 1/2 cup, and beat the mixture with a fork. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture, stirring until the mixture just forms a dough, gather the dough into a ball, and on a floured surface pat it out 1/2 inch thick. Cut out as many rounds as possible with a 2-inch fluted round cutter dipped in flour, gathering the scraps and patting the dough out again in the same manner. Arrange the rounds on the chicken mixture, brush the tops of the rounds with the egg wash, and prick the rounds with a fork. Bake the pie in the middle of a preheated 450F. oven for 15 to 25 minutes, or until the biscuits are puffed and golden and the filling is bubbling.