Classic chicken, leek and fennel pot pie

Classic chicken, leek and fennel pot pieTotal time: About 1 1/2 hours


Servings: 8 to 10; this makes 1 (9-inch) pie.

5 cups chicken broth
1 cup diced carrot
2 1/2 pounds chicken breasts and thighs (skin on, bone-in)
1/4 pound diced bacon
1 small fennel bulb, trimmed and thinly sliced (about 2/3 cup)
2 leeks, white and pale green parts only, rinsed and sliced into thin rounds (about 2 cups)
1 onion, diced
5 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons flour
2 1/2 cups milk
2 tablespoons lemon juice, more to taste
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon finely chopped rosemary
1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
Salt and pepper

1 recipe basic savory pie dough (No. 1 or 2), chilled

1 egg, lightly beaten

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. In a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottom pot, bring the broth to a boil. Add the carrots and reduce the heat to a simmer, cooking until the carrots are slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken pieces and continue to simmer until the chicken is just cooked through (it will be firm and opaque), about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and strain the chicken and carrots from the liquid (discard or save the liquid for another use). When the chicken is cool enough to handle, remove and discard the skin and bones and chop the meat roughly into 1-inch pieces. Set aside.

3. Heat the Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until it has browned and rendered its fat, stirring frequently, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the bacon on paper towels, leaving the bacon fat in the pot. Add the fennel, leeks and onion, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and slightly translucent. Stir in the chopped chicken and carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 more minutes to marry the flavors.

4. While the vegetables are cooking, in a medium, heavy-bottom saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour until thoroughly combined to form a roux, then whisk in the milk. Increase the heat and stir constantly just until the mixture comes to a simmer and thickens, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

5. Pour the sauce over the chicken and vegetables and stir to incorporate. Stir in the lemon juice and zest, reserved bacon, rosemary and parsley. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and one-fourth teaspoon pepper, or to taste, and add additional lemon juice if desired. Remove from heat.

6. Separate the chilled dough into two equal-sized balls. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each ball into rounds approximately 13 inches in diameter. Line a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate with 1 round, and fill with the chicken mixture. Cover with second round of dough, trim the edges and crimp to seal.

7. Brush the top of the pie gently with the lightly beaten egg and cut a few small steam vents in the top. Place the pie on a cookie sheet and bake until golden and fragrant, about 45 minutes. Cool slightly before serving.


Analyzed using basic savory pie dough No. 1. Each of 10 servings: 576 calories; 24 grams protein; 37 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams fiber; 37 grams fat; 18 grams saturated fat; 131 mg. cholesterol; 5 grams sugar; 648 mg. sodium