As I look out my window, feeling thankful for the blue skies and sunshine, my thoughts drift to family and friends who are staying impressively optimistic with the freezing weather, snow and sleet they are currently experiencing. I wonder what they are cooking and how they are staying active – to stay warm! It’s been awhile since I posted a recipe from one of my favorite magazines, Clean Eating, so I thought this one was appropriate. Although we can all enjoy this healthier version of a chicken pot pie – this one is dedicated to them! Stay warm, stay safe and stay healthy!
Individual Chicken “Pot Pies”
by Jeanette Hurt, www.cleaneatingmag.com
Hands-on time: 30 minutes
Total time: 40 minutes
FILLING:
- Olive oil cooking spray
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, diced
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 2 large carrots, peeled and diced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 4 tsp fresh thyme, minced
- 2 tbsp whole-wheat flour
- Fresh ground black pepper, to taste
BISCUITS:
- 3/4 cup skim milk
- 2 1/4 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups plus 2 tbsp whole-wheat pastry flour, divided
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/8 tsp sea salt (optional)
- 1 tbsp safflower or olive oil
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 450 F.
2. Prepare filling: Heat a large cast-iron or ovenproof nonstick pan over medium-high heat for 1 minute. Mist with cooking spray. Sauté chicken until no longer pink, 3 minutes.
3. Add onion and carrots. Saute until onion is slightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add peas and saute for another minute or until thawed.
4. Stir in broth and thyme and cook until broth is warmed, about 2 minutes. Sit in 2 tbsp whole-wheat flour and reduce heat to medium. Stir constantly until broth is thickened, about 2 minutes. Season with pepper and turn off heat, but do not remove pan from element.
5. Begin preparing biscuits: Pour milk in a cup, then add vinegar to milk. Let stand for 2 minutes.
6. In a large mixing bowl, blend 2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt, if desired. Stir in milk-vinegar mixture, a 1/4 cup at a time, add oil, and then add remaining 2 tbsp whole-wheat pastry flour. (The dough will be slightly sticky. If it is too sticky, add another tbsp of flour.)
7. Using your hands, form 12 small biscuits, about 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter. (If the biscuits are exceptionally sticky, dust your hands with a little bit of flour to make it easier to form them.) Ladle chicken-vegetable mixture into 4 large ramekins, individual casserole dishes or soup tureens, about 3/4 cup per serving. Place 3 biscuits on top of each ramekin and place all ramekins into a cookie sheet or baking pan lined with aluminum foil. (The biscuits will bake on top of chicken-vegetable mixture.) Place pan on rack in middle of oven. Bake for 10 minutes or until chicken-vegetable mixture is bubbling and biscuits are slightly browned on top. To serve, place ramekins on individual plates, as they will be too hot to handle.
Nutrients per individual pot pie (3/4 cup chicken-vegetable mixture and 3 small biscuits): Calories: 565, Total Fat: 10 g, Sat. Fat: 2 g, Carbs: 70 g, Fiber: 13 g, Sugars: 8 g, Protein: 49 g, Sodium: 518 mg, Cholesterol: 97 mg
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