Deep-Dish Chicken-Fennel Pie With Bacon-Biscuit Top
This hearty dish features an amazing blend of flavors underneath its savory, bacon-studded crust.
Number of servings : 12
Prep time: 45 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour
Type of meal : | Main Courses | Main Courses
Special diet :
Ingredients
Filling:
3 pounds chicken breasts
4 cups chicken broth
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
2 bulbs fennel (1-1/2 pounds)
2 large boiling potatoes
1-1/2 pounds baby carrots
1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped parsley
Biscuit topping:
12 ounces bacon
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
2 cups whole milk
Directions
- Make the filling: Place chicken, broth, bay leaves, and peppercorns in a large stockpot. Add 4 cups water and heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 15 minutes, or until chicken is opaque throughout. Remove chicken to cool. Reserve broth.
- Meanwhile, trim and discard stalks from fennel bulbs, and slice bulb in half then into 1/2-inch pieces. Peel potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Return cooking broth to boiling. Add fennel, potatoes, and carrots. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 minutes, or until vegetables are tender-crisp. Remove vegetables with slotted spoon and reserve 2 cups broth. (Save remaining broth for another use.) Cut chicken into bite-size pieces. Arrange vegetables and chicken in two ungreased 13-inch x 9-inch baking dishes.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Blend in flour, milk, and reserved 2 cups stock. Stirring constantly, heat to boiling. Season with salt if necessary. Pour sauce over vegetables and chicken in baking dishes.
- Make biscuits: Cut bacon crosswise into 1/4-inch pieces. Cook in a large skillet until crisp; drain on paper towels. (Can be made up to 1 day ahead to this point. Cover baking dishes, and wrap bacon in plastic wrap and refrigerate.)
- Preheat oven to 375°F. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Using 2 knives scissors-fashion, or with fingertips, cut butter into dry ingredients until it resembles coarse crumbs. With a fork, blend in bacon and milk just until combined. Drop dough by heaping tablespoonsful onto filling. Bake, uncovered, 20 to 25 minutes, or until biscuits are browned and filling is bubbling.
