Ingredients :
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped carrots
1 1/2 cups chopped celery
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 large fresh thyme sprigs
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
16 cups water, divided
1/2 cup coarse kosher salt
1/4 cup sugar
4 cups ice cubes
1 5- to 5 1/2-pound whole chicken (preferably organic), rinsed,
patted dry
Pot Pie Filling:
1/3 cup milk
4 garlic cloves, peeled
1/3 cup water
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 1/4 pounds chanterelles or other wild mushrooms, coarsely chopped
3 cups 1/2-inch cubes peeled carrots
3 cups 1/2-inch pieces leeks (about 3; white and pale green parts
only)
3 cups 1/2-inch cubes peeled white-skinned potatoes
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
3 1/2 cups (or more) low-salt chicken broth
1 10-ounce package frozen peas, thawed
1 cup heavy whipping cream
4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1/2 teaspoon white truffle oil (optional)
Chicken-Fat Puff Pastry
Special Equipment:
6 2-cup ramekins or soufflé dishes
Chicken:
How to Prepare :
1. Heat oil in large deep pot over medium-high heat. Add carrots, celery, and onion; sauté until golden and tender, about 10 minutes. Add garlic, thyme, bay leaves, and peppercorns; stir 2 minutes. Add 8 cups water, 1/2 cup coarse salt, and sugar; bring to simmer, stirring until salt and sugar dissolve. Remove from heat. Add
remaining 8 cups water and 4 cups ice cubes. Let stand until brine is cooled completely. Submerge chicken in brine; cover and chill at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 375°F. Remove chicken from brine. Rinse chicken and pat dry; place in roasting pan. Sprinkle chicken with pepper; roast until cooked through and juices run clear when thickest part of thigh is pierced, about 1 hour 20 minutes.
3. Transfer chicken to platter; cool slightly. Spoon fat from roasting pan into small container. Cover; freeze fat until firm; reserve for puff pastry. Discard skin and bones. Tear chicken meat into large bite-size pieces; reserve for filling. DO AHEAD Chicken fat and chicken pieces can be made 1 day ahead. Keep fat frozen. Cover and chill chicken.
Pot Pie Filling:
1. Combine milk and garlic in small saucepan; simmer 2 minutes. Remove garlic from milk and chop finely; discard milk. Whisk 1/3 cup water and cornstarch in small bowl to blend; set aside.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and sauté until tender and brown, about 6 minutes. Transfer mushrooms to bowl. Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil to same pot; add carrots, leeks, and potatoes and sauté until beginning to soften, about 10 minutes. Add chopped garlic and thyme; stir 2 minutes. Add 3 1/2 cups broth; bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes longer.
3. Rewhisk cornstarch mixture and add to vegetable mixture; stir until broth boils and thickens, about 2 minutes. Stir in chicken, mushrooms, peas, and cream; simmer uncovered until heated through and mixture has consistency of stew, adding more broth by 1/4 cupfuls if mixture is too thick, 6 to 7 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and hot pepper sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix in truffle oil, if desired. Divide pot pie filling among six 2-cup ramekins or soufflé dishes. DO AHEAD Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover and chill.
4.Preheat oven to 375°F. Top each pot pie with 1 baked puff pastry round. Bake pot pies until filling is heated through, about 15 minutes if warm or at room temperature and 25 minutes if chilled.
Service : 6
