Chicken Pot Pie with Savory Crumble Topping

This non-traditional Chicken Pot Pie with Savory Crumble Topping from America's Test Kitchen is totally worth making if you have the time. K made this for Valentine's Day 2011. Yes, it's not close to being the most romantic dish, but a way to this woman's heart is good food. 

Instead of the traditional pie crust, the folks at America's Test Kitchen came up with a deconstructed version that hints at the real thing. My favorite part of any pie is the crust, so being able to enjoy the crumble topping first was genius! I couldn't help myself from picking at the topping while K slaved away in the kitchen.

You may find the recipe at Food.com or below. There's no need to alter the recipe as it is perfect.

Chicken Pot Pie with Savory Crumble Topping

Serves: 6

1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts (and or thighs)
3 cups low sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped fine (about 1 cup)
3 medium carrots, peeled and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick
2 small celery ribs (chopped fine, about 1/2 cup)
table salt & fresh ground pepper
10 ounces cremini mushrooms, stems trimmed, caps wiped clean and sliced thin
1 teaspoon soy sauce (see note)
1 teaspoon tomato paste (see note)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon juice lemon
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
3/4 cup frozen baby peas
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon table salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes and chilled
1 ounce parmesan cheese, finely grated (about 1/2 cup)
3/4 cup heavy cream, plus
2 tablespoons heavy cream (see note)

1) FOR THE CHICKEN: Bring chicken and broth to simmer in covered. Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook until chicken is just done, 8 to 12 minutes.

2) Transfer cooked chicken to large bowl. Pour broth through fine-mesh strainer into liquid measuring cup and reserve. Do not wash. Dutch oven.

3) Meanwhile, adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees.

4) FOR THE TOPPING: Combine flour, baking powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in large bowl.

5) Sprinkle butter pieces over.top of flour. Using fingers, rub butter into flour mixture until it resembles coarse cornmeal.

6) Stir in Parmesan. Add cream and stir until just combined.

7) Crumble mixture into irregularly shaped pieces ranging from 1/2 to ¾ inch each onto parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet.
8) Bake until fragrant and starting to brown, 10 to 13 minutes. Set aside.

9) FOR THE FILLING: Heat 1 tablespoon oil in now-empty Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering.

10) Add onion, carrots, celery, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, 5 to 7 minutes. While vegetables are cooking, shred chicken into small bite-size pieces.

11) Transfer cooked vegetables to bowl with chicken; set aside.

12) Heat remaining tablespoon oil in empty Dutch oven over medium.

13) Heat until shimmering.

14) Add mushrooms; cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms have released their juices, about 5 minutes.

15) Remove cover and stir in soy sauce and tomato paste.

16) Increase heat to medium-high and cook, stirring frequently, until liquid has evaporated, mushrooms are well browned, and dark fond begins to form on surface of pan, about 5 minutes.

17) Transfer mushrooms to bowl with chicken and vegetables. Set aside.

18) Heat butter in empty Dutch oven over medium heat.

19) When foaming subsides, stir in flour and cook 1 minute. Slowly whisk in reserved chicken broth and milk.

20) Bring to simmer, scraping pan bottom with wooden spoon to loosen browned bits, then continue to simmer until sauce fully thickens, about 1 minute.

21) Season to taste with salt and pepper.

22) Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and 2 tablespoons parsley.

23) Stir chicken-vegetable mixture and peas into sauce.

24) Pour mixture into 13 by 9-inch baking dish or casserole dish of similar size.

25) Scatter crumble topping evenly over filling.

26) Bake on rimmed baking sheet until filling is bubbling and topping is well browned, 12 to 15 minutes.

27) Sprinkle with remaining tablespoon parsley and serve.

NOTE: This recipe relies on two unusual ingredients: soy sauce and tomato paste. Do not omit them. They don’t convey their distinctive tastes but greatly deepen the savory flavor of the filling. When making the topping, do not substitute milk or half-and-half for the heavy cream.