I do know lots of people make vegetable pot pies with store-bought puff pastry, however over time I’ve come to imagine a selfmade pie crust is, by far, the superior method to go. It makes the entire pot pie endeavor price it. These pies are rustic and creamy, usually lovingly constructed. A terrific pie crust lends butter-kissed spine and construction. A flaky, decadent counterpoint to the traditional, creamy, vegetable filling. Let’s make a pie!
Vegetable Pot Pie: Actual Speak
My principal piece of recommendation right here is that this. In the event you’re are aiming to make a vegetable pot pie from scratch, plan forward. Going from begin to end in a single go could be a little bit of an endeavor – pie dough, filling, meeting, bake, and many others. However! In the event you preserve pie crusts on the prepared in your freezer, and make the filling a day or two upfront, pulling this pie collectively is an absolute breeze.
Professional Suggestions:
There are some things I do as I’m making pot pies to degree them up. Little particulars to assist delineate my pie out of your common vegetarian pot pie.
- Selfmade pie crust: Per the opening paragraph, I’ll go to the mat encouraging you to make your individual pie dough. Make just a few rounds of dough and preserve it within the freezer for months. The flavour! The flakiness! When you nail down the pie dough making course of it’s arduous to return to a store-bought crust. Can you employ a store-bought crust for this recipe? Sure, completely. Will or not it’s higher with a selfmade pie crust? Sure, completely.
- Caramelize your onions: Actually go for it. Most pot pie fillings have you ever sauté onions till tender to start with. I’ve you go nicely past that. By browning the onions and celery you’re creating extra depth and taste as the bottom of your filling.
- Lemon zest: Sprinkle your pie plate with lemon zest earlier than lining with the pie crust. Add some to your filling as nicely. The zest combines with the butter from the crust to fragrance the entire state of affairs. The brightness of the zest actually brings one thing to the filling as nicely.
Vegetable Pot Pies: Frequent Errors
There are a variety of widespread pitfalls to keep away from when making a pot pie.
- Cool your filling utterly: While you go to assemble your pie, it’s essential that your filling is totally chilly. Including a heat filling goes to soften the butter in your crust prematurely and may contribute to a soggy pie backside ultimately. You need a golden, structured backside crust. The answer? In the event you’re in a rush, unfold the new pie filling throughout a big plate, and place within the fridge, stirring from time to time till cool.
- Place pie on baking sheet: That is one mistake I nonetheless make too usually, sadly. Putting your pie on a baking sheet whereas baking will defend your oven from any spills, overflows, or melted butter. It makes clear up a lot simpler and also you gained’t have issues burning onto the underside of your oven.
- Preserve an eagle eye in your crust: I like a deeply golden, rustic pie crust. However the edges of a pie can get darkish whereas the middle continues to be underbaked. An issue! Have tinfoil strips or a pie protect prepared to guard areas of your pie till the remainder of the pie catches up. If you wish to up your pie sport over time, a fundamental pie protect is a superb, cheap buy!
Pot Pie Leftovers:
Refrigerate leftovers, coated, for as much as 5 days. Reheat in a 350°F / 175°C oven, coated in foil, till filling is totally sizzling.
Can I Make Pot Pies Forward of Time?
If you wish to make a pot pie forward of time, make the filling upfront and refrigerate or freeze till able to assemble the pie. Thawing first, in fact. Make the pie dough forward of time as nicely. You’re going to have extra success baking the day you need to serve the pie.
Vegetable Pot Pie Variations
- Make it spicy: Add a pair teaspoons of your favourite curry powder (or to style) to the filling. You may also add some to the pie crust as nicely.
- Discover totally different greens: Use what you’ve gotten and love! Or discover what’s seasonal. Nice vegetable choices embrace: candy potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, shredded cabbage, pumpkin, and corn. Roasted cherry tomatoes add a tremendous burst of taste.
- Coconut milk: Use coconut milk (full fats) instead of the heavy cream for a distinct taste profile.
- Pesto: Skip the opposite herbs within the recipe and stir a pair tablespoons of pesto into your filling on the finish. Or dollop it on prime of the filling as you’re assembling your pot pie, earlier than placing the highest crust on.