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Chicken and Duck Potpie
© Maura McEvoy

Chicken and Duck Potpie

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  • ACTIVE:
  • TOTAL TIME:
  • SERVINGS: 8
  • MAKE-AHEAD

The small town of Oxford, in the hills of north Mississippi, is one of the capitals of southern literature. It's also home to chef John Currence and his popular City Grocery restaurant. Inspired by childhood bird-hunting trips, Currence makes his sum...

  1. 8 medium carrots, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  2. 3 medium onions, coarsely chopped
  3. 1 pound small red potatoes, quartered
  4. 1 pound assorted mushrooms, such as cremini and stemmed shiitakes, sliced 1/2 inch thick
  5. 12 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  6. 1 tablespoon dried thyme
  7. 1/4 cup olive oil
  8. 7 cups chicken stock or canned low-sodium broth
  9. Two 3 1/2-pound chickens
  10. One 5-pound duck
  11. Salt and freshly ground pepper
  12. 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  13. 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  14. 1 pound all-butter puff pastry dough, chilled
  15. 1 large egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon of water
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°. In a large roasting pan, combine the carrots, onions, potatoes, mushrooms, garlic, thyme and olive oil and toss well. Spread the vegetables in an even layer and add 4 cups of the chicken stock. Set the pan over 2 burners and bring to a boil over moderately high heat.
  2. Meanwhile, season the chickens and duck inside and out with salt and pepper. Set the chickens, breast side up, on the vegetables. Set the duck on a rack in another roasting pan. Roast for about 2 hours, or until the birds are just cooked through and the vegetables are tender. Transfer the chickens and duck to a carving board and let cool slightly.
  3. Discard the skin from the chickens and duck, remove the meat and cut it into 2-inch pieces. Strain the chicken pan juices, reserving the vegetables. Skim the fat from the juices.
  4. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan. Stir in the flour and cook over moderate heat until bubbling, about 1 minute. Gradually whisk in 1 cup of the pan juices, then whisk in the remaining pan juices and 3 cups of chicken stock and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderately low heat, whisking often, until no floury taste remains, about 12 minutes. Transfer the sauce to a large saucepan and add the reserved vegetables and the chicken and duck meat.
  5. Preheat the oven to 450°. On a lightly floured surface, roll out half of the puff pastry 1/8 inch thick. Using a 7-inch bowl, cut out 4 rounds. Repeat with the remaining pastry. Spoon the stew into eight 2- to 3-cup ovenproof bowls, about 6 inches wide. Set a puff pastry round on each bowl and press the pastry around the rim to seal. Brush the pastry with the beaten egg and arrange the bowls on a large baking sheet. Bake for about 25 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and deeply browned. Serve at once.
Make Ahead The potpie recipe can be prepared through Step 4 and refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Suggested Pairing

The duck and the mushrooms call for a wine of equal finesse—aromatic, with medium body and a great deal of flavor, like a Pinot Noir.