PHEASANT POTPIE

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Don't be intimidated by pheasant! The lean yet tender meat is just as easy to cook as chicken, and paired with a spelt crust, makes this potpie truly special occasion-worthy. For the pastry decorating technique, see our step-by-step photos.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Pie & Tarts Recipes

Time 3h10m

Yield Makes one 9-by-13 inch potpie

Number Of Ingredients 20

1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup spelt flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 sticks cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
6 to 8 tablespoons ice-cold water
2 whole pheasants (each about 2 pounds)
1 dried bay leaf
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large onion, finely diced (2 cups)
2 carrots, finely diced (1 cup)
2 stalks celery, finely diced (1 cup)
1/3 cup unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1 1/2 cups frozen pearl onions, thawed
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 large egg, lightly beaten

Steps:

  • Crust:Combine flours, salt, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor. Add butter; pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal, with a few pea-size pieces remaining. Evenly drizzle with 6 tablespoons cold water. Pulse until dough is crumbly but holds together when squeezed (if necessary, add up to 2 tablespoons more cold water). Turn dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap. Press into a flattened rectangle, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to overnight. (Dough can be frozen up to 1 month; thaw in refrigerator the day before using.)
  • Filling:In a large pot, combine pheasants, bay leaf, broth, and enough water to cover (6 to 8 cups). Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook until pheasants are cooked through, about 20 minutes. Transfer pheasants to a plate; let cool. When cool enough to handle, pull meat from bones and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. (You should have about 4 cups meat.) Discard skin and bones.
  • Skim fat from broth; return to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce to 4 cups.
  • In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery and cook until softened, about 10 minutes. Add flour and thyme and stir until vegetables are well coated, about 2 minutes. Slowly add reduced broth, whisking constantly. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in pheasant meat, peas, pearl onions, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Pour filling into a 9-by- 13-inch baking dish.
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. On a lightly floured work surface, roll dough into a 13-by-16-inch rectangle. Cut two 1-inch-wide strips from long side, and one 1-inch-wide strip from short side. From these strips, cut long, oval feathers. Using a butter knife, score a line along center of each feather (don't slice all the way through). Using a paring knife, cut several short, parallel slices along outer edges of feathers to create fringe. Transfer feathers to freezer. To create herringbone pattern on remaining dough, gently press the tines of a fork into pastry (not going all the way through). Starting from top left corner, make diagonal hatch marks along edge of pastry. Switch direction of fork tines and repeat, creating alternating rows, until entire pastry is covered. Cut a vent in center of dough with a 1-inch round cutter; refrigerate until firm, about 20 minutes. Center dough over filling. Tuck extra dough under while gently pinching to crimp edge. Brush egg wash over dough. Arrange feathers on crust and brush with egg wash. Place dish on a rimmed baking sheet; bake until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbling, 50 to 55 minutes. Let cool 20 minutes before serving.

Ammar Janbaz
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This is the best pheasant potpie recipe I've ever tried.


Lawrence Balele
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I made this pheasant potpie for my family and they loved it.


Amrat Motyani
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This pheasant potpie is a great comfort food for a cold winter day.


Kristie Hesselrode
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I would definitely recommend this pheasant potpie recipe to others.


Raju Kumal
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This pheasant potpie is a bit time-consuming to make, but it's worth the effort.


Save Lives
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I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out perfectly.


Liyah Fleming
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This pheasant potpie is a great way to use up leftover pheasant.


Danny Paul
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I'm not a big fan of pheasant, but I really enjoyed this potpie.


Owais Akbar
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I made this pheasant potpie for a potluck and it was a huge success!


Nakabiri Aminah
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This is a great recipe for a special occasion dinner.


Believe TG
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The pheasant meat was tender and juicy, and the vegetables were cooked perfectly.


Alomgir Hosain
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I've made this pheasant potpie several times and it's always a hit with my family and friends.


Khloe Bryant
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This pheasant potpie was absolutely delicious! The flavors were perfectly balanced and the pastry was flaky and golden brown.