CHICKEN POTPIE WITH PHYLLO CLUSTERS

Chicken Potpie with Phyllo Clusters image

Give chicken potpie the spring treatment. This light, bright recipe is like shedding winter layers. The fancy-looking poufs are just sheets of phyllo dough brushed with butter and scrunched into crackly balls. When baked, they become an extra-crunchy topping for the tarragon-scented filling of shredded chicken, artichokes, and leeks.

Provided by Sarah Carey

Time 3h

Yield Serves 6

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

2 1/2 pounds chicken pieces (2 whole legs and 1 whole bone-in breast)
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Kosher salt (we use Diamond Crystal) and freshly ground black pepper
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 leeks, white and light-green parts only, sliced and well washed (1 1/2 cups)
2 carrots, cut into a 1/2-inch dice (1 cup)
2 celery stalks, sliced (3/4 cup)
1 medium Yukon Gold or white potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (1 1/4 cups)
1/2 cup dry vermouth or dry white wine
7 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup fresh or frozen peas
1 cup quartered frozen artichoke hearts
1 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon leaves, plus 1 sprig for serving
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
8 to 12 sheets phyllo dough

Steps:

Place chicken in a medium Dutch oven or large saucepan, skin-sides down. Cover with broth and 2 cups water; add 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, until chicken is just cooked through, about 20 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate; let cool about 30 minutes. Strain broth, discarding solids (you should have about 3 1/2 cups).
Remove chicken from bones and shred meat into bite-size chunks. Discard skin and bones. You'll need 2 1/2 cups chicken; save the rest for salads or sandwiches.
Wash and dry Dutch oven or saucepan; melt butter in it over medium-high heat. Add leeks, carrots, celery, potato, 1 teaspoon salt, and some pepper. Cook, stirring, until leeks are translucent, about 4 minutes. Add vermouth; cook until mostly evaporated, about 1 1/2 minutes.
Stir in flour; cook 20 seconds, stirring constantly. Stir in 2 3/4 cups broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring often, until potato is just barely tender, about 5 minutes (mixture will look very thick; that's okay, as the vegetables will release liquid in the oven).
Stir in chicken, peas, artichokes, and chopped tarragon. Season to taste; transfer to a 2 1/2-quart baking dish (such as a 9 1/2-to-10-by-2-inch-deep round one) and let cool 30 minutes, or refrigerate, covered, up to 1 day.
Preheat oven to 375°F. Brush a sheet of phyllo lightly with melted butter. Scrunch into a loose ball and place on filling. Repeat with more sheets brushed with butter, covering the filling but leaving a bit of space between pieces. Bake until golden brown and bubbling in center, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool 20 minutes before serving, garnished with tarragon sprig.