anyone got a good pot pie crust recipe?

Question

I wanted to make chicken pot pie this weekened, for some friends who are helping me and my hubby move. And sadly I cant find a recipe for the crust I want. And I dont want to use a pre-made pie crust.
Does anyone know of good flakey chicken pot pie crust?

Plus someone correct me if Im wrong but Lard can be substituted for shortning, right?

Answer 1

Cold is the key here
Basic Flaky Pie Crust


INGREDIENTS
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening, chilled
3 tablespoons ice water
DIRECTIONS
Whisk the flour and salt together in a medium size bowl. With a pastry blender, cut in the cold shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Drizzle 2 to 3 tablespoons ice water over flour. Toss mixture with a fork to moisten, adding more water a few drops at a time until the dough comes together.
Gently gather dough particles together into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 30 minutes before rolling.
Roll out dough, and put in a pie plate. Fill with desired filling and bake.

Answer 2

I use the same basic pie crust for almost everything. For a two crust pie, you'll need:

1 cup cold butter, cut into pieces
2 cups flour
pinch salt
ice water

Work the butter into the flour and salt with your finger tips or pastry cutter or two knives until it resembles sand with some small peas inside it. Now you must use your hands to judge the moisture in the pastry. Pour a small amount of ice water in the bowl and rotate the bowl, tilting slightly, while you 'toss' the flour/butter mixture into the liquid with your finger tips. Repeat this process, with a little bit of ice water at a time, just until you can squeeze the pastry and it holds together. Do not get it too moist! Gently compress the pastry into two discs and refrigerate at least half an hour before rolling out and using in your recipe.

The trick is to use as little liquid as possible while getting the pastry to hold together, keeping everything ice cold AND to handle the pastry as little as possible. Obviously the amount of liquid you use is going to depend on how humid your kitchen is and the moisture content of your flour.

I wouldn't use lard or shortening for the fat. I don't think they add anything to the flavor. Butter, however, is absolutely yummy for pie crusts. They turn out rich and golden brown. If you were making a fruit pie, you'd use cold apple juice for your liquid instead of the water and it would be even better!

~Morg~

Answer 3

INGREDIENTS
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup shortening
4 tablespoons cold water
DIRECTIONS
In a bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in shortening until crumbly. Gradually add water, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. Roll out to fit a 9-in. or 10-in pie plate. Transfer pastry to pie plate. Trim pastry to 1/2 in. beyond the edge of plate; flute edges. Fill or bake shell according to recipe directions.
Lard can be substituted, but the flavor is different, greasier.. stick with shortening.

Answer 4

Pre-mades are great for time saving....... it gives you more time to really concentrate on what goes in it. If you cut out some shapes like flowers or what not and stick them on top with eggwash before baking.... and brush the top with eggwash partway through baking no one is the wiser. But if you want to do it from scratch and get that really flaky just like grandma's crust you use lard. Lard got a bad rap because of colesterol but it turns out it is better for you than shortening with trans fats. I make crusts with it and people go this is just freaking awesome! Its because it tastes like grandmas and is actually more forgiving and easier to work with to get something great especially if you are not totally up on making crusts.

Answer 5

why don't you want to use the premade crusts? i just made several turkey pot pies and use the Pillsbury refrigerated pie crusts they worked and tested great saved tons of time and backache. try them you will like them. yes you can use lard but shortening will make better texture

Answer 6

Just use your favorite pie crust recipe that does not containe sugar. You can also make homemade biscuits and line them up on top.