Super Easy Empadão Recipe: Quick & Delicious Chicken Pot Pie

Contents

• Ingredients
• How to Prepare
• Tips and Variations
• CHEF’s Tips

Ingredients

Dough

• 2 cups (400g) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (200g) cold butter, cubed
• 1 egg
• 3-4 tablespoons ice-cold water

Filling

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 chopped onion
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 500g cooked and shredded chicken
• 1 can of corn, drained
• 1/2 cup chopped olives
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley and chives (cheiro-verde)
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup creamy cheese spread (requeijão)

How to Prepare

1. Dough preparation: In a bowl, mix flour and salt. Add cold butter and mix with your fingertips until crumbly.
2. Add the egg and ice-cold water gradually, mixing until a homogeneous dough forms. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
3. Filling preparation: In a pan, heat olive oil and sauté onion and garlic until golden.
4. Add shredded chicken, corn, olives, fresh herbs, salt, and pepper. Cook for a few minutes and finish with the creamy cheese spread.
5. Assembly: Divide the dough into two parts. Roll out one part and line the bottom and sides of a pie dish.
6. Spoon the filling over the dough. Roll out the other part of the dough and cover the easy empadão.
7. Brush with egg yolk and prick with a fork to allow steam to escape.
8. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for about 30-40 minutes, or until golden brown.
9. Serve the easy empadão hot or warm.

Tips and Variations

• For a crispier crust, use vegetable shortening instead of butter.
• Vary the filling with shredded dried beef (carne seca), hearts of palm, or vegetables.
• Add peas, diced carrots, or other vegetables to the filling for a more nutritious easy empadão.
• Substitute heavy cream for the creamy cheese spread for a lighter filling.
• For a vegan version, use dough without animal products and a vegetable filling with smoked tofu.

CHEF’s Tips

The secret to a perfect easy empadão lies in the quality of ingredients and the dough’s resting time. Always use cold butter to ensure a flakier, crispier crust. Refrigerating the dough is crucial for it to relax and not shrink during baking. When preparing the filling, make sure it is well-seasoned and moist, but not excessively liquid, to avoid making the dough soggy. An extra tip is to add a little grated Parmesan cheese to the filling for a more intense flavor and creamier texture. Experiment with different filling combinations to personalize your easy empadão and surprise everyone with a delicious and versatile dish.