Modern Chicken Pie

Ingredients

• 2 lbs Chicken (About 2 lbs, cut into pieces)
• 0.5 Onion (Half a medium onion)
• 1 sprig Parsley
• 1 Bay Leaf (Small)
• 6 cups Water (Approximately)
• 0.5 tablespoon Salt
• 0.125 teaspoon Black Pepper
• 0.33 cup All-Purpose Flour
• 0.25 cup Cold Water (Approximately, for slurry)
• 1 package Pie Crust (Double crust, store-bought or homemade)
• 1 Egg (For egg wash (optional))

Instructions

1. 1Rinse the chicken pieces under cold water. Roughly chop half an onion. Gather a sprig of parsley and a small bay leaf.
2. 2Place the chicken, onion, parsley, and bay leaf in a large stewpan or pot. Cover with approximately 6 cups of boiling water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Once simmering, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook slowly until the chicken is tender, about 45 minutes.
3. 3When the chicken is about halfway cooked (after approximately 20 minutes of simmering), add 1/2 tablespoon of salt and 1/8 teaspoon of pepper to the pot. Continue simmering.
4. 4Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside to cool slightly. Strain the stock through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean pot. Skim off any fat from the surface of the stock. Cook the stock over medium heat until it is reduced to about 4 cups, about 15 minutes. In a small bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup of flour with 1/4 cup of cold water to create a smooth slurry. Gradually whisk the flour slurry into the simmering stock. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the gravy has thickened, about 5 minutes.
5. 5Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Remove the larger bones from the chicken and cut the meat into bite-sized pieces. Place a small oven-safe cup or ramekin in the center of a 9-inch baking dish. Arrange the chicken pieces around the cup. Pour the gravy over the chicken, filling the dish.
6. 6Unroll the pie crust and place it over the baking dish, covering the chicken and gravy. Make several incisions in the crust to allow steam to escape. Wet the edge of the crust with water or an egg wash (optional) and crimp the edges to seal. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and well-risen.
7. 7Let the pie cool slightly before serving. This allows the gravy to thicken further and prevents burning your mouth. Serve warm.