Friday, July 8, 2011

Left Over Pot Roast Pot Pies

Last night we had a nice big beef pot roast with all the veggies.  Today, we have leftovers!  This afternoon after being abandoned my all my kiddos (one of those nights where they all go in different directions) I decided I should do something with that leftover roast.  Now even if you aren't the abandoned and alone mom, I think you will love this!  Pot pie is re-purposing at its best. The marsala "gravy" gives it a completely different taste than the first dish, so it really does feel like you are eating something new.  Now THAT's the way to stretch your dollars!


This is really one of those "what do I have around here" dishes.... a pot roast pot pie with a flaky, golden, puff pastry topping!  Yum!  Of course you could put anything in here that you wanted.  How easy is this... everything pretty much all cooked... throw it all together and throw some pastry on top!

Print This Recipe!

Ingredients:
Right away, you'll notice that there aren't many measurements here.  That's because the amount of leftovers varies!  Just sort of eyeball it.
  • left over beef roast and veggies
  • frozen peas and corn
  • puff pastry sheets
  • canola oil
  • flour
  • beef broth
  • salt, pepper, onion powder
  • fresh thyme
  • Marsala wine (or regular red wine)
  • 1 egg + water


Step-by-Step:
Take out a sheet of puff pastry first (about 40 min ahead of time) to thaw.

Make a simple roux -
A fast roux of canola oil and a couple tablespoons of flour.
 Cook until about the color of peanut butter.

 Start adding the liquids - beef broth, etc, and stir to incorporate until smooth.
I probably used 1 1/2 - 2 cups of broth.  Start with less, and more if you think it's too thick.

Add herbs.  Something in here needs to be fresh and bright for a balanced flavor.
Fresh thyme from the garden. 
1 tsp - 1 1/2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
I added about 2/3 cup or so of Marsala wine to my "gravy."  The alcohol cooks out and you are left with something just a little different in the background.
 The Marsala is a game changer here.  It deepens the flavor and gives is a delicious complexity.

Season well with kosher salt, black pepper, granulated garlic.  You need to keep cooking the gravy on low until it loses the "flour'y" taste.
kosher salt
black pepper
granulated garlic
 Find someone willing to stir it for you a while so you can prep the other stuff.
To individual ramekins,  add a cup or so of chopped, leftover roast beef.
Then add in the leftover veggies, also chopped a little smaller.  I added the carrots, potatoes, a few red bell peppers, onions... you know - the stuff I made the roast with.
I had a bit of gravy left in my roast, so I gave a nice spoon or so to each dish.   Careful to not add TOO much of the original gravy, or else it will still taste like last night's pot roast.
Now in my head, pot pies always have peas and corn in them.  As these didn't have a place in my original roast, I added some frozen ones.  

Layer the delicious Marsala gravy over the veggies and roast.  It'll cook down and mix in on its own.  But if you want to mix it, knock yourselves out.
My "Marsala gravy" - seasoned with salt, pepper, a little onion powder, the tender little leaves from a few sprigs of thyme, the Marsala wine, beef broth, and the roux.  Maybe make this a little soupier with the broth than you think you'll need.
just a bit more thyme

Cover -
Open up the thawed puff pastry on a lightly floured cutting board so it won't stick.
I made circles to follow with a bowl that was just a little larger than my ramekins.  I wanted some of the pastry to hang over the sides a little bit.  Then I cut the pastry with a paring knife.

Fit the pastry over the ramekins.
Yes, of course Lily had to try it, too!
Prepare an egg wash with 1 egg and a tablespoon or so of water.  Whisk to mix. 
Brush the egg wash over the pastry - this will give it a beautiful golden sheen.
Finish the pastry with a few sprinkles of fresh cracked pepper and a few fresh thyme leaves, then cut a few vents in the pastry to allow steam to escape.  I put them on a cookie sheet in case anything boiled over.

Bake at 400 degrees about 18 minutes or so.  You'll see when they are done.
Now dig in!
  




Click here to Subscribe to MenuMusings if you haven't already!   You can also connect with me on the MenuMusings Facebook Page or through my Pinterest board.

Click here to visit the Recipe Index for tons more ideas to cook with/for your family! 

Order the Menu Musings Cookbook!
menumusings.com
 
Here are a few bonus recipes for you!
Prosciutto and Phyllo Wrapped Asparagus Appetizers

Easy Stromboli

Tomato Basil Chicken 

Pancetta-Wrapped Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Steamed Asian Dumplings

Macaroon Kiss Cookies
Written Method:
Take out a sheet of puff pastry first (about 40 min ahead of time) to thaw.
Make a simple roux with a couple of tablespoons canola oil and a couple tablespoons of flour.  Cook until about the color of peanut butter, then start adding the liquids.  I probably added up to about 2 cups of beef broth.  Stir to incorporate until smooth, then add herbs.  Something in here needs to be fresh and bright for a balanced flavor.  Next add about 2/3 cup or so of Marsala wine to the "gravy."  Season well with kosher salt, black pepper, granulated garlic.  You need to keep cooking the gravy on low until it loses the "flour'y" taste.

To individual ramekins,  add a cup or so of chopped, leftover roast beef, then leftover chopped veggies (carrots, potatoes, onions and peppers).  I had a bit of gravy left in my roast, so I gave a nice spoon or so to each dish.   Careful to not add TOO much of the original gravy, or else it will still taste like last night's pot roast. Now in my head, pot pies always have peas and corn in them.  As these didn't have a place in my original roast, I added some frozen ones.  Layer the delicious Marsala gravy over the veggies and roast.  It'll cook down and mix in on its own.  But if you want to mix it, knock yourselves out.

Cover -  Open up the thawed puff pastry on a lightly flowered cutting board so it won't stick. I made circles to follow with a bowl that was just a little larger than my ramekins.  I wanted some of the pastry to hang over the sides a little bit.  Then I cut the pastry with a paring knife.  Fit the pastry over the ramekins.  Prepare an egg wash with 1 egg and a tablespoon or so of water.  Whisk to mix.  Brush the egg wash over the pastry - this will give it a beautiful golden sheen.  

Finish the pastry with a few sprinkles of fresh cracked pepper and a few fresh thyme leaves, then cut a few vents in the pastry to allow steam to escape.  I put them on a cookie sheet in case anything boiled over.  Bake at 400 degrees about 18 minutes or so.  You'll see when they are done.

7 comments:

  1. oh this looks so good ! I have leftover beef that I slow cooked yesterday, my son will be delighted!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lesley - let me know how it comes out for y'all! :) Thanks for "finding" me!
      Julie

      Delete
  2. This is such an amazing idea. I always have left over roast and I never know what to do with it. The hubby is going to LOVE these! (found you through pinterest)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Theresa!

      I sure hope he does!!! You sure hate for it to go to waste - and my kids are very weird about eating "left overs."
      Thank God for Pinterest. Please share the blog with your family and friends... I can always use new readers! :)
      Julie

      Delete
  3. made these tonight. OMG incredible. mom accidentally made beef roast, and not pot roast, so we didnt have carrots or potatoes, and the meat texture was different, but still OMG. incredible. DEFINITELY passing on to my friends.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Do you think this could be out in the freezer and if so would you put the pastry puff on then or right before cooking?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do think you could freeze them ahead of time, at least the filling. I would take them out to thaw in the fridge the morning that you are going to have them for dinner, however. The question about the puff pastry is perhaps the trickiest. For using regular pie crust, I would go ahead and freeze with it on. For puff pastry... it only takes about 15 minutes.... so that's a whole different story. I think I would be tempted to let mix up my ingredients and freeze with aluminum foil or some other such cover. Thaw in the fridge. Heat until mostly hot, then cover with the cold, thawed puff pastry and bake for last 18-20 minutes. I guess my biggest concern with the whole frozen concept is that your puff pastry would be cooked (and maybe burn) before your contents would even be hot.

      I hope that made some modicum of sense! :0
      Julie

      Delete

Follow me on Pinterest

Follow Me on Pinterest