South Beach Chicken Pot Pie

black pepperIngredients:

• • 2 tbsp + 2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 12 small white mushrooms, quartered
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 1/2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1 cup lower-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1/2 cup fat-free half-and-half
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas
  • 1/2 cup carrots, finely diced
  • 4 sheets whole-wheat phyllo dough
  • salt
  • freshly ground black pepper

Makes 6 Servings

1. Heat oven to 400 F.
2. Heat 2 teaspoons of the oil in a large-straight sided skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and onion; cook until lightlty browned and softened, about 5 minutes. Add thyme and chicken; cook until chicken is firm and cooked through, about 5 minutes.
3. Whisk together broth and cornstarch; add half-and-half to skillet. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, abotu 2 minutes. Stir in peas and carrots, reduce heat to low, and cook 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste and pour mixture into a 9-inch ovenproof pie dish.
4. Pour remaining 2 tablespoons oil into a small bowl. Lay 1 phyllo sheet on a clean work surface. Quickly brush the surface with a small amount of oil. Top with a second sheet and brush with more oil. Repeat with remaining  sheets and oil.
5. Place phyllo over filing. Using sciccors, tri m excess phyllo, leaving a 1-inch border of overhanging dough. Fold dough in toward the center and pinch together to create an edge. Cut a small slit in the center of the phyllo to allow steam to escape during baking. Bake until golden and crisp, about 15 minutes.

WW POINT VALUE: 6 pts

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Quick & Easy Cookbook. Chicken pot pie is a classic and you can enjoy this favorite on the South Beach Diet on Phase 3 or as a Sunday Supper. You can make the filling up to 3 days in advance and store it in the fridge warm it slightly before topping the phyllo crust. This dish can be made in 45 minutes but it's worth it. Make sure you put a pan underneath the pie dish because the filling can bubble and ooze out of the pie dish.