Lightened Up Comfort Food

One of the things I am most proud of as food editor of VT is how well our contributors (chefs, cookbook authors and letter-writers) manage to keep the recipes really, really healthful as well as really, really tasty. Nowhere is their talent more apparent than in comfort food dishes, which traditionally depend on lots of butter, eggs and fat, plus gobs and gobs of cheese for their feel-good flavors. But don't take my word for it on the flavor thing. Put their performance to the test yourself with the recipes below.

—Mary Margaret Chappell, Food Editor

Serves 8

Sometimes you just want pot pie. This one is wholesome, delicious, and freezer-friendly. Make a batch, and freeze some for heat-and-eat weeknight meals. Poultry seasoning (yep, it’s veg) is the secret flavor booster in this recipe.

Dough

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup whole-wheat flour
• ¼ tsp. salt
• 4 Tbs. cold soy margarine, cut into pieces

Filling

• 2 Tbs. olive oil
• 1 medium leek, white and green parts chopped (1 ½ cups)
• 1 ½ cups chopped celery or fennel
• 2 large carrots, diced (1 cup)
• 8 oz. button mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 2 Tbs. all-purpose flour
• 2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
• 4 oz. red-skinned potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes (1 ½ cups)
• 2 ¼ cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 1 tsp. poultry seasoning
• 2 Tbs. creamy cashew butter, optional
• 6 asparagus spears, cut into 1-inch pieces
• ½ cup fresh or thawed frozen peas
• ½ cup fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels

1. To make Dough: Whisk together flours and salt in bowl. Cut or rub margarine into flour mixture until no large pieces remain. Stir in 3 to 4 Tbs. cold water until smooth dough forms. Wrap in plastic wrap, and chill while making Filling.
2. To make Filling: Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Add leek, celery, carrots, and mushrooms; sauté 5 to 7 minutes, or until tender. Stir in flour 
and garlic, and cook 1 minute. Add potatoes, broth, and poultry seasoning. Cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in cashew butter (if using), and 
cook 1 minute more. Remove from heat, and stir in asparagus, peas, and corn.
3. Preheat oven to 400°F. Roll out Dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into 8 4-inch rounds.
4. Divide Filling among 8 1-cup ramekins. Place dough rounds on top, pressing dough around sides of ramekins with fork to crimp and seal. Poke hole in top of each pot pie. Place pot pies on baking sheet, and bake 30 to 40 minutes, or until tops are golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

nutritional information

Per Pot pie:

• Calories: 244
• Protein: 6 g
• Total Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Carbohydrates: 35 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg
• Sodium: 207 mg
• Fiber: 4 g
• Sugar: 5 g

Vegan