Winter root vegetable pot pie with spicy cress salad

Total time: About 2 hours

Servings: 4

Note: From executive chef Samir Mohajer at Rustic Canyon Wine Bar and Seasonal Kitchen. This recipe calls for casserole dishes that are about 5 inches in diameter with a 2-cup capacity; each will serve two. You may substitute curly cress, watercress or arugula for spicy cress.

Cream cheese dough

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

4 ounces cream cheese

Scant 1 cup flour, plus more for dusting

1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Cut the butter

and cream cheese into small cubes. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour and salt on low. Add the butter and cream cheese a few cubes at a time until all are added. Mix until well combined, about 3 minutes.

2. On a well-floured surface (the dough can get sticky), roll the dough out evenly into a rectangular shape. Then fold the dough into thirds as if you were folding a letter. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow it to rest.

3. Roll the dough out evenly about one-fourth inch thick. Cut the dough so that it will fit over the desired casserole dishes, allowing a half-inch margin all the way around. Keep refrigerated until ready to assemble.

Root vegetables

2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes

2 parsnips, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes

4 baby turnips, peeled and quartered

2 cloves garlic, peeled

2 fingerling potatoes cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces

6 pearl onions, peeled and cut in half

Sprig of thyme

1/4 cup best-quality olive oil

Salt and pepper

1 bunch baby Swiss chard, cut roughly into 2-inch strips

1 tablespoon butter

1 shallot, peeled and finely chopped

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Toss the carrots, parsnips, turnips, garlic, potatoes and onions with the thyme, oil and salt and pepper to taste.

2. Spread the vegetables out on a sheet pan and roast in the oven until almost cooked through, about 40 minutes. Discard the thyme sprig and set the vegetables aside.

3. Rinse and dry the chard. In a large sauté pan, melt the butter over medium-high heat, then add the shallots and chard. Lightly sauté just until the color turns bright, about 30 seconds to a minute. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside.

Béchamel, spicy cress salad and assembly

1/4 cup ( 1/2 stick) butter

1/4 cup finely chopped onion

1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme

Scant 1/4 cup flour

2 tablespoons white wine

1 1/4 cups milk

Salt and pepper

Freshly grated nutmeg to taste

1 egg

2 ounces (about 1 1/2 cups) spicy cress

1/2 tablespoon chopped shallots

3/4 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon best-quality olive oil

Sea salt

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. In a 2-quart saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter and sauté the onions with the thyme until the onions are translucent, about 8 to 10 minutes.

2. Add the flour and mix well with a whisk, stirring until the mixture incorporates and forms a pale roux, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the white wine and stir to blend.

3. Meanwhile, in a separate pot, carefully bring the milk to a boil. Carefully add the hot milk to the sauce and bring it to a boil to allow to thicken. Remove from the heat and season with salt, pepper and grated nutmeg.

4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the root vegetables, the chard and enough béchamel to coat the vegetables. Check the seasoning and adjust if necessary.

5. Fill the casserole dishes with the béchamel-coated vegetables. Place the cut dough over the casserole dishes and push the center of the dough down to touch the vegetables. Using your fingers or a fork, crimp the edges of the dough all the way around the casserole dish. Using a paring knife, cut a half-inch slit in the center of the dough.

6. In a small bowl, whisk the egg and use a pastry brush to brush egg wash over the dough thoroughly. Bake the pot pies for about 45 minutes, or until dough is golden brown.

7. Toss the spicy cress and shallots in a mixing bowl. Add the lemon juice and olive oil to cover the greens. Toss and season with sea salt. Serve the pot pie hot out of the oven with a bunch of spicy cress salad on top.

Each serving: 855 calories; 13 grams protein; 61 grams carbohydrates; 7 grams fiber; 64 grams fat; 32 grams saturated fat; 162 mg. cholesterol; 432 mg. sodium.