Slippery Dumplings with Savory Chicken Stew

Ingredients

• For the chicken stew: For the chicken stew:
• 1.5 lbs (680g) chicken pieces, bone-in and skin-on 1.5 lbs (680g) chicken pieces, bone-in and skin-on
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 onion, diced 1 onion, diced
• 2 carrots, diced 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced 2 celery stalks, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups (950ml) chicken broth 4 cups (950ml) chicken broth
• 1 bay leaf 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste Salt and pepper to taste
• For the dumplings: For the dumplings:
• 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cubed 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 3/4 cup (180ml) milk 3/4 cup (180ml) milk

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 450 kcal / 1880 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 15g, 6g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 45g, 5g
• Protein: 30g
• Fiber: 4g
• Salt: 1.5g

Preparation

1. 1.
   In a large pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook until browned on all sides. Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside.
2. 2.
   In the same pot, add the diced onion, carrots, celery, and minced garlic. Cook until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
3. 3.
   Return the chicken to the pot and add the chicken broth, bay leaf, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1 hour, or until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
4. 4.
   While the stew is simmering, prepare the dumplings. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the cold cubed butter and use your fingers or a pastry cutter to cut it into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
5. 5.
   Gradually pour in the milk, stirring with a fork until the dough comes together. Be careful not to overmix.
6. 6.
   Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pot and shred the meat using two forks. Discard the bones and skin.
7. 7.
   Return the shredded chicken to the pot and bring the stew to a simmer. Drop spoonfuls of the dumpling dough onto the simmering stew, spacing them evenly.
8. 8.
   Cover the pot and let the dumplings cook for 15-20 minutes, or until they are cooked through and fluffy.
9. 9.
   Serve the Slippery Dumplings with Savory Chicken Stew hot, garnished with fresh herbs if desired.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Chicken — For a more flavorful stew, you can use bone-in and skin-on chicken pieces. However, if you prefer a leaner option, you can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts instead.
• Dumplings — Be careful not to overmix the dumpling dough, as this can result in dense and tough dumplings. Mix the dough just until it comes together to ensure light and fluffy dumplings.

Tips & Tricks

• To add extra flavor to the stew, you can sauté the vegetables in the same pot where you browned the chicken.
• If you prefer a thicker stew, you can mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with a little water and add it to the simmering stew, stirring until thickened.
• For a twist, you can add herbs like rosemary or thyme to the dumpling dough for added flavor.
• Leftover stew can be refrigerated and reheated the next day. The dumplings may lose some of their fluffiness upon reheating, but the flavors will still be delicious.
• If you don't have time to make homemade dumplings, you can use store-bought biscuit dough as a quick alternative.

Serving advice

Serve Slippery Dumplings with Savory Chicken Stew in deep bowls, allowing the dumplings to soak up the flavorful broth. Garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or chives for a pop of color and added freshness. Serve with crusty bread on the side for dipping.

Presentation advice

To present this dish beautifully, ladle the chicken stew into the bowl first, ensuring a generous amount of broth. Place the dumplings on top, allowing them to peek through the surface. Garnish with a sprig of fresh herbs for an elegant touch.