The Perfect Chicken And Dumplings: Boiling The Bird

Chicken and dumplings is a popular comfort food in the Southern US, and there are several ways to prepare it. One option is to boil a whole chicken in water to create a broth, then add dumplings. Another method is to sear the chicken first, creating a fond that can be deglazed with butter for added flavour. The chicken is then diced and added to the soup before the dumplings are added and gently simmered. The dumplings can be made by combining flour, baking powder, salt, and milk, forming a dough that can be dropped by spoonfuls into the boiling broth.

Preparing the chicken

To prepare the chicken, you'll first want to season it with salt and pepper and sear it in olive oil for about 3 minutes on each side. This step adds flavour to the dish. Then, set the chicken aside and let it rest for 10 minutes before dicing or shredding it.

If you're starting with raw chicken, you can boil it directly in chicken broth or water. Bring the liquid to a boil in a large pot and add the chicken, cooking it until it's no longer pink in the centre. This can take around 10 minutes. Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pot and let it cool before dicing or shredding it.

Alternatively, you can sear the chicken for flavour and then finish cooking it through in the soup later. This method ensures that the chicken doesn't overcook and become tough. After searing the chicken for 3 minutes on each side, let it rest for 10 minutes, then dice it and set it aside. The diced chicken will be added to the soup just before the dumplings and gently simmered for about 15 minutes to finish cooking.

Making the dumplings

To make the dough for the dumplings, you'll need a combination of dry ingredients, liquids, and flavourings. The dry ingredients typically include flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar. You can also add herbs like thyme, dried parsley, rosemary, or Italian seasoning to enhance the flavour. For the liquids, milk, sour cream, and melted butter are commonly used. You can also add an egg to the dumpling batter, but this will result in a less fluffy and denser texture.

Combine the dry ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Then, add the liquids and use a folding motion to combine and form a dough. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the dumplings dense.

Once your dough is ready, it's time to shape your dumplings. If you're making rolled dumplings, roll out the dough and cut it into your desired shapes. For drop dumplings, simply scoop the dough with a spoon and drop it into the soup. If you're using biscuit dough, cut it into smaller pieces before adding it to the soup.

Finally, add the dumplings to your simmering soup. Make sure to add them one at a time to prevent them from sticking together. Stir frequently and gently simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes. Your dumplings are ready when they are no longer doughy in the centre. You can check by taking one out and taste testing it; it shouldn't taste doughy anymore.

Cooking the chicken

Chicken and dumplings is a popular comfort food in the Southern US, and there are several ways to prepare it. You can use any cut of chicken you like, or even a store-bought rotisserie chicken to save time.

If you're starting with raw chicken, you can either boil it directly in the chicken broth or, in the more traditional way, boil a whole chicken in water to create its own broth. To do this, place the chicken in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook the chicken thoroughly. Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pot and let it cool on a plate. Keep the broth to use later.

Alternatively, you can sear the chicken first to add flavour to the dish. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then sear it in olive oil for 3 minutes on each side. Set the chicken aside to rest for 10 minutes, then dice and set aside.

You can now make the soup. In the same pot, melt butter and use a spatula to scrape up any browned remnants from the bottom of the pot. Add onions, carrots, and celery, and stir to combine. Cook for 5 minutes, until the vegetables begin to soften. Add garlic and cook for another minute.

Now return the chicken to the pot, along with any juices from the plate. Add water, chicken broth, and any other seasonings you like, such as thyme, black pepper, or poultry seasoning. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and let the soup simmer while you make the dumplings.

Adding the dumplings

Once you've prepared your chicken broth and cooked the chicken, it's time to start making the dumplings. There are three main types of dumplings used in chicken and dumplings recipes: Drop, Rolled, and Biscuit. Drop dumplings are the simplest, where the dough is simply scooped up and dropped into the soup for steaming. Rolled dumplings require the dough to be rolled out and cut into shapes before being cooked in the broth. Biscuit dough is cut into smaller pieces and added to the soup, and can be homemade or store-bought.

If you're making drop dumplings, start by pouring milk into a mixing bowl and adding a baking mix until a dough forms. You can also add herbs like fresh thyme, dried parsley, rosemary, or Italian seasoning for extra flavor. Then, simply drop spoonfuls of the dumpling mix into your simmering soup.

For rolled dumplings, roll out the dough and cut it into your desired shape and size. Remember, they don't need to be perfectly shaped, as this dish is rustic and homemade. Dust your dumplings with a bit of extra flour to prevent them from sticking together and to thicken your broth.

If you're using biscuit dough, simply cut the dough into smaller pieces and drop them into the soup one at a time, stirring frequently to prevent sticking.

Regardless of the type of dumpling you choose, allow them to cook for about 15-20 minutes. Your broth will start to thicken due to the extra flour, and the dumplings may sink slightly as they soak up the broth. Taste test one of the dumplings to ensure it doesn't have a doughy taste. Finally, serve your chicken and dumplings while they're still hot!

Serving suggestions

Chicken and dumplings is a comforting and hearty dish that is perfect for cold days. It is best eaten the day it is made, but it can be stored in the fridge, although the dumplings will become gummy over time as they soak up the broth.

There are a few ways to serve chicken and dumplings. Firstly, it is important to note that chicken and dumplings is a very rustic and homemade dish, so it should look the part. The soup can be served straight from the pot, with the dumplings and chicken ladled into bowls. It is recommended to serve the dish hot.

Some recipes suggest garnishing the dish with parsley before serving, and some recipes include vegetables such as peas and carrots, which can be added to the dish. Chicken and dumplings is a very adaptable dish, so vegetables can be added or removed according to preference.

Chicken and dumplings can be served with French bread or biscuits on the side, and a side salad or green beans if you would like to include more vegetables with your meal.

Frequently asked questions