Chicken and Dumplings: A Comforting Winter Delight
Preparation Time: 1 hour 25 minutes | Cooking Time: 43 minutes | Total Time: 2 hours 8 minutes
Indulge in the warmth and wholesome flavors of our delightful Chicken and Dumplings recipe, a cherished creation from lovewithrecipes.com. This classic dish falls into the Whole Chicken category, making it a perfect choice for cozy winter nights, hearty weeknight meals, and soul-soothing family gatherings. With a cooking process that involves a harmonious blend of broiling, grilling, oven baking, and stovetop simmering, this recipe promises a flavorful symphony that’s ready in just under 4 hours.
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 4 | Chicken |
| 1 | Carrot |
| 2 | Celery |
| 1 | Onion |
| 2 | Chicken bouillon cubes |
| 1/4 | Butter |
| 1 | Flour |
| 1 | Sherry wine |
| 1 | Lemon juice |
| 1 | Salt |
| – | Baking powder |
| – | Shortening |
| 2 | Milk |
| 1/4 | Peas |
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 657.9
- Fat Content: 42.7g
- Saturated Fat Content: 14.4g
- Cholesterol Content: 188.7mg
- Sodium Content: 637.7mg
- Carbohydrate Content: 19.1g
- Fiber Content: 2.1g
- Sugar Content: 2.6g
- Protein Content: 46.1g
Instructions:
- Begin by placing the chicken in a large saucepan, covering it with water, and bringing it to a boil.
- Allow the chicken to simmer until it reaches a tender perfection, then remove it from the pan, setting aside the backbones.
- In the same pan, add chopped carrots, celery, and onions, allowing them to simmer for 30 minutes.
- Introduce chicken stock base, remove from heat, strain, and reserve the golden stock for later use.
- Melt butter and stir in a cup of flour until the mixture achieves a smooth consistency.
- Combine this buttery mixture with the strained chicken stock and let it simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
- Add sherry and lemon juice, season with salt according to taste, and, if desired, enhance the dish with a dash of food color for visual appeal.
For the Dumplings:
- In a mixing bowl, create the dumpling mixture by combining 1 1/2 cups of flour, baking powder, and 1/4 tsp of salt.
- Cut in shortening until the mixture resembles cornmeal, then stir in milk until just blended.
- In a saucepan with about 1/2 inch of water, place a wire rack that extends 2 to 3 inches above the water line.
- Cover the rack with lightly oiled waxed paper, with the oiled side facing up.
- With the water gently simmering, drop dumplings by the tablespoon onto the waxed paper, leaving space for expansion.
- Steam uncovered for 8 minutes, then cover and steam for an additional 7 minutes.
Final Assembly:
- While the dumplings are steaming, remove the skin from the cooked chicken and, if desired, bone it into large pieces.
- Place the chicken pieces in a casserole dish and artfully arrange the steamed dumplings on top.
- Cover this delicious duo with the sauce prepared earlier and sprinkle with peas for a burst of color.
In just over 2 hours, you’ll be rewarded with a dish that boasts a 5-star aggregated rating from 12 reviews. Each serving of this Chicken and Dumplings recipe is a celebration of warmth, flavor, and the joy of homemade comfort food. Embrace the culinary journey, savor the moments in the kitchen, and share this heartwarming creation with your loved ones. It’s not just a meal; it’s an experience crafted with love and flavors that linger on the palate.
