Southern Comfort: Hearty Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

Sure! Here’s a delightful recipe for Chicken and Dumplings, Southern Style, straight from lovewithrecipes.com, perfect for those cozy weeknight dinners or anytime you’re craving a hearty meal. 🍗🥟

Chicken and Dumplings, Southern Style

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• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 hours
• Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
• Servings: 8

Ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken
• 2 quarts water
• 1 onion
• 2 carrots
• 1 stalk celery
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon peppercorns
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 5 tablespoons shortening
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Broth:

   • Place the whole chicken in a heavy 5-quart stockpot and cover it with water.
   • Add the onion (quartered), carrots (cut into chunks), celery (roughly chopped), bay leaf, peppercorns, salt, dried thyme, and dried rosemary.
   • Bring the pot to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 1 1/2 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
   • If there’s any scum on the surface, skim it off with a spoon.

2. Shred the Chicken:

   • Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pot and set it aside to cool slightly.
   • Once cooled, remove the meat from the bones and set the meat aside.
   • Return the chicken bones to the pot and let them simmer for another hour to further flavor the broth.

3. Prepare the Dumplings:

   • While the broth is simmering, prepare the dumplings.
   • In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt.
   • Cut in the shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
   • Stir in the buttermilk and fresh thyme leaves to form a stiff dough.
   • Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead it gently about 6 times.
   • Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for about 1 hour.

4. Finish the Dish:

   • Once the broth has simmered for another hour and is well-flavored, strain it well to remove any bones or vegetable remnants, and skim off any excess fat.
   • Bring the strained broth to a boil and then reduce it to a simmer.
   • Roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface to about 1/8 inch thickness and cut it into 4×1 inch pieces.
   • Drop the dumplings into the simmering broth, stirring gently to prevent sticking.
   • Cook the dumplings for about 10 minutes, until they are tender.
   • Add the shredded chicken back into the pot and continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes to heat through.
   • Season the chicken and dumplings with salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper to taste.

5. Serve and Enjoy:

   • Ladle the hot chicken and dumplings into bowls and serve immediately.
   • Garnish with fresh thyme leaves if desired.
   • Enjoy this comforting Southern classic with your loved ones!

This Chicken and Dumplings recipe is sure to become a favorite in your household, with its rich broth, tender chicken, and fluffy dumplings. Whether it’s a chilly evening or you simply crave some down-home comfort food, this dish fits the bill perfectly. So, roll up your sleeves, gather your ingredients, and get ready to savor the flavors of the South! 🍲👩‍🍳