I wrote this post in 2004. Since then, I’ve made this recipe many, many, many times. It’s one of my kids’ favorite, as well as my own. It’s very simple, it only requires buying 3 ingredients (chicken, onions & celery), and it’s absolutely delicious. I’m re-editing this post by doubling the recipe for the dumplings, they’re the best part 🙂
Last night I made chicken and dumplings. This was a favorite recipe of mine when I was a kid, probably because it was a specialty of my grandmother and my father, whom I loved very much. It also tasted completely different from everything else we ate in Argentina. I based the recipe below on my father’s recipe, which didn’t have precise measures. I also looked at this recipe at Allrecipes.com to give me some guidance. The dish came out great, I loved it and I will certainly make it again.
Note that with these measures, the dumplings are not very sturdy, they broke up very easily. I liked this, as they helped make the sauce much denser, though if you prefer firmer dumplings you may want to use another dumpling recipe (like this one). You can vary the spices in the broth and add whatever you like, you can also use fresh parsley, I used dried ’cause that’s what I had at hand.
Chicken and Dumplings
For the chicken
- 1 Tbsp. oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 4 lbs chicken parts
- 3 ribs celery, chopped
- 4 cups water (about)
- 1 1/2 tsp. coarse salt
- 1 Tbsp. dried oregano
- 1 Tbsp. dried parsley
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. paprika
- 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
For the dumplings
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp. salt
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 6 Tbsp. butter
- 1 1/2 cups milk
In a large pot, heat the oil. Add the chopped onion and fry over medium-low heat until golden, about 8 minutes. Add the chicken parts and brown on all sides. Add the celery. Add enough water to cover the chicken. Add the herbs and spices, mix, turn down the heat and simmer over low heat uncovered until the chicken starts falling apart from the bones, about an hour. Add more water if necessary.
Meanwhile prepare the dumplings. Sift the flour, salt and baking powder together. Add the butter and blend together using a fork or your hands. Put the mixture into the fridge until the chicken is almost ready. Remove and slowly add the milk, blending with a fork.
Add the dumplings to the simmering liquid by the spoonfull. Let them cook for about 5-8 minutes and then flip. Cook for 5 more minutes or until cooked through. When you put them in the water and/or flip them parts of the dumplings will fall off and mix in with the broth making a gravy. Stir to make sure this happens. If it doesn’t, add some extra flour and stir until the gravy is the consistency you like.
Granny’s & Gladys’ Recipe Book
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