Chicken & Dumplings
Dinner"One humble bird feeds a family with grace and warmth."
A Depression-era comfort classic where simple chicken broth becomes a complete, nourishing meal with homemade dumplings. This one-pot wonder stretched a single chicken far and fed many mouths with just flour, water, and a little fat.
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces (3-4 lbs)
- 6 cups water or broth
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 onion, diced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Dumplings:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 tbsp lard or butter
- ¾ cup water
Instructions
- Prepare Broth: Place chicken pieces in a large pot with 6 cups water. Bring to boil, then simmer for 30 minutes.
- Add Vegetables: Add carrots, celery, onion, salt, pepper, and thyme. Simmer 20 more minutes until chicken is tender.
- Make Dumplings: Mix flour and salt. Cut in lard until crumbly. Add water until dough forms. Roll thin on floured surface, cut into 2-inch strips.
- Drop Dumplings: Bring broth to gentle boil. Drop dumplings in one at a time, stirring gently to prevent sticking.
- Cook Dumplings: Simmer 15 minutes until dumplings float and are tender.
- Serve: Shred chicken if desired and serve hot in bowls with broth and vegetables.