How to Make Chicken and Dumplings Soup: A Comforting and Tasty Homemade Dish
Chicken and dumplings soup is a classic comfort food that warms the soul on a cold day. Made with tender chicken, flavorful broth, and fluffy dumplings, this dish is sure to delight your taste buds. In this article, we will guide you through the process of making chicken and dumplings soup, ensuring that you can enjoy this delightful meal in the comfort of your own home.
Ingredients
Before we dive into the recipe, let’s gather all the necessary ingredients:
– 1 whole chicken (about 4 pounds)
– 1 onion, chopped
– 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
– 2 celery stalks, chopped
– 1 teaspoon dried thyme
– 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
– 1 teaspoon salt
– 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
– 4 cups chicken broth
– 2 cups all-purpose flour
– 2 tablespoons baking powder
– 1/2 teaspoon salt
– 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
– 1/4 cup cold butter, diced
– 1/2 cup cold water
Instructions
Now that we have all the ingredients, let’s move on to the cooking process:
1. Begin by rinsing the chicken under cold water and patting it dry with paper towels. Place the chicken in a large pot and add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Sprinkle the dried thyme, dried rosemary, salt, and black pepper over the chicken.
2. Pour the chicken broth into the pot, ensuring that it covers the chicken completely. Bring the pot to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let the chicken simmer for about 1 hour or until the chicken is tender.
3. While the chicken is simmering, prepare the dumplings. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and black pepper. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
4. Gradually add the cold water to the flour mixture, stirring until a dough forms. Be careful not to overmix, as this will make the dumplings tough.
5. Once the chicken is tender, remove it from the pot and set it aside to cool. Skim any fat from the surface of the broth and discard. Use two forks to shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
6. Return the shredded chicken to the pot and bring the broth back to a gentle simmer. Drop the dumpling dough by spoonfuls into the simmering broth. Cover the pot and let the dumplings cook for about 20 minutes, or until they are puffy and cooked through.
7. Serve the chicken and dumplings soup hot, garnished with fresh parsley or chopped chives, if desired.
Now that you know how to make chicken and dumplings soup, you can enjoy this comforting and tasty dish whenever you need a warm, hearty meal. Happy cooking!
