Chicken and Dumplings, Southern Style

Dib's's Note:

A Southern Classic. Enough said.

• Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 1 (3 lb) chicken
• 2 quarts water
• 1 large onion, quartered
• 2 carrots, quartered
• 1 stalk celery, quartered
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon peppercorn
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 sprig thyme
• 1 sprig rosemary

Dumplings

• 3 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 5 tablespoons shortening
• 1/4 cup chicken stock
• 2/3 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Place chicken in a heavy 5 quart stockpot with water to cover.
2. Add the onion, carrot, celery, bay, peppercorns, salt, thyme and rosemary.
3. Bring to a boil, reduce and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
4. Skim scum if needed.
5. Remove chicken and set aside to cool.
6. Remove meat and return bones to pot.
7. Simmer for 1 hour more.
8. Strain well and remove any fat you can.
9. Dumplings------------------.
10. Combine flour, soda, salt.
11. Cut in shortening until flour resembles coarse crumbs.
12. Add the stock, buttermilk and thyme.
13. Stir to make a stiff dough-and it will be stiff.
14. Turn out onto a floured board and knead gently 6 times.
15. Wrap in plastic and chill 1 hour.
16. Bring strained broth to a boil, reduce to a simmer.
17. Roll out the chilled dough to 1/8 inch thick, and cut into 4x1 inch pieces.
18. Drop them into simmering stock and stir gently.
19. Cook for 10 minutes, add the chicken and cook for 5 min more.
20. Season with salt and lots of pepper.

Reviews

[KathyShu]

Great recipe! Very easy to make. Next time I will cut the dumplings smaller. They took longer than suggested to cook and were a little chewy, rather than tender.

[Sunshine Susy]

see my posted comments, it's a meal in itself, this is my favorite childhood recipe that I finally rediscovered. The combined prep and cooking time is more like 3.5-4 hours depending how attentive you are to it. It's a great pot of soup to make on the woodstove and make the house smell so good. It's definitely worth the time to make! Thanks again, Di!