Mom's Chicken and Dumplings (Chicken Paprika)

Karen=^..^='s Note:

This was a staple at our house when I was growing up. My mom made this about two times a month and often had to double the dumplings! Since my mom is not good at exact measurements, I tried my best to recreate this great one pot meal from her verbal instructions. She calls this Chicken Paprika, but I am told it would have to have sour cream in it, and it doesn't, which is fine with me :) ****NOTE 1/15/08: I've adjusted the quantities of salt and paprika because depending on what kind of chicken you use, different amounts of water will be used, needing different amounts of spicing. You may also increase the pepper and garlic, if desired, but be careful as garlic should not be a dominant flavor in this dish.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 45 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 4 lbs chicken thighs, skin removed (boneless thighs if you can find them)
• water
• 2 small onions, chopped
• 1 tablespoon butter or 1 tablespoon oil
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 -2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (to taste)
• 1 -2 tablespoon paprika

Dumplings

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 large egg, beaten
• water

Directions:

1. In a stock pot or dutch oven saute onions in butter until tender.
2. Add water until pot is about 1/3 full.
3. Add chicken thighs, garlic powder, salt, pepper and paprika.
4. Make sure water is covering the chicken, if not add more until it just covers.
5. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 90 minutes, covered, stirring occasionally.
6. In the meantime, make the dumplings: Mix the flour, salt, pepper and paprika in a medium bowl until combined.
7. Make a well in the center and drop in the egg and about 1/2 cup water.
8. Stir and add more water by the tablespoon until you have a sticky dough that just leaves the side of the bowl.
9. In a different large pot from chicken, boil water.
10. Drop dumpling mixture by the teaspoon into the boiling water.
11. (I use a regular teaspoon from my flatware, not a measuring spoon.) If dumpling mix is too sticky to drop from spoon, then dip the spoon into the boiling water, the dumpling should slide right off.
12. When dumplings start floating on top, remove them with a slotted spoon or drain them.
13. You may have to reduce the heat to see when they are floating.
14. About 30 minutes before chicken should be done, add the dumplings to the pot with the chicken.
15. After 30 minutes, you should have a delicious dish: the chicken should be tender enough that it is falling off of the bone and the dumplings should have made a thicker sauce out of the liquid the chicken was cooking inches.

Reviews

[Mimi Bobeck]

This actually is not difficult as it sounds. It was actually pretty easy to make. And very hard to share with the rest of the family. (less for me). I did a bit of salt after simmering the chicken for 90 minutes and I used a little more paprika in the chicken portion. But that is because back at home, we use paprika a lot more, and it is stronger than the paprika here in America. It was fantastic! I highly recommend.

[kellychris]

This will be made time & time again in my house!!Everyone loved this, even though my dumplings weren't the best (a lil' undercooked) and didn't soak up alot of sauce. I need to start cooking this a lil' earlier than usual- but I definately won't mind!! Thanks for sharing- made for the French Forum Spice of the Month- paprika.

[Lord Bezoar]

this has become one of my wife's favorite recipes. I find that I am making it at least twice a month--if not more! Thanks for the great recipe!