Chicken & Dumplings

Recipes are like time capsules and enable us to remember events and people. My mother Addie Mae was very proud of her chicken and dumplings and she made them and took them to many dinners in our town. They were made in celebratory times and in sad times. They are the hearty chicken soup that is found in many cultures across the world. I like making them because they represent my mother's philosophy that, “food in good times and sad times is always appropriate”.

Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients

  • One 3 to 3 1/2-pound chicken, cut into 8 pieces

  • 2 celery ribs, chopped

  • 1 medium onion, chopped

  • 2 carrots, sliced into rounds

  • 2 quarts water

  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

FOR THE DUMPLINGS

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

  • Pinch of salt

  • 1/2 cup plus 1 TBSP water

  • 1 TBSP canola oil

  • 2 TBSP chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Cooking Instructions

Place the chicken, onion, celery and carrots in a 5-quart Dutch oven or covered casserole dish, and add the water, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil over high heat, skimming off any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce, occasionally skimming the broth, until the chicken is tender, about 50 minutes.

Using tongs, transfer the chicken to a platter (keep the broth and vegetables simmering) and cool it until it's easy to handle. Discard the skin and bones and cut the meat into bite-size pieces.

Meanwhile, increase the heat under the broth to high and cook until the liquid is reduced to 6 cups. (If you're in a hurry, strain the broth, reserving the vegetables, and measure 6 cups of broth, reserving the remaining broth for another use. Return the 6 cups of broth and vegetables to the pot.) Skim off any fat from the surface of the broth. Stir the chicken back into the pot. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

To make the dumplings, place the flour, salt and oil in a medium bowl and gradually stir in the water to make a stiff dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly. Roll out 1/4 inch thick. Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into 1-inch-wide strips. (You can also make the dumpling strips while the chicken is simmering. Or make them ahead of time and freeze until ready to cook.)

Slide the strips into the simmering soup, placing them next to each other without stacking or crowding. Cover tightly and reduce the heat to low. Simmer until the dumplings are cooked through and tender, about 10 minutes.

Sprinkle the dumplings with parsley. Serve from the pot, breaking up the dumplings as needed.