Today is the feast day of Sts. Perpetua and Felicity. If you haven’t read their story, I urge you to do so. You can find it here. As a mother, it is a tough story to read. They were both incredibly brave and held strong in their faith to the very end. Sts. Perpetua and Felicity, pray for us!
As we move along to the topic of this post, I should mention I am from Texas. Specifically, I am from East Texas, which may as well be an entirely independent state of its own. We eat a lot of comfort food predominately found in the south. I enjoy cooking this way on cold and rainy days, or when we are feeding a crowd. This dish reminds me of my family there. My Nana & Pawpaw love it, and my sister Morgan and I cooked it together several years ago. Chicken & Dumplings holds a special place in my heart, as you can tell.
Chicken & Dumplings
You will need:
- 1 rotisserie chicken, pulled apart with the skin discarded
- 2 cups of milk (we drink skim, so that is what I used. Any fat % will work)
- 4 cups of chicken broth
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- For the dumplings:
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 cup of lukewarm water
- 2 tbsp vegetable or canola oil
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- For the dumplings:
Set a large pot or dutch oven over med heat. Melt 2 tbsp of butter. Sprinkle in 2 tbsp of flour and whisk until it is combined. This is a roux, and this will thicken the liquid. Cook this over med heat for 3-5 minutes while stirring frequently.
Once the roux has cooked for 3-5 minutes, warm the 2 cups of milk in the microwave or over the stove top until it is just warmed through. Pour over the roux slowly while whisking. Whisk this until the roux and milk have totally combined. Let this mixture cook over med heat until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon (about 5-7 minutes). Make sure to stir it frequently.
Once the liquid has thickened, add in the 4 cups of chicken broth, black pepper, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. Give it a good stir. Add in the chicken and put the lid on. Crank the heat to med-high. Let this hang out while you prepare the dumplings.
To prepare the dumplings, make a mental note that your hands are about to get quite sticky. Homemade dumplings are the way to go, so if you have a thing about dirty hands- go ahead and grab some gloves 🙂
In a bowl, add the 2 cups of flour, baking powder, and salt. Give it a good stir. Next, add in the 1 cup of lukewarm water and 2 tbsp of vegetable or canola oil. Combine with your hands until it is all mixed together. Pinch a small piece of dough from the mixture and drop it directly into the pot. It will float, and this is okay. Repeat this process until all of the dough is in the pot. I make my dumplings between the size of a quarter and silver dollar. Not too big, not too small. Once all of the dough is in the pot, give it a gentle stir and put the lid on. Lower the heat back to medium. Set a timer for 20 minutes and walk away!
Once the 20 minutes are up, uncover the pot and give everything a good stir. The dumplings will look smooth and soft on the outside. The inside will be cooked through and ready to eat.
Ladle the chicken & dumplings into a bowl, and eat! My kids LOVE this dish. I call it biscuit soup because they don’t fully grasp what a dumpling is, so I compare it to a biscuit and they are instantly excited. Kids are easy to please….most days.
I really hope you enjoy this recipe. I love cooking it for family and friends. Even if you don’t think you like chicken and dumplings, give my recipe a try. I have encountered several people who grew up with a not-so-good recipe they were forced to eat… and once they tried this one, they were hooked! It is light, comforting, and filling all at the same time.
As always, thank you for your support! If you try any of my recipes, I would love some feedback.
Lots of love and many blessings,
Chelsea
Perpetua’s answer was simple and clear. Pointing to a water jug, she asked her father, “See that pot lying there? Can you call it by any other name than what it is?”
Her father answered, “Of course not.” Perpetua responded, “Neither can I call myself by any other name than what I am — a Christian.”
The Catholic Kitchen 