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Sunday, April 6, 2008

Chicken and Dumplings

As soon as I saw this recipe being made on America's Test Kitchen, I went out the very next day and bought all the ingredients to make it. It was back when Mitchell was still living in RI, and I remember John and Mitch raving about it. It's the perfect cross between stew and soup. Creamy and rich and just the right thing to warm your bones as my Gram used to say.

It may look like a lot of ingredients, but it all comes together very fast and the end result is so fantastic, you won't care how long it took you to make (and it really doesn't take that long). Make sure not to peek at the dumplings while they are cooking.

This recipe has become a staple in my house. Mitch I wish you were here to eat it with us.

Don't use low-fat or fat-free milk in this recipe. Start the dumpling dough only when you're ready to top the stew with them.

Chicken and Dumplings
from Cooks Illustrated


5 pounds bone-in, skin on chicken thighs (usually is about 12-13 thighs)
table salt/ground black pepper
4 teaspoons vegetable oil
4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick)
4 carrots, peeled and sliced ¼ inch thick
2 ribs celery, sliced ¼ thick
1 large onion, minced
6 tablespoons unbleached flour
¼ cup dry sherry (I substitute white wine)
4 ½ cups low sodium chicken broth
¼ cup whole milk
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves
2 bay leaves
1 cup frozen peas
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

Dumplings
2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup whole milk
3 tablespoons reserved chicken fat (or unsalted butter)

1. For the Stew: Pat the chicken dry with paper towels, then season with salt and pepper. Heat 2 teaspoons of the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add half of the chicken and cook until golden on both sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and remove the browned skin. Pour off the chicken fat and reserve. Return the pot to medium-high heat and repeat with the remaining 2 teaspoons oil and the remaining chicken. Pour off and reserve any chicken fat.

2. Add the butter to the Dutch oven and melt over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, celery, onion, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook until softened, about 7 minutes. Stir in the flour. Whisk in the sherry, scraping up any browned bits. Stir in the broth, milk, thyme, and bay leaves. Nestle the chicken, with any accumulated juices, into the pot. Cover and simmer until the chicken is fully cooked and tender, about 1 hour.

3. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board. Discard the bay leaves. Allow the sauce to settle for a few minutes, then skim the fat from the surface using a wide spoon. Shred the chicken, discarding the bones, then return it to the stew.

4. For the Dumplings: Stir the flour, baking powder, and salt together. Microwave the milk and fat in a microwave-safe bowl on high until just warm (do not over-heat), about 1 minute. Stir the warmed milk mixture into the flour mixture with a wooden spoon until incorporated and smooth. 5. Return the stew to a simmer, stir in the peas and parsley, and season with salt and pepper. Following the photos below, drop golf-ball-sized dumplings over the top of the stew, about 1/4 inch apart (you should have about 18 dumplings). Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook until the dumplings have doubled in size, 15 to 18 minutes.

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