If you ask any six people on the street to tell you their favorite comfort food, I believe at least one of those six people will say chicken and dumplings. Even though chicken soup and most every other one-pot style chicken dish may be right up there, for some reason chicken and dumplings just whispers "relax" gently in your ear.
Each person and each family has their own opinion of what a real chicken and dumplings meal should be. Depending on where you grew up and how your folks cooked would determine how you prefer making this chicken recipe. Let's examine a couple basic differences in some simple chicken and dumplings cooking methods.
Let's start with the actual pot of chicken. Many people prefer to make their chicken and dumplings by beginning with a big pot of broth type chicken soup. That's a great way to make a chicken and dumplings recipe because everyone likes your chicken soup already, so you can't lose. You already have perfected your chicken soup, so why not just drop in the dumplings? It works just fine that way, and is delicious.
A creamy stew-like chicken and dumplings can be made if you prefer. Once the chicken in cooked through, it's removed from the bones and returned to the pot. Then additional broth or water is added, plus milk, cream, sour cream, or evaporated milk, and any vegetables you might want. This chicken stew is now your base for the dumplings. When the base is brought back up to a slow boil, you add the dumplings and cook as you like. You have a thick, creamy dish that is different from a chicken soup style.
Baking chicken pieces in a Dutch oven is another method to use for creating a chicken and dumpling meal. After fully baking the chicken pieces, you take the Dutch oven out, put it on top of the stove, add liquid, like broth or water, and bring the pot up to a boil. You can add in any vegetables you want at this time. Then once the vegetables soften, you can drop in the dumplings as usual and complete the meal. The chicken pieces remain intact rather than shredding them. It's not a clear broth style, nor a creamy style, This is sort of an oven baked style.
Dumplings can be as simple as cutting up some store-bought biscuits or as involved as preparing a dough with herbs and seasonings added. Either way, a classic dumpling recipe contains no more than a few ingredients - typically flour, salt, and ice water, with the addition of eggs and oil in some recipes. The ingredients and preparation of dumplings vary a great deal recipe to recipe, so experiment a little to find your favorite.
The actual method for cooking your dumplings will vary according to the recipe. There is no one method that works better than another in every recipe. Some cooks swear by putting the lid back on the pot while others say the lid must remain off. Whatever works in your favorite chicken and dumplings recipes is all that really matters. You'll find the best method that works for your recipes, which is all any food lover wants anyway.
When you attempt to make your favorite comfort food this winter, don't worry about sticking to any chicken and dumplings recipe too closely. Experiment with a lot of different recipes. I'm sure you won't be too disappointed if you develop a whole pile of new favorite chicken recipes in the process! How wonderful to have your very own collection of chicken and dumplings recipes that are uniquely yours!
Each person and each family has their own opinion of what a real chicken and dumplings meal should be. Depending on where you grew up and how your folks cooked would determine how you prefer making this chicken recipe. Let's examine a couple basic differences in some simple chicken and dumplings cooking methods.
Let's start with the actual pot of chicken. Many people prefer to make their chicken and dumplings by beginning with a big pot of broth type chicken soup. That's a great way to make a chicken and dumplings recipe because everyone likes your chicken soup already, so you can't lose. You already have perfected your chicken soup, so why not just drop in the dumplings? It works just fine that way, and is delicious.
A creamy stew-like chicken and dumplings can be made if you prefer. Once the chicken in cooked through, it's removed from the bones and returned to the pot. Then additional broth or water is added, plus milk, cream, sour cream, or evaporated milk, and any vegetables you might want. This chicken stew is now your base for the dumplings. When the base is brought back up to a slow boil, you add the dumplings and cook as you like. You have a thick, creamy dish that is different from a chicken soup style.
Baking chicken pieces in a Dutch oven is another method to use for creating a chicken and dumpling meal. After fully baking the chicken pieces, you take the Dutch oven out, put it on top of the stove, add liquid, like broth or water, and bring the pot up to a boil. You can add in any vegetables you want at this time. Then once the vegetables soften, you can drop in the dumplings as usual and complete the meal. The chicken pieces remain intact rather than shredding them. It's not a clear broth style, nor a creamy style, This is sort of an oven baked style.
Dumplings can be as simple as cutting up some store-bought biscuits or as involved as preparing a dough with herbs and seasonings added. Either way, a classic dumpling recipe contains no more than a few ingredients - typically flour, salt, and ice water, with the addition of eggs and oil in some recipes. The ingredients and preparation of dumplings vary a great deal recipe to recipe, so experiment a little to find your favorite.
The actual method for cooking your dumplings will vary according to the recipe. There is no one method that works better than another in every recipe. Some cooks swear by putting the lid back on the pot while others say the lid must remain off. Whatever works in your favorite chicken and dumplings recipes is all that really matters. You'll find the best method that works for your recipes, which is all any food lover wants anyway.
When you attempt to make your favorite comfort food this winter, don't worry about sticking to any chicken and dumplings recipe too closely. Experiment with a lot of different recipes. I'm sure you won't be too disappointed if you develop a whole pile of new favorite chicken recipes in the process! How wonderful to have your very own collection of chicken and dumplings recipes that are uniquely yours!
About the Author:
Even the easiest chicken and dumpling recipe will delight your family at the dinner table. Look for even more homemade chicken recipes that are simple to make but will give your dinner table a real homemade feel, and taste!
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