This is a classic southern dish. My grandmother used to make these for lunch, and I would drop my plans and rush over to eat them with her in my 40 minute lunch break before going to back to school. Her recipe was always a little flour, lard, a little salt, water. Nothing was measured. I have made so many versions of her chicken and dumplings and this one is my absolute favorite. I soaked the flour overnight to break down the phytic acid and aid the grains digestibility, and to also unlock more nutrition. I am planning to write a more in depth post about soaking, sprouting, and fermenting grains. It is why I am mostly gluten free and grain free unless I prepare them properly. Anyways, this recipe is coupled with gut nourishing bone broth and simple veggies, making it so nutritious and so delicious.
Ingredients:
2 cups organic unbleached flour
6 TBS grass-fed butter
3/4 cup cultured buttermilk
1 tsp salt for dumplins
1.5 pounds chicken
2 quarts bone broth
4 cups chopped carrots ( about 6)
2 cups chopped celery ( about one whole bunch)
1 large yellow onion
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 TBS poultry seasoning
1 TBS salt for soup
1/2 tsp pepper
Directions:
Mix the flour and butter together. I use my fingers to press and massage the butter into the flour evenly. Add the salt and buttermilk and mix until smooth. Cover with a lid or plastic wrap over night.
About an hour before dinner time. Dice the raw chicken into bite sized pieces. Dice all the vegetables. Add the chicken and broth into a large pot and bring to a boil. Add the veggies and seasonings.
While those are boiling, make your dumplings. Flour a large surface, and roll the dough out to half a fingernails length. Sorry for the weird measurement, but it works when you don't want to get a ruler out.
Cut into rectangles and throw them into the pot with everything else. I like to drop them in one at a time so that they don't get stuck together inside the pot. They are done when they begin to float. Salt and Pepper to taste and all done!
Boil until everything is cooked through. Serve up and enjoy a nice bowl of comfort!
- Michal