Description
Homemade chicken & dumplings soup delivers comfort straight from Southern kitchens, warming hearts with its rich, creamy broth and pillowy dough pockets. Soul-satisfying ingredients blend perfectly, promising pure culinary comfort that connects you to cherished family traditions.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 cups (300 g / 10.5 oz) cooked shredded chicken
Vegetables:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Soup Base and Seasonings:
- 6 cups (1.5 liters / 51 fl oz) chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup (40 g / 1.4 oz) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ cup (120 ml / 4 fl oz) heavy cream or whole milk
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Dumpling Ingredients:
- 1 cup (125 g / 4.4 oz) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (120 ml / 4 fl oz) milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Craft the aromatic base by gently melting butter in a spacious pot, then introduce chopped onions, carrots, and celery. Allow the vegetables to soften and become translucent, releasing their natural sweetness. Incorporate minced garlic and let it dance briefly in the warming pan.
- Transform the vegetable mixture into a robust foundation by dusting with flour, creating a silky roux. Gradually stream in chicken broth while whisking continuously to eliminate any potential lumps, ensuring a smooth, velvety texture.
- Infuse the liquid with depth by adding fragrant thyme and a bay leaf. Fold in tender shredded chicken and allow the mixture to gently bubble, developing rich flavors over low heat.
- Prepare cloud-like dumplings by combining flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Introduce milk and melted butter, stirring until the mixture just comes together with a delicate, airy consistency.
- Carefully drop spoonfuls of dumpling batter into the simmering soup, creating pillowy mounds. Securely cover the pot, allowing the dumplings to steam and expand, transforming into light, fluffy clouds.
- Elevate the soup’s creaminess by stirring in heavy cream or milk. Taste and adjust seasoning, removing the bay leaf to ensure a perfect balance of flavors.
- Serve the comforting soup in warm bowls, ensuring each portion captures the essence of tender chicken, vegetables, and ethereal dumplings. Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant finishing touch.
Notes
- Enhance vegetable flavor by slightly caramelizing onions before adding other vegetables for deeper, richer taste.
- Prevent dumpling batter from becoming tough by mixing ingredients just until combined, avoiding overmixing which develops gluten and creates dense dumplings.
- Customize the soup’s consistency by adjusting chicken broth quantity – add more for thinner soup or reduce for heartier texture.
- Accommodate dietary needs by substituting milk with dairy-free alternatives like almond or oat milk, and using gluten-free flour for dumplings to make the recipe allergen-friendly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg