Chicken And Dumplings Recipes Traditional And Vegan Variations

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Traditional Chicken and Dumplings Recipes

Traditional chicken and dumplings recipes typically feature tender shredded chicken, vegetables, creamy broth, and soft, fluffy dumplings. The dish is recognized as a comfort food in American cuisine and can be prepared using various methods.

Recipe Components

Ingredients for Traditional Chicken and Dumplings

Based on the recipes provided, traditional chicken and dumplings typically include:

  • Chicken: Often prepared using a rotisserie chicken with skin and bones removed, meat shredded or cut into bite-sized pieces. Alternatively, chicken can be boiled directly in the broth or pan-seared before use.
  • Vegetables: Common ingredients include onions, carrots, celery, and peas. Some recipes also incorporate garlic.
  • Seasonings: Salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and sometimes fresh or dried herbs like rosemary.
  • Liquid components: Chicken stock or broth, with some recipes adding heavy cream or milk for richness.
  • Dumplings: Made from flour, baking powder, salt, and liquid (such as milk or water), sometimes with olive oil or butter incorporated.

Preparation Method

The traditional preparation process generally follows these steps:

  1. Sauté vegetables (onions, carrots, celery) in butter until softened.
  2. Add garlic and continue cooking briefly.
  3. Incorporate flour and cook for a few minutes to create a roux.
  4. Add chicken stock and seasonings, then simmer.
  5. Prepare dumpling dough by combining dry ingredients with wet ingredients.
  6. Add shredded chicken to the pot.
  7. Drop dumplings into the simmering broth.
  8. Cover and simmer until dumplings are cooked through.
  9. Add additional ingredients like peas and adjust seasoning before serving.

Variations of Traditional Recipes

Julia's Simple Chicken and Dumplings

This recipe emphasizes simplicity with minimal ingredients. The method involves:

  • Simmering chicken parts in a stock pot with just enough water to cover the chicken.
  • Cooking for approximately 40 minutes until chicken falls easily from the bone.
  • Removing chicken, cooling it, and separating meat from bones.
  • Making dumplings with flour, water, salt, and pepper.
  • Rolling dough to 1/8 inch thickness and cutting into strips.
  • Adding strips directly to simmering stock.
  • Adding milk and seasoning when the stock thickens and turns opaque.

Alternative Preparation Method

Another approach involves:

  • Sautéing vegetables in butter first.
  • Creating a roux with flour before adding chicken stock.
  • Simmering with the lid on for flavor development.
  • Using a different dumpling method with baking powder for fluffier results.
  • Adding heavy cream for richness after the dumplings are cooked.

Vegan Chicken and Dumplings

A plant-based alternative replaces traditional chicken with soy curls and uses vegetable broth instead of chicken stock.

Vegan Recipe Components

Ingredients

  • "Chicken" substitute: 2 cups Butler's Soy Curls, marinated in Bragg's liquid aminos and Italian seasoning.
  • Vegetables: Onion, green onions, garlic, celery, potatoes, and carrots.
  • Seasonings: Italian seasoning, thyme, rosemary, sage, cayenne pepper, salt.
  • Liquid: Vegetable broth or water.
  • Dumplings: Made with brown rice flour, potato starch, tapioca starch, baking powder, salt, non-dairy butter, and unsweetened almond milk.

Preparation Method

The vegan preparation involves:

  1. Soaking Soy Curls in warm water for about 10 minutes, then draining and marinating.
  2. Sautéing the marinated Soy Curls until slightly browned.
  3. Cooking vegetables in a large pot with seasonings.
  4. Adding potatoes and carrots to the pot.
  5. Preparing dumpling dough with alternative flours.
  6. Adding dumplings to the simmering mixture.
  7. Cooking until dumplings are done through.

Cooking Tips and Storage

Cooking Tips

  • For traditional recipes, using frozen peas instead of canned yields better results.
  • Seasoning should be adjusted to personal preference, with emphasis on salt and pepper.
  • Once dumplings are added to the broth, avoid stirring to maintain their texture.
  • Dumplings can be portioned using approximately 2 tablespoons of dough for each.
  • Cooking time for dumplings typically ranges from 15-25 minutes depending on the recipe.

Storage Information

Leftovers can be stored: - In the refrigerator for 3-4 days in an airtight container or ziplock bag. - In the freezer for 2-3 months for longer preservation.

Serving Suggestions

Chicken and dumplings can be served as a complete meal on its own, providing protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates. Some recipes suggest pairing with additional sides like: - Cheesy garlic bread - Crusty bread for dipping in the broth

Conclusion

The provided recipes offer both traditional and vegan approaches to making chicken and dumplings, a comfort food dish popular in American cuisine. Traditional versions feature shredded chicken, vegetables, and broth with flour-based dumplings, while the vegan alternative substitutes soy curls for chicken and uses alternative flours for dumplings. Both methods result in a hearty, satisfying meal that can be prepared with readily available ingredients. The dish can be stored for several days in the refrigerator or frozen for longer preservation.

Sources

  1. Julia's Simple Chicken & Dumplings
  2. Chicken and Dumplings
  3. Vegan Chicken and Dumplings
  4. Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings