My mama has been making homemade chicken and dumplings for as long as I can remember and I have LOVED them for as long as I can remember. Talk about comfort food. These are it!
I have tried on several occasions to make her dumplings and did pretty well at them and now I’m going to enter a cooking contest with BlogHer making these wonderful Southern dumplings, so we did a cooking class, my mama and me. If I get to the finals, I’ll get a free trip to the BlogHer conference in San Diego in August.
Oh, how I’d love to make the finals!
Knorr Foods has come out with a concentrated chicken stock. You mix 3 1/2 cups water with one of these packets and you have chicken stock. We used 2 in our chicken and dumplings to makes 7 cups of stock. This new Knorr concentrate chicken stock is SO flavorful. My dad even mentioned that he thought the chicken and dumplings were even better than usual using Knorr! Now that’s a high compliment!
One chicken breast shredded up.
Seven cups of water put on to boil.
After the 2 Knorr concentrate packets went in, it magically turned to chicken stock.
We began with 1 1/2 cups plain flour (with salt, recipe below). Add water a little at a time to form a dough ball.
It will be a little sticky, but keep adding enough water to hold it together, but not too much water or it will be a sticky mess that you can’t roll out. Careful with adding the water, a bit at a time. The dough ball will be rather lumpy looking.
Flour the countertop, ready to roll out the dumplings.
Throw the dough ball on there and start rolling with the rolling pin. That’s the key to making these, rolling out the dough nice and flat.
She makes sure the dough has enough flour on it to keep it from sticking to the rolling pin.
Then start rolling and rolling, making the dough round.
Side to side, back and forth until you have something sort of like a pizza shape.
More rolling and adding flour as needed to keep it from sticking. She feels the edges to be sure it’s getting thin enough.
And it looks like this when done.
Start at one side and begin making slices across with a bread knife, about 3/4″ or so. Not too wide.
Keep slicing all the way across to the other side.
Then go back and slice diagonally the other direction, criss-crossing until you have it all sliced up.
And you’ll have cute little dough dumplings like this.
Pull them apart and drop in the simmering stock, start bringing the stock to a boil as you add the dumplings, one at a time.
Stir to keep them from sticking.
She even takes the leftover flour from the countertop and adds to the stock pot, to help thicken the stock.
Don’t worry, the dough balls will cook down with the dumplings. This is what they look like as they go in and start cooking. Add the cooked chicken at this point and simmer about 30 minutes. Then you will have a big bowl of deliciousness that looks like this…
The best tasting homemade chicken and dumplings you have ever put in your mouth. I doubt you’ve ever tasted any like this unless you have a Southern mama or grandmother.
Try them and see how you like them! You will be hooked too. It might take a few tries to get them just right, but I promise they are not hard to make.
Iris’s Homemade Chicken and Dumplings
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1 tsp. salt
1 cooked chicken breast (bone in) chopped & shredded
Water (approx. 1/4 cup) Add water a couple of tablespoons at a time until consistency forms a dough ball. Add a bit more water as needed. When dough ball is pliable without being too sticky, time to roll out.
Cook chicken breast in boiling/simmering water until done. Pull from the bone and chop/shred. Set aside
Add 2 Knorr’s chicken concentrate stock to 7 cups of boiling water. Simmer until time for the dumplings.
Flour a flat surface. Press dough ball on surface and begin rolling out with rolling pin. Go from side to side, back and forth until a round circle is formed, pressing down all around to make the edges even and flat. Roll as flat as you can.
Begin cutting strips on one side of the circle (approx. 3/4″ wide) all the way across the dough circle. Then, cut strips the opposite direction until you have cut through the complete circle and have little rectangles of dough strips ready to cook.
As chicken stock is simmering, bring to a boil and begin dropping in the dough strips, one at a time until they are all in the pot. Stir them around with a spoon making sure they are not sticking together. Add a bit of the flour that is on your surface, this will thicken up the broth. Bring to a slow boil, then turn down to simmer for around 10-15 minutes. Then add the cooked chicken, simmer another 10 minutes until stock has begun to thicken.
Serve hot and eat! Enjoy!
I’m entering this recipe in a BlogHer contest sponsored by Knorr. If I happen to be chosen as one of the 8 finalists, I will win an all-expenses paid trip to BlogHer ’11 in San Diego, CA. Do you think I would be excited about that??
Oh yeah, I sure would! I’d be dying with excitement. But, the only catch is, I’d have to recreate these ON MY OWN. I mentioned this to my dad and he said:
“You better take your mama with you.” 😉
Do you think he has no confidence in my cooking abilities? I’d say he’s probably right, but if I do get in the finals, I’ll be cooking my little heart out with these chicken and dumplings.
Deb McKathan says
Would you believe this is how (other than the Knorr) my aunt-in-law taught me to make them?! Best ever. The only modification I made was that I cut them into strips, then pick up the strip and tear into pieces, dropping into the broth. I don’t know why I quit cutting the second way. Aunt Gwen will also get them to the strip phase, lay them on a cookie sheet and freeze them, then break them into a ziploc freezer bag to have on hand when needed. She taught me to always use a fresh hen (can hardly find them anymore) because they make the richest broth. I live in LA (lower Alabama) so I guess it’s a regional thing. I grew up with ‘puffy’ dumplings – my NC roots. Have you ever heard of ‘Ham and Egg Pie’? Sounds bad but it is really good! Love your blog!
Pat@Back Porch Musings says
Well now, this looks fabulously delicious Rhoda. Although, I am a tad misty eyed. I did okay till your mama started working with the dough. I am hear to tell you, seeing those images of your mother’s hands was as if I was watching Granny make dumplings. Thanks so much for providing these beautiful images that brought back wonderful memories.
All the best in this contest!!
Vicky Hall says
Pat…here I am, crying, coming to comment on the exact same thing. Those hands. You may have to have those hands to make them just like that! My grandmother made them the same way. I make them with rolled out biscuits, cut into strips and added. They are quick and good, but nothing like I know these are! Good luck Rhoda!
Sandi James says
That’s exactly what got me: the picture of your mother’s hands working the dough. Lovely.
Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads says
Hi Rhoda,
These look so darn delicious! I wish I could fix them at my house but my husband is allergic to chicken! Yes, I know, weird, and very limiting when it comes to cooking. I hope you make it to the finals.
Becki says
I laughed out loud when I read your dad’s comment! We are never (completely) grown up in our parent’s eyes. Best of luck in the contest – we are rooting for you!
Richella at Imparting Grace says
Ooh, girl, I would think Knorr would be delighted to have you as one of the finalists! I didn’t even know they made that chicken stock product, so thank you for introducing me to it!
Your mama’s chicken and dumplings sound wonderful! And very simple, really, just a bit of effort involved in learning to roll out the dough just right. But with such a simple, straightforward recipe, it would be worth the effort to learn. I don’t mind having to try a recipe a few times to get it right if the recipe is fairly simple and the ingredients not too expensive.
Good luck! I think you can do it! And wouldn’t you look cute making these for the judges? Rhoda making Chicken and Dumplings–it would be “Southern Hospitality” incarnate!
Dianne says
Just had to say, I love the photos of your Mother’s hands.
Brenda says
This reminds me of my mother making dumplings. Although she never had time to roll them out, she just pinched them off the ball of dough and made dropped dumplings. I never learned unfortunately, to make the kind she made but I do alright with canned bisquits!! I’m a southern girl, born and bred, but it is a shame I never took time to learn to cook – too busy paintnig. Good luck with the contest, make your momma proud.
Sally@DivineDistractions says
This sure makes me miss my mom! She made chicken and dumplings the same way, and there was nothing better! I loved seeing your mom’s hands in the pictures….years on them that speak of experience and lots of time and love making things for her family. I guess I’m going to have to whip up a bowl of dumplings for myself. Thanks for sharing!
betsy says
This is how my grandma and aunt made dumplings, too, but I’ve always been too chicken to try them (I buy Anne’s). This just might give me the courage! They look delicious.
Tracy J says
Thank you so much for the recipie!! I cant wait to try it, being from NY I have never had this dish…..Thanks…
AND I love the pictures of your moms hands….
adventuresindinner says
Oh! Could there be anything more appealing?
Mary says
Your mother has such beautiful hands. My sweet grandmother made delicious chicken and dumplings, and also chicken pie. I could never duplicate her recipe! I may have to try your Mom’s. The pictures are very helpful.
MonogrammedEverything.com! says
I’m pregnant, thanks for sharing this!! Need I say more?!! Looks sooooooo good!
Lisa says
This recipe looks delicious! It is only 9:45 AM and I am drooling for some Chicken and Dumplings! I know, a little early for it but I am pregnant. Anything goes, right?! Great post! I am going to follow more often!!!
Debbie L says
Rhoda I have so much faith in you that I just know you will be in the top 8 finalists! You are so blessed to have your dear Momma with you and cooking together. Now keep thinking positive and know there are alot of ladies out in blogland cheering you on.
I see a bright future for you Rhoda. Your popularity seems to really be taking off and who knows there could there be a cookbook by you and your sweet Mom in the future. I know I would be the first to buy it!!
My mouth is watering just thinking about those dumplins 🙂
Mandi says
Rhoda-
Loved finding your blog this morning. Looking forward to following! This recipe looks amazin!
laxsupermom says
That looks wonderful! Some of my best recipes are the ones I made with my mom. Thanks for sharing.
Dana says
Chicken and Dumplins (you got to leave off the “g” if you’re in the South!) is one of my all time favorite comfort foods. My mom always made the dumplins from ball of dough rather than strips, so that’s how I make them, but yours look great!
Maureen says
My mouth is watering. I want to eat that whole pot right now! Good luck. I am sure you’ll win, and I love that your dad suggests you take your mom. That’s priceless.
Jane H. says
Yum! If I can figure out how to do this gluten free I’m definitely gonna make it!! Loved seeing your mom’s hands in the pictures. How nice it must be to be home…….