Chicken Fricassee with Chive Dumplings

One pot cooking

Stewed, slow-seared, simmered, braised... however or whatever you cook or call the fricassee method of cooking doesn't really matter. What does matter is the result of one fine all-in-one pot of tender, gravy laden chicken meal that is worthy of a better name than say, stewed, simmered, etc. and fricassee is just fine with me.

There are, like most recipes, so many ways to prepare this dish. The Greeks tend to use pork or lamb, the French are partial to poultry, maybe a rabbit ever now and then, Germans like veal as well as chicken and down in the bayou country, Cajuns enjoy just about any wild animal as long as the pot contains the holy trinity. We southerners tend to use older hens and top it off with dumplings or biscuit dough, something extra to sop up that delicious creamy gravy.The stewing hen works well in this type of dish because of the slow simmering. A broiler/fryer is just as good and may not require such a long time in cooking.

My recipe varies from the traditional southern way where toward the end, baking powder type biscuit dough in placed on the chicken pieces. I like the ease of a drop dumpling, one with fresh minced chives. Enjoy!

Chicken Fricassee with Chive Dumplings
about 6 servings

1/2 stick (1/4 cup) margarine or butter
1 -4 pound hen (or 3 to 4 lb broiler), cut into 8 pieces
2 cup chicken broth
2 medium carrots, sliced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
1 rib celery, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
2 whole cloves
1 bay leaf
3 tablespoons AP flour
1/2 cup milk
Dash of black pepper
Chive Dumplings -below

Heat margarine in a Dutch oven over medium high heat until melted. Add the chicken and cook until brown on all sides, not crowding the pan. Drain away any oil and add the broth, carrots, onion, bell pepper, celery, salt, thyme, cloves and bay leaf. Heat to a boil, reduce heat and cover. Simmer about 45 minutes or until chicken is tender.

Remove chicken to a warm platter and keep warm. Remove bay leaf and cloves. In a small bowl, mix flour, milk and pepper until smooth and stir into the Dutch oven. Heat to a boil stirring constantly and cook about a minute. Reduce heat and return chicken to the pot. Cover and prepare dumplings below.

Drop by rounded tablespoon dumpling mixture onto the pieces of hot chicken, not directly on the liquid or gravy. Cover tightly and let dumplings steam about 15 to 20 minutes or until cooked and dry on top.

Serve chicken with the dumplings and the creamy gravy along with a side vegetable.


Chive Dumplings

1 1/2 cups AP flour
1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons margarine or butter
2/3 cup milk

Mix the flour, parsley, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl and cut in the margarine until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in the milk.

Comments

  1. When I made up this week's menu on Sunday, I put chicken & dumplings on it. This is just the season (and weather) for comfort food. I love the idea of lots of chives in the dumplings.

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  2. Mmmm, this looks delish Drick! The dumpkings sound fantasic!
    Cheers~

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  3. I swear you should open your own restaurant. You're food always sounds amazing! Dumplings? It can't get better than that with your gravy along side.

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  4. Oooooweee, just love your fricasee, cher, and those dumplings are over the top! Would love a big plate right NOW!

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  5. That is one good looking fricassee! Love your chive dumplings, too. You're making me hungry already at 8:30 in the morning.

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  6. The last time I tried to make these sort of dumplings it was nothing short of a disaster. But that was a long time ago, and these chive ones look so good that perhaps I can forget the traumatic dumpling events of the past?

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  7. This is comfort food at it's finest! I haven't made this in awhile, so I think it's about time for an old fashioned chicken dish! I will definitely have to make the chive dumplings.

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  8. I have used fresh dill or sage but haven't tried fresh chives in the drop dumplings. I do agree they are quite easy. Your meal looks fabulous, have any leftovers?

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  9. this looks so delicious and comforting... *sigh... I am still at work, starving and really need to stop looking at food. :)

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  10. chive dumplings oh a perfect winter treat!! but I am still craving alma's lane cake...

    sweetlife

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  11. Chives in the dumplings, nice touch Drick! This is such a nice recipe for the cooler weather. I can't remember the last time I made chicken and dumplings. But, I do remember how good it was and your recipe sounds wonderful;)

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  12. I so want to try those dumplings...great recipe and dish, serious comfort food :)

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