Julia's Simple Chicken & Dumplings

• Chicken and Stock
• whole chickens1
• onion↗1

  sliced

• garlic cloves↗5

  minced

• salt↗2
• pepper↗2
• milk↗1⁄4
• Dumplings
• flour↗3
• water↗3⁄4
• salt↗1⁄2
• pepper↗1

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Place all listed ingredients into stock pot and add just enough water to cover chicken.

2. 2

   Simmer for approximately 40 minutes or until chicken parts easily from bone.

3. 3

   Reduce heat to low.

4. 4

   Remove chicken from pot and allow to cool.

5. 5

   Separate meat from bones, divide into bite-sized pieces, and set aside.

6. 6

   Discard bones.

7. 7

   In a medium bowl, combine flour, water, salt and pepper for dumplings and mix well.

8. 8

   Dough should be well-defined, barely sticky, and easy to handle by hand: If it is too sticky, add more flour, or if it is crumbling, add more water.

9. 9

   Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll with a rolling pin to 1/8" thickness.

10. 10

    Return chicken stock to a simmer and add chicken.

11. 11

    With a sharp knife, cut dumpling dough into stips approximately 1" x 3".

12. 12

    Add strips to simmering stock, stirring as you add them to keep them from sticking to each other or to the pot.

13. 13

    Continue to re-roll the dough as needed, cutting dumpling strips and adding them to the stock until all dough is used.

14. 14

    When stock turns an opaque yellowish-white color and thickens, add milk and stir.

15. 15

    Add salt and pepper to taste.

16. 16

    Excess may be frozen in a tupperware container or a doubled ziplock-type container for up to a month.

17. 17

    Feel free to add up to 2 cups of water for more stock or to even up to double the amount of dumplings to accomodate your needs or tastes.