Looking for Chicken & Dumplings pointers

Looking for Chicken & Dumplings pointers - Dumplings on Black Plate Beside Green Beans and Fried Food

A young lady I know has informed me that "Chicken & Dumplings" is amongst her favorite dishes. I have only attempted this a few times with only marginal success. Mostly my dumplings end up too bland and too loose. I have tried both of Alton Brown's recipes and (sorry Alton, I'm sure it is my fault and not your mothers') I am still not happy with the results.

I would greatly appreciate any sage advise from the readers here.



Best Answer

I'm not sure about the texture (looseness), especially since those are two different methods. My best guess would be that it's just a flour measurement thing - moisture content in flour can vary, so the best thing to do is look for hints in the recipe about the desired texture (like "It should tear slightly as it falls from the beater"), and increase or decrease the flour to match.

The primary flavors here are salt and chicken, so first just check the amount of salt in both dumplings and broth. For the chicken, you're getting all the flavor out of it by making broth. So make sure you used enough chicken (and not too much water), and that you cooked it long enough. Those recipes use a pressure cooker - if you don't have one, it takes way longer to cook, of course.




Pictures about "Looking for Chicken & Dumplings pointers"

Looking for Chicken & Dumplings pointers - Selective Focus Photography of White Chicken
Looking for Chicken & Dumplings pointers - Close-up Photo of Ayam Cemani Chicken
Looking for Chicken & Dumplings pointers - Close-up Photography of a Gray Hen



What is the secret to good dumplings?

Dumplings need very gentle handling, so mix only until the ingredients are just combined, and if your recipe involves rolling them out with extra flour, avoid using too much.

What can I add to my chicken and dumplings to make it thicker?

If you want to thicken the soup base on your chicken and dumplings, you'll need to do it BEFORE you add in your dumplings. Take about 1/3 cup of the liquids and place it into a bowl. Whisk 2 teaspoons of cornstarch into this liquid. Once the mixture is smooth, pour it back into the soup pot and stir in.

Why does my chicken and dumplings taste bland?

The primary flavors here are salt and chicken, so first just check the amount of salt in both dumplings and broth. For the chicken, you're getting all the flavor out of it by making broth. So make sure you used enough chicken (and not too much water), and that you cooked it long enough.



CHICKEN TIKKA | Country Chicken BBQ Recipe Cooking In Village | Chicken Tikka Kebab Recipe




Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Valeria Boltneva, Rachel Vine, Berend de Kort, Leo Lutia