Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

Ingredients :

• 1 whole chicken
• 1 onion, peeled
• 3 ribs of celery
• Salt, to taste
• Black pepper, to taste
• Onion powder, to taste

For the Dumplings:

• 3 cups plain flour
• 1 stick of very cold butter, cubed
• 1 cup buttermilk
• Additional salt and black pepper, to taste

Optional Thickening Roux:

• 1 stick of butter
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 to 1 cup milk

Instructions :

1. Prepare the Chicken:
   In a large pot, boil the whole chicken with the onion and celery until fully cooked. Remove the chicken and set it aside to cool in a bowl. Once cool, pick the meat from the chicken.
2. Season the Broth:
   Season the chicken broth with salt, black pepper, and onion powder. Bring it almost to a boil.
3. Make the Dumplings:
   • In a mixing bowl, combine the flour with the cubed cold butter. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to cut the butter into the flour until it resembles coarse crumbs.
   • Add the buttermilk and season with salt and lots of black pepper. Mix until a dough forms.
   • Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut it into flat, long dumpling strips using a pizza cutter.
4. Cook the Dumplings:
   • Add the dumplings in batches to the broth. Allow them to cook until tender.
   • Once the dumplings are cooked, add the picked chicken meat back into the pot.
5. (Optional) Thicken the Broth:
   • In a small saucepan, melt the butter and stir in the flour to form a roux. Cook until the flour loses its raw flavor.
   • Add the roux to the broth, then stir in milk until the desired consistency is reached.
6. Serve:
   • Serve the chicken and dumplings warm. Enjoy this comforting meal with family and friends!

Enjoy your Chicken and Dumplings!