Heartier than chicken soup, this classic comfort dish is more like a stew with a simple biscuit dough added in the last minutes. Typically you start with whole chicken or pieces to make a broth, but there are many shortcuts. I made my broth with 2 lbs of chicken breasts. To thicken the broth a bit, I used the vegetables from the broth (carrots, celery and 1/2 of the onion) and pureed them, then added them back to the stock. Stock, chicken, a trilogy of sweet vegetables and fluffy buttermilk dumplings will warm your soul and fill you with lovely memories. Mom.
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- 4 chicken legs (thigh and drumstick) *I substituted 2lbs of chicken breasts
- 1 leek, pale-green and white parts only
- 4 carrots, 1 whole, 3 chopped into ½-inch rounds
- 4 celery stalks, 1 whole, 3 chopped into ½-inch pieces
- 1 medium onion, chopped, divided
- 3 garlic cloves, smashed
- 4 sprigs thyme
- Parsley stems from ½ bunch
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 teaspoons whole peppercorns
- Kosher salt
- ½ cup chicken fat (schmaltz) or butter, melted, divided
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour, divided
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons buttermilk
- ½ cup heavy cream
- Chopped chives (for serving)
Bring chicken, leek, whole carrot, whole celery stalk, half of onion, garlic, thyme, parsley stems, bay leaf, peppercorns, and 3 quarts water to a simmer in a large wide pot. Cook, uncovered, until chicken is cooked through, 40–50 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate and let sit until cool enough to handle. Shred meat from thighs and legs, discarding skin, bones, and excess fat. Cover meat with foil to keep warm; set aside.
Strain stock through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl; discard solids. Wipe out pot, pour stock back in, and bring to a simmer. Stir in 1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. salt.
Heat ¼ cup plus 1 Tbsp. schmaltz in a large skillet over medium. Cook chopped carrot, chopped celery, and remaining onion, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened but not completely tender, 8–10 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Add ½ cup flour and cook, stirring, until vegetables are coated, about 1 minute. Scrape vegetable mixture into simmering stock and whisk until liquid is thickened and no lumps remain, then continue to cook until vegetables are tender, 10–15 minutes.
Meanwhile, whisk baking powder, baking soda, 1 tsp. salt, ¼ tsp. pepper, and remaining 1 cup flour in a medium bowl. Whisk buttermilk and remaining 3 Tbsp. schmaltz in a small bowl. Fold buttermilk mixture into dry ingredients just until dough comes together (be careful not to overmix or dumplings will be tough).
Add cream and reserved chicken to stew and return to a simmer. Drop tablespoon-sized portions of dough into stew (don’t worry if they aren’t perfect, they will puff up as they cook). Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook 10 minutes. Uncover and check dumplings for doneness: They should be about 5 times larger and should cover entire surface of stew. To be extra sure, you can remove a dumpling and cut it in half to see if it’s cooked through; the interior should look like a soft dinner roll. If they’re not fully cooked, cover and cook 2 minutes more.
Divide chicken soup and dumplings among bowls, then top with chives.
Do Ahead: Chicken soup, without dumplings, can be made 3 days ahead; cover and chill.
Adapted from: Bon Appetit
