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Old-Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings
From: Slow Cooker Revolution By America’s Test Kitchen – Page 46 in the e-version
Stew:
3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed ( I used 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast)
Salt and pepper
3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
2 onions, minced
2 celery ribs, sliced 1/4 inch thick
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup dry sherry
4 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth, plus extra as needed
4 carrots, peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick
2 bay leaves
1 cup frozen peas
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
Dumplings:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup whole milk
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1. For the stew: Dry chicken with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Brown half of chicken lightly on both sides, 5 to 8 minutes; transfer to bowl. Repeat with 1 Tablespoon more oil and remaining chicken, transfer to bowl.
2. Heat remaining tablespoon oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onions, celery, garlic, tomato paste, and thyme, and cook until vegetables are softened and lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in sherry, scraping up any browned bits. Whisk in 1 cup broth, smoothing out any lumps; transfer to slow cooker.
3. Stir remaining 3 1/2 cups broth, carrots, and bay leaves into slow cooker. Nestle browned chicken with any accumulated juice into slow-cooker. Cover and cook until chicken is tender, 4 to 6 hours on low.
4. transfer chicken to cutting board, let cool slightly, then shred into bite-sized pieces. Let stew settle for 5 minutes, then remove fat from surface using large spoon. Discard bay leaves.
5. Stir shredded chicken, peas, and parsley into stew, and season with salt and pepper to taste. (Adjust stew consistency with additional hot broth as needed.) Cover and cook on high simmering (or transfer stew to Dutch oven and bring to simmering over medium heat).
6. For the dumplings: Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in large bowl. Microwave milk and butter together until warm (do not overheat), about 1 minute, then whisk to melt butter. Stir milk mixture into flour mixture until just incorporated and smooth.
7. Drop golf ball-size dumplings on top of simmering stew, leaving about 1/4 inch between each dumpling (you should have about 18 dumplings). Cover and cook until dumplings have doubled in size, 25 to 35 minutes. Serve.
This was really tasty!