What is the secret to perfectly cooked dumplings for Chicken and dumplings?

Question

Sometimes they come out too soggy or too crumbly. What's the secret!?

Answer 1

Very hot stew and Bisquick.

Answer 2

It depends on what you are using for the dumplings. Canned biscuits work fine but for homemade use approx. 2 cups chicken broth cut with 1 cup water, add chicken as much or little as you like, Bring to boil, meanwhile use approx 2 cups self rising flour, add enough milk to have thick consistency , stir well, Using a tablespoon scoop dough onto spoon, should adhere to spoon and have a sticky consistency. Drop into boiling broth , bring to a new boil, stir easily, as broth will thicken, lower heat, cover with lid. Stir to keep from sticking, Cook approx. 10 min. Salt to taste, pepper before serving.

Answer 3

Chicken and Dumplings
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 broiler/fryer chickens (2-1/2 to 3 pounds each), cut up
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 celery ribs, cut into 1-inch pieces
3 medium carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon pepper
8 to 12 cups water

DUMPLINGS:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 eggs, beaten

GRAVY:
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup water

Place flour in a bowl or bag; add chicken
pieces and dredge or shake to coat. In a large skillet, brown chicken in oil; drain. Place in an 8-qt. Dutch oven. Add celery, carrots, parsley and seasonings. Add enough water to cover chicken; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until chicken is almost tender, about 45 to 50 minutes. Remove 1 cup broth to use for dumplings; cool, then add flour, baking powder and eggs. Mix well to form a stiff batter; drop by tablespoonfuls into simmering broth. Cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove chicken and dumplings to a serving dish and keep warm.
For gravy, remove 4 cups broth and vegetables to a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Combine flour and water; mix well. Stir into vegetable mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly. Pour over chicken and dumplings. Serve immediately. Yield: 6-8 servings.
http://recipes.tasteofhome.com/eRMS/recp.aspx?recid=148&r_d=y

Secret: Drop batter/dough into Hot Simmering liquid, cover and steam dumplings for 20 minutes. Do not lift lid until then.

Answer 4

I buy the frozen brand Reams. The package says to cook them for 45 min but I cook them for two hours. To prevent them from sticking to together drop them in one at a time and stir them often. If they still stick together make sure that your pot is large enough. If they still stick try to separate them with a spatula. I live in the south and come form a long line of southern cooks. I took them to a family gathering and fooled my whole family including my 84 year old Grandmother and her sisters.

Answer 5

Go to the food network website. Look for Paula Deen's recipe. It is good. The trick is having a good dough to start with. Another for good recipes is Test Kitchens website. A show on PBS stations. I am from the south and that is a staple in our diets, both of these are good.

Answer 6

Tempreature of the stew when you place the dumplings in makes a big difference a slow simmer is best.

Answer 7

The secret is not to stir the dumplings.

Answer 8

yes, grandma does know best, but sometimes grandmas die and take their secret recipe with them.

sounds like you are not using enough egg. use flour, chicken broth and egg. mix it up into a dough -- not too wet and not too dry. you don't need that much flour. i did learn from grandma that there is no recipe, you just mix it up. also, cooking your chicken in a pressure cooker is the best as well as using "chicken base" to flavor it all. good luck.

Answer 9

When you cook them, do not take the lid off the pot until they are done (the recipe will state how long to cook them for). They should come out perfectly.

Answer 10

Buy the frozen egg noodles and boil in chicken stock instead of water, make it easy and buy an already cooked rotissere chicken and pick off the meat then just sprinkle in some pepper