Michael Symons Chicken And Dumpling Soup Recipes

MICHAEL SYMON'S CHICKEN-AND-DUMPLING SOUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a 6-quart pot over medium heat.
• Add the garlic, carrots, celery root, turnip, rutabaga, onion, diced fennel, and a large pinch of salt; cook until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add the white wine, 6 cups water, fennel seeds, thyme and bay leaves; bring to a simmer. Add the chicken and simmer for 2 hours. Remove the chicken and let cool. Pick off the meat in shreds; set aside in bowl.
• About 15 minutes before the chicken has finished simmering, prepare the dumplings: Combine the milk, chicken fat, 1 tablespoon tarragon, the nutmeg, and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a medium saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium heat. Remove from heat; add the flour and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the liquid is absorbed. Whisk in the eggs, one at a time, to make a thick dough.
• Bring the soup to a boil. Form the dough into eight dumplings (a big spoon or ice cream scoop); drop into the soup. Cover and cook and until the dumplings float to the top of the surface, about 10 minutes.
• Add the chicken meat, parsley and the remaining 1 tablespoon tarragon to the soup; stir carefully and divide among warm bowls.

CAST-IRON CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the hot coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only to medium-high heat.
• For the chicken and vegetable base: Heat a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over direct heat. Melt the butter. Add the carrots, onions and thyme. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the vegetables begin to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the flour, coating the vegetables, and continue to cook for another minute. Whisk in the chicken stock, smoothing out any flour lumps. Simmer until the mixture begins to thicken, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the dumplings: Melt the butter with the jalapeno if using and lime juice in a sauce pot over indirect heat, then let cool.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, celery seeds, salt and lime zest in a large bowl. Mix in the cheese.
• Slowly pour the melted butter mixture into the cold cream in a small bowl and mix together using a fork. (The butter will bead up as you mix.) Pour the butter-cream mixture into the flour mixture and bring together into a soft dough. Set aside.
• Finish the chicken and vegetable base: Add the chicken, peas and parsley to the skillet with the vegetables. Move the skillet over indirect heat and scoop the biscuit mixture on top, covering the surface of the pan. Cover the grill and cook until the biscuits are golden brown and cooked through, about 20 minutes.
• (Alternatively, you can make the sauce and melt the butter mixture on a stovetop, then bake the biscuits in a 375 degrees F oven for 15 to 20 minutes.)

AVGOLEMONO

Steps:

• Place the chicken, bay leaf and broth in a large pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer 1 1/2 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through. Remove the chicken to a plate and let it cool.
• Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl. Clean out any scum in the bottom of the pot and add the broth back to the pot. Bring to a simmer, then add the orzo and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes. Check for seasoning here, as you may need to add a few teaspoons salt.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the lemon zest and juice and the flour. Whisk the eggs into the lemon mixture. Pour a little of the simmering broth slowly over the egg mixture and whisk it together. Reduce the heat under the broth to low and whisk in the egg mixture. The soup will thicken slightly and become cloudy. Make sure you don't bring the soup to a rolling boil after you add the eggs. Your eggs will scramble, which will leave you with more of an egg drop soup (which would still be fantastic, but just not the same).
• Chop up the chicken, removing the skin and bones, and add it to the soup along with the dill. Serve immediately.

PAP'S HAM AND DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• For the dumplings: Whisk together the eggs and milk in a large bowl. Mix in the flour, chives and nutmeg. Set aside to rest until ready to use.
• For the ham, cabbage and sauerkraut: Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion and ham steak and cook until the onions begin to sweat, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the cabbage with the coriander, red pepper flakes and a large pinch of salt and cook until the cabbage begins to melt and break down, about 5 minutes. Stir in the beer, turkey stock and sauerkraut, bring to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes.
• Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Spread the dumpling batter in a line down the back of a sheet tray or small cutting board. Dip a bench scraper in the boiling water, then use it to "cut" the dumplings into the pot, dipping the bench scraper in the boiling water in between each cut. Cook the dumplings until they begin to float to the surface, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the dumplings to the Dutch oven with the cabbage. Mix in the parsley and mustard and any additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve.

PAP'S TURKEY AND DUMPLING SOUP

Steps:

• Make the stock: Combine all of the ingredients in a large stockpot and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, skimming occasionally, until slightly reduced, 4 to 5 hours. Strain the solids and discard. Set the stock aside and keep warm until you're ready to add it to the soup. (You could also make the stock in a pressure cooker.)
• Make the dumplings: Whisk together the eggs, milk, nutmeg and chives in a medium bowl. Season well with salt and pepper then stir in the flour until smooth. Cover and allow to rest until you're ready to add to the dumplings to the soup.
• Make the soup: Place a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Melt the butter in a large stockpot over medium-high heat and add a drizzle of olive oil. Add the onions, carrots, celery and a large pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in the cabbage and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage begins to wilt 2 to 3 minutes. Add the turkey stock and bring to a simmer. Simmer until all of the flavors come together, about 45 minutes.
• Increase the heat to bring the soup to a gentle boil. Place the dumpling batter on a damp cutting board and cut into bite-size pieces with a bench scraper or knife. Drop the dumplings into the boiling soup and cook until they all to float to the surface. Continue to boil for 1 minute, then stir in the dill and serve.