"Gypsy gold does not chink and glitter. It gleams in the sun and neighs in the dark."

~ Saying of the Gladdagh Gypsies of Galway


Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Chicken Noodle Soup with Dumplings


I have never much been a fan of Chicken Noodle Soup. I know, I know. How is this possible? Just like how I am not much a fan of chocolate. *gasp*

In any event, for whatever reason, I decided I needed to make Chicken Noodle Soup. I have been feeling like I am coming down with something and with Christmas just a mere 5 days away, who wants to be sick! Everyone knows all about the amazing benefits of homemade stock, so I figure, why not.

The evening prior we had a roast chicken for dinner. What was once scary and intimidating to me (roasting a whole chicken) has become an easy, go-to meal for me when I don't want much fuss over making dinner. It's now just become habit that I make stock afterwards with the carcass.

Just a quick run down on what I put in my stock - carrots, celery, 10 (or so) peppercorns, a large clove of garlic and an onion. I brown all that up in the stock pot, add the chicken carcass and any meat I am not saving, fill the pot with water and a few glugs of apple cider vinegar and we're good to go. I bring it to a boil, let it boil for a few minutes, take it down to a simmer and then let it go all night. When I wake up in the morning, I strain it into jars and into the fridge it goes. Really, it couldn't be more easy.


Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup with Dumplings
Serves 2 hungry adults with a smidge of leftovers

2 Carrots, diced
3 stalks Celery, diced
1 onion, diced
1 garlic clove, diced
1 package of egg noodles
1-2 cup(s) of cooked chicken, diced
10 cups homemade Chicken stock
extra virgin olive oil & butter

Coat the bottom of your soup pot with 1 tbsp (or so) of butter and some olive oil. Heat it up and then add in your carrots and celery - saute. After about 8-10 minutes, add in the onion and continue to saute about 5-8 minutes or so. Added in diced garlic until fragrant - no more than minute or so - you don't want it to burn.

Pour in your chicken stock and bring it to a boil. Once it is at a full boil, take it down to a simmer and allow it to go at a nice simmer for at least 45 minutes.

While your soup simmers, boil water for your noodles, cook them, drain them and set them aside. I don't like to add mine into the soup until I am ladling it into my bowl. Now is also when you want to prepare your dumpling dough. My husband is a huge fan of dumplings in his chicken soup so that is why I added them. And honestly, I think it is what made all the difference for me liking Chicken Soup!

For the Dumplings

1 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1.5 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup whole milk
2 tbsp unsalted butter, cold (I use grass-fed roll butter. It is much softer than the stick butter and makes it much easier to work with in a recipe like this!)
Herbs or Seasoning of your choice. I chose to sprinkle in a little Old Bay since my husband isn't a huge herb fan.

Mix your dry ingredients together. Cut in your butter - if you have a soft roll butter like I use, it is so easy you can just crumble it in with your fingers. Add in your milk and then mix it all together.

Bring your soup back up to a gentle boil. Drop the dough mixture by small spoonfuls into your soup. You can make them larger if your prefer larger dumplings, but I think they cook up nicer when they are smaller. Cover the pot and cook 5 minutes or so, then uncover, flip over the dumplings to their other side, cover and cook another 10-15 minutes until they are cooked through.

Once the dumplings are finished, added noodles to your soup bowl, then ladle in your soup and dumplings - enjoy!

One thing I might like to add next time is some Turmeric - just a tad. I was reading about the wonderful health benefits of Turmeric and I think I would like it in my Chicken Soup - but hubby, probably not!

4 comments:

Susan said...

Looks like a great idea to ward off colds and flu. Ari arrived tonight and he's getting over sinusitis, so soup will definitely be at the top of my life. XOXO

Unknown said...

it sounds delish but I HATE chicken noodle soup..or any sort of broth actually and even worse dumplings...they gross me out lol.

Ive missed stopping by and reading lately :)

Kim said...

I've never made my own broth but I guess it's about time. Thanks for the inspiration.

Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking said...

Oh now this just looks awesome!! I think this would be so delicious on a cold day!!