Chicken Red Wine Casserole With Herby Dumplings Recipes

CHICKEN CASSEROLE WITH HERBY DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Toss the chicken pieces with the flour and some salt and pepper, to coat them - it's easy to do this in a plastic food bag.
• Heat the oil in a casserole with a lid. Brown the chicken pieces well on all sides - you'll need to do this in batches. Remove all the pieces to a plate, and tip the onions, carrot, lardons, bay and thyme into the pan. Cook gently for 10 mins until the onion is softened.
• Return the chicken pieces, with any juices that have collected on the plate. Then pour in the red wine, 250ml water and tomato paste and crumble in the stock cube. Add a splash more of water if you need, until the chicken is almost covered. Bring to the boil, then cover with a lid and bake in the oven for 20 mins. Remove the lid and bake for another 10 mins while you make the dumplings.
• Rub the butter into the flour with your fingertips until it feels like fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the herbs with ½ tsp salt and some pepper. Drizzle over 150ml water, and stir in quickly with a cutlery knife to form a light dough. Use floured hands to shape into ping pong sized balls.
• Place the dumplings on top of the stew and bake for 20 mins more until the dumplings are cooked through.

CHICKEN AND HERB DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons butter in a large Dutch oven or wide pot over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, celery, parsnip, bay leaf, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. Add 3 tablespoons flour; stir until toasted, about 1 minute. Gradually pour in the chicken broth, stirring. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until slightly thickened and the vegetables are tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, whisk the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour with the baking powder and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Cut the remaining 4 tablespoons butter into small cubes and rub into the flour mixture with your fingers until pea-size pieces form. Stir in the buttermilk and chopped herbs with a fork until combined. Divide the dough into twelve 1 1/2-inch balls.
• Stir the chicken into the pot. Arrange the dough balls on top. Cover and cook over medium-low heat until the dumplings are firm to the touch and cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes. Top with more dill and chives.