Chicken and dumplings facts for kids
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Chicken and dumplings
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| Alternative names | Chicken and pastry, chicken and sliders, chicken and slicks |
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| Type | Dumpling |
| Place of origin | United States, Quebec |
| Region or state | Southern and Midwestern United States |
| Main ingredients | Flour, shortening, water or milk or stock; chicken |
Chicken and dumplings is a warm and hearty soup. It features tender chicken cooked in a rich broth. Fluffy dumplings are then cooked right in this flavorful broth.
A dumpling in this dish is like a soft, doughy biscuit. It's made from flour, shortening (a type of fat), and a liquid. This liquid can be water, milk, or chicken broth. The dumplings can be rolled flat, dropped in spoonfuls, or shaped into small balls.
This dish is a popular "comfort food." It's often found in the Southern and Midwestern United States. Some people believe it became popular during tough economic times, like the Great Depression. It's a simple meal that uses basic ingredients.
Chicken and dumplings usually includes cooked chicken meat and the broth from cooking the chicken. Dumplings are added, and the dish is seasoned with salt and pepper. Sometimes, people add chopped vegetables like carrots and celery. Herbs such as dill or parsley can also be mixed into the dumpling dough.
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Making Chicken and Dumplings
You can find chicken and dumplings ready-made in stores. There are canned and frozen versions available. You can also buy frozen dumplings that are flat strips. These can be cooked in any broth you like.
The thickness of the dish can vary a lot. Some versions are like a thin soup. Others are very thick, almost like a casserole. You can eat the thicker ones with a fork. To make it thicker, you can cook the dumplings longer. You can also add flour or another thickener to the broth.
For a quick meal, some people use flour tortillas or canned biscuits. They roll them thin and cut them into strips. This works as a fast substitute for homemade dough. Adding butter can make the dish even richer.
When making chicken and dumplings, the chicken is usually cooked first. Then, it's taken out of the broth. This is because the chicken meat would get dry if it cooked too long. The dumplings are then added to the hot broth to cook. While the dumplings are cooking, the chicken meat is removed from its bones. Once the dumplings are done and the broth is seasoned, the chicken is put back in. The dish is then ready to serve!
Different Kinds of Chicken and Dumplings
There are a few different ways to make this dish. One variation is called "chicken and pastry." It uses wide, flat noodles made from biscuit dough. Some people see this as different from "chicken and dumplings." That's because "chicken and dumplings" usually has small balls of dough.
In the Appalachian region of the United States, this flat-noodle version is called "chicken and slicks." The Pennsylvania Dutch people have their own version called bott boi. Chicken and dumpling soup is another popular variation, especially in the Midwest.
Bott Boi
Bott boi is a special soup popular in central and southeastern Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Dutch people make it. It's sometimes called "chicken and dumplings" in the southern U.S. But it's not like the baked dish called "pot pie."
Bott boi has large, square noodles. It also has meat like chicken, ham, or beef cooked in broth. Other common ingredients include potatoes, carrots, or celery. Sometimes, saffron is added for flavor.
This dish was created to use up leftover food. Its unique noodles became a staple for the Pennsylvania Dutch. It's easy to make in large amounts. This makes it popular for community dinners and fundraisers.
How Bott Boi is Made
Bott boi is a soup with thick, square-cut dough boiled in chicken broth. You can use turkey or other poultry instead of chicken. Potatoes and different vegetables can be added. The broth can also be flavored with saffron. The simple dough is made from flour and eggs, with a little water or milk.
See also
In Spanish: Pollo y bolas de masa para niños
