Serves 6

  •         Hands-On Time 30 min
  •         Total Time 1 hr 30 min

Ingredients

2 lbs Chicken Thighs or Breasts, boneless / skinless

4 stalks celery, chopped

4 carrots, chopped

2 onions, chopped

3/4 cup buttermilk

2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves or 2 teaspoons dried thyme

2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, plus more for serving

2 bay leaves

2 cloves garlic, chopped

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted

1 tablespoon olive oil

Salt and pepper

10 cups water

 

Directions

 1 Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Brown in batches, 4 to 6 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate; reserve the pot.

 2 Add the celery, carrots, onions, thyme, and garlic to the drippings in the pot and cook, stirring, until the vegetables begin to soften, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the chicken, bay leaves, and 10 cups water. Bring to a simmer and cook until the chicken is cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes. Discard the bay leaves and transfer the chicken to a plate; let cool. Shred the chicken  and return it to the pot.

 3 Whisk together ½ cup of the flour, 2 cups of the cooking liquid, and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper in a small bowl. Slowly whisk the flour mixture back into the pot and simmer until slightly thickened, 8 to 10 minutes.

 4 Make the dumplings: Whisk together the remaining 2 cups of flour, the baking powder, baking soda, and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk in the butter, buttermilk, and parsley. Reduce heat to low and drop the mixture into the broth in 8 large spoonfuls. Simmer, covered, until the dumplings are firm, 12 to 15 minutes. Serve sprinkled with parsley.