Sesotho Chicken and Dumplings
A comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken simmered in a savory broth with fluffy, steamed dumplings, a popular home-style meal.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1.5 kg Whole chicken(cut into serving pieces)
- 2 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 1 large Onions(chopped)
- 3 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 2 medium Carrots(chopped)
- 2 Celery stalks(chopped)
- 1 liter Chicken broth
- 500 ml Water
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black pepper
- 200 g All-purpose flour(for dumplings)
- 2 tsp Baking powder(for dumplings)
- 1/2 tsp Salt(for dumplings)
- 150 ml Milk(approximately, for dumplings)
- 2 tbsp Fresh parsley(chopped, for garnish)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
- 2
Heat vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken pieces on all sides, then remove and set aside.
- 3
Add chopped onions to the pot and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
- 4
Stir in minced garlic, chopped carrots, and celery. Cook for another 3-4 minutes until slightly softened.
- 5
Return the chicken to the pot. Pour in chicken broth and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes.
- 6
While the chicken simmers, prepare the dumpling dough. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
💡 Tip: Ensure baking powder is fresh for light dumplings. - 7
Gradually add milk, mixing until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms. Do not overmix.
- 8
After 45 minutes of simmering, increase heat slightly to a gentle simmer. Drop spoonfuls of the dumpling dough onto the surface of the simmering chicken and broth.
💡 Tip: Leave some space between dumplings as they will expand. - 9
Cover the pot tightly and cook for 15-20 minutes without lifting the lid, allowing the dumplings to steam and cook through.
- 10
Check that the chicken is cooked through and the dumplings are firm and cooked. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Ensure the broth is simmering gently when adding dumplings to prevent them from breaking apart.
- ✓Resist the urge to lift the lid while the dumplings are steaming.
- ✓For a richer broth, you can add a bay leaf during simmering.
🔄 Variations
- Add a tablespoon of mixed herbs like thyme or rosemary to the stew.
- For a creamier broth, stir in a tablespoon of flour mixed with a little water before adding dumplings.
- Add peas or corn to the stew during the last 15 minutes of cooking.