Fennel Chicken and Dumplings
Yields: 8 Servings
 
Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1½ cups sliced fennel bulb
  • 1 cup chopped yellow onion
  • 1 cup sliced peeled parsnip
  • 2 quarts Homemade Broth
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste
  • 1 (12-ounce) package frozen dumplings*
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups shredded cooked chicken
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons bourbon (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest
  • ¾ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Garnish: chopped fresh fennel fronds, ground black pepper
Instructions
  1. In a large Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add fennel, onion, and parsnip; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, about 5 minutes. Add broth and salt; bring to a boil.
  2. Add dumplings, one at a time, stirring to keep dumplings from sticking to bottom of pot. Bring to a simmer; cook for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low.
  3. In a small bowl, place flour. Carefully ladle 2 cups hot broth into flour, whisking until smooth. Stir flour mixture into pot; gently stir in chicken, bourbon, zest, and pepper. Cook until dumplings are cooked through and broth has thickened, about 10 minutes. Garnish with fennel and pepper, if desired.
Notes
*We used Mary Hill Homestyle Dumplings.

FREEZE IT:
Follow recipe through step 1, adding chicken after salt. When reheating, bring to a simmer and continue as directed.
Recipe by Taste of the South at https://tasteofthesouthmagazine.com/fennel-chicken-dumplings/