Slippery Dumplings

Every community has its signature comforting recipe to bring to fundraisers, local events, potlucks and family gatherings. The familiarity of the dish is welcoming. It usually has a proven track record of being a crowd-pleaser, from the cook to the hungry recipients. In Delaware, slippery dumplings is that go-to meal.

Like many soup or stew recipes, slippery dumplings is simple to make and relies on everyday pantry or easy-to-find ingredients. The combination of a rich broth, tender chicken and chewy, flat dumplings makes this recipe for slippery dumplings a stand-out, well-loved classic.

What are slippery dumplings?

Slippery dumplings, also known as slick dumplings, is a classic comfort food recipe from southern Delaware. The dish is essentially large, flat noodles made from scratch that are poached in a savory broth and served with juicy chunks of chicken. The dish is named after the texture of the boiled dumplings. As the flour-based dough boils, the surface becomes smooth and silky, tasting slippery on the tongue. Chicken and slippery dumplings is similar to chicken and dumplings, but instead of dropping batter into the broth in spoonfuls or covering the top with quick biscuits, the dough is rolled flat and cut into pieces.

Ingredients for Slippery Dumplings

• Stewing chicken: To flavor the broth and cook the chicken for this slippery dumplings recipe, start with a whole chicken, then cut it up. You can purchase a cut-up chicken, but it is more affordable to do it yourself and is a quick process once you know how to cut a whole chicken.
• Celery and onion: These two vegetables are part of classic mirepoix and are more about flavoring the broth than bulking it up.
• Carrots: Carrots give a light sweetness to the broth, but they cook quickly, so they are added later in the recipe than the onion and celery.
• Chicken bouillon: Adding some bouillon deepens the flavor of the homemade broth, but if you don’t have any, you can replace it with a chicken bouillon substitute.
• Dumpling dough: All-purpose flour, baking powder and some of the broth from cooking the chicken are mixed until stiff to create the dough for the slick dumplings. For more well-seasoned dumplings, add salt to the dough.
• Fresh parsley: Sprinkling minced parsley over this chicken and slick dumplings recipe is optional, but it brightens the dish with vibrant color and a fresh, grassy taste.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the chicken

Place the chicken, celery and onion in a Dutch oven. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer until the chicken is tender. Remove the chicken.

Editor’s Tip: If you don’t have a Dutch oven, a large stock pot will work as long as it’s deep enough so the chicken is fully submerged.

Step 2: Shred the chicken and finish the broth

Remove the meat from the bones, shred it and keep warm. Discard the skin and bones. Skim the fat from the pan juices and then add enough water to measure 3 quarts. Set aside 1-1/2 cups for the dumplings and cool. Return the remaining broth to the Dutch oven, and then add the carrots and bouillon.

Editor’s Tip: You could also save the bones to make homemade chicken broth.

Step 3: Make the dumplings

For the dumplings, combine the flour, baking powder and salt, if desired. Add enough reserved broth to form a stiff dough. Divide the dough into thirds. Cover and let rest for 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 4: Cook the dumplings and serve

Meanwhile, bring the broth to a simmer. After the dough has rested, roll each portion of dough to 1/8-inch thickness and then cut into 2-inch squares. Drop one at a time into the simmering broth. Cover and cook for five to seven minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve immediately with the chicken. Sprinkle with parsley, if desired.

Taste Recipes

Slippery Dumpling Variations

• Add fresh herbs: Give the long-cooked broth a pop of flavor by stirring in some chopped fresh herbs before serving, in addition to the sprinkle of parsley on top. Stick to soft, tender herbs, like chives or dill, that will soften quickly in the hot liquid.
• Wilt in some spinach: Chicken and slippery dumplings don’t usually have extra vegetables, but adding some spinach is a quick and easy way to sneak in some greens without really changing the essence of the recipe.
• Start with broth: In this recipe, water and bouillon make a quick broth when simmered with chicken and vegetables, but for a richer base, replace all or some of the water with homemade chicken broth or a good store-bought chicken broth.
• Serve with a squeeze of lemon: Just as a small amount of fresh lemon juice perks up chicken noodle soup, a bit of acidity would enliven this chicken and slippery dumplings recipe as well.

How to Store Slippery Dumplings

Store chicken and slippery dumplings in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer. The chicken, slick dumplings and broth can be combined in the same container or stored separately. However, the dumplings will continue to absorb liquid as they sit in the broth, eventually becoming so swollen that they break apart. Consider storing them separately if they won’t be eaten the next day to preserve the texture.

How long do slippery dumplings last?

If you have extra chicken and slippery dumplings, the leftovers last three to four days in the fridge.

Can you freeze slippery dumplings?

You can freeze this recipe for slippery dumplings just as you would freeze soup, taking care to fully cool the broth before transferring it to a freezer-proof bag or container. Since you can freeze cooked pasta, you can also freeze slippery dumplings, keeping them separate from the chicken and broth. Once frozen, the dumplings and soup will last up to three months.

How do you reheat slippery dumplings?

Reheat slippery dumplings in the microwave or in a saucepan over medium heat on the stove until steaming and hot, adding more water or chicken broth if necessary. If the slick dumplings were stored separately, wait until the broth is steaming or gently simmering before adding them so they don’t overcook and fall apart. Slippery dumplings should be reheated gently to prevent them from becoming tough or gummy.

Slippery Dumpling Tips

Taste Recipes

How do you fix sticky dumplings?

The slick exterior and soft interior are part of the comforting charm of slippery dumplings, so a dense, sticky or gummy dumpling will not do. To avoid this, measure flour correctly for the right ratio of dry to liquid ingredients. Do not overwork the dough when mixing, and let it rest before rolling so the gluten can relax. Dumplings can also become sticky when overcooked, so check them as they boil, using the suggested cooking time as a guide, not an absolute.

What can you serve with slippery dumplings?

This hearty one-pot meal doesn’t need much else, but in Delaware, it’s often served with succotash, a side of green beans or fresh dinner rolls to dip in the broth. For something lighter, make a side salad. Or, skip right to the end of the meal and dig into an easy dessert recipe for the perfect finishing touch.