Add These Dumplings to Your Stew for a Complete Meal (2024)

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  • Stews

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Diana Rattray

Add These Dumplings to Your Stew for a Complete Meal (1)

Diana Rattray

Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.

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Updated on 02/29/24

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Colleen Graham

Add These Dumplings to Your Stew for a Complete Meal (2)

Tested byColleen Graham

Freelance writer and co*cktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.

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Add These Dumplings to Your Stew for a Complete Meal (3)

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 20 mins

Total: 30 mins

Servings: 6to 8 servings

Yield: 6to 8 dumplings

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These drop dumplings are the perfect finishing touch for a hearty beef or chicken stew or soup. While it may seem daunting to make dumplings from scratch, it only requires a few ingredients and is just as easy as using a biscuit mix.

Are These Dumplings Easy to Make?

These dumplings are relatively light, use ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, and are low-fat. They're a nice alternative to baked biscuits or yeast rolls and cook directly in the pot with your stew or soup, which means less clean-up.

Dumpling Doneness

The dumplings cook to biscuit-like perfection in a pot of bubbling stew or soup. They're done cooking when they expand to about twice the size and rise to the top of the pot. If you cut into one, it should be cooked all the way through with no raw batter in the center.

Why Didn't My Dumplings Rise?

Double-check that you added the correct amount of baking powder and that it's not expired. Additionally, if the dumplings don't have room to grow in the pot, they may not rise properly. Make sure to drop them spaced apart and on top of the meat and vegetables so that they don't sink into the stew. Lastly, don't forget to put the lid on for the last 10 minutes of cooking so the dumplings can properly steam and puff up.

Why Are My Dumplings Chewy?

Make sure you use the right proportion of ingredients and don't overmix the batter. Overcooking can also make dumplings chewy, so cook them just until they are puffed and cooked through and then remove from the heat and serve.

Tips for Perfect Dumplings

  • Lumpy batter is good—Remember that the batter is supposed to be lumpy, so don’t over-mix, or the dumplings might become tough and not rise as much.
  • Expect expansion—The dumplings expand and get larger as they cook, so a heaping dinner spoon of batter creates a large dumpling. Spoon a little smaller than you might for a drop cookie, and you’ll get eight or more dumplings.
  • Serve with—A crisp green salad would be the perfect side and will add a bright freshness to the dish.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO MAKE THESE DROP DUMPLINGS

A Mixing Bowl
A Tablespoon Measure
A Dutch Oven for the Stew

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour

  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon fine salt

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened

  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley, optional

  • 1/3 to 1/2 cup milk

  • Beef or chicken stew or soup

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Add These Dumplings to Your Stew for a Complete Meal (7)

  2. Combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon fine salt in a medium bowl.

    Add These Dumplings to Your Stew for a Complete Meal (8)

  3. Cut in 1 tablespoon softened unsalted butter and 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley, if using. Stir together with a fork until blended.

    Add These Dumplings to Your Stew for a Complete Meal (9)

  4. Stir in 1/3 cup milk to form a wet dough. It should be a thick dough but thin enough to drop from a wet spoon. If the dough is too stiff, add the remaining milk.

    Add These Dumplings to Your Stew for a Complete Meal (10)

  5. Heat the beef or chicken stew or soup on medium-low heat in a large Dutch oven or other heavy-duty pot until it simmers. Droptablespoons of the soft dough onto the simmering stew. Try to drop the dumplings on top of the vegetables so they won't sink too far into the liquid.

    Add These Dumplings to Your Stew for a Complete Meal (11)

  6. Cook, uncovered, for 10 minutes, and then cover the pan tightly and cook for about 10 minutes more. Gently stir a few times to keep the stew from scorching.

    Add These Dumplings to Your Stew for a Complete Meal (12)

  7. Divide between bowls, serve, and enjoy.

    Add These Dumplings to Your Stew for a Complete Meal (13)

Feeling Adventurous? Try This:

  • Cheddar dumplings: Add about 1/4 cup of shredded cheddar cheese to the dumpling mixture before you add the milk.
  • Old-fashioned fruit dumplings: Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar to the dumpling mixture. If desired, add about 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Drop onto boiling fruit in syrup. Cook uncovered for about 5 minutes. Cover the pan and cook for 15 minutes longer.
  • Cobbler topping: Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar and about 1/3 cup of chopped pecans, if desired. Drop onto a fruit cobbler filling and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, if desired. Bake as directed, or until the cobbler is bubbling and the topping has browned.

How to Store

Store leftover dumplings refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Dumplings stored in the stew or soup will increase in volume over time and may break apart or become soggy.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
125Calories
3g Fat
19g Carbs
7g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6to 8
Amount per serving
Calories125
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g3%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 17mg6%
Sodium 384mg17%
Total Carbohydrate 19g7%
Dietary Fiber 1g4%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 3mg13%
Calcium 97mg7%
Iron 1mg6%
Potassium 237mg5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

  • Stew
  • stew dumplings
  • entree
  • southern

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Add These Dumplings to Your Stew for a Complete Meal (2024)

FAQs

What are dumplings made of in stew? ›

For the dumplings, sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Add the suet and enough water to form a thick dough. With floured hands, roll spoonfuls of the dough into small balls. After two hours, remove the lid from the stew and place the balls on top of the stew.

How to serve dumplings as a meal? ›

5 Ways Food Editors Turn Frozen Dumplings Into the Best Dinner
  1. Make a Stir-Fry. ...
  2. Drop Them Into Soups and Stews. ...
  3. Bulk Up a Salad. ...
  4. Just Add Eggs. ...
  5. Simply Eat Them As-Is With Your Favorite Dipping Sauce.
Mar 1, 2024

What to add to beef stew to make it amazing? ›

Vegetables: small chopped carrots, celery, and onion or shallot practically melt into the sauce. Mushrooms: button mushrooms are a nod to the quartered mushrooms many classic beef stew recipes call for, but are thinly sliced instead of being left in bigger pieces. Garlic: minced garlic brings lots of cozy flavor.

What to cook with dumplings? ›

The best side dishes to serve with Asian dumplings (East Asia) are ramen, tomato and egg stir fry, fried greens, chilli miso steamed aubergine, pork belly fried rice, cucumber salad (Oi Muchim), tahini miso noodles, and claypot tofu.

What are the three types of dumplings? ›

Here are the seven main types of Chinese dumplings:
  • Siu Mai. Pronunciation - Shoo my. ...
  • Jiaozi. Pronunciation - Jow zee. ...
  • Xiao Long Bao. Pronunciation - Shau Long Bao. ...
  • Har Gao. Pronunciation - ha-gaow. ...
  • Bao Zi. Bao Zi is the overall category of bun-shaped dumplings with thick dough wrapping with filling. ...
  • Wontons. ...
  • Sheng Jian Bao.

Are dumplings and soup dumplings the same thing? ›

Sometimes called "soup dumplings," xiao long bao are a round, purse-shaped dumpling made of a relatively thick (thicker and doughier than jiaozi, for instance) wheat wrapper, which is crimped on the top. Although it's called a soup dumpling, xiao long bao are not actually filled with soup.

Are dumplings a complete meal? ›

A dumpling is, in essence, a pocket of dough stuffed with filling. It's the quintessential toddler food – an entire meal in one bite. And if you keep some in the freezer, you'll have some crazy, hectic weeknight dinners covered. People all over the world eat dumplings.

How many dumplings is one meal? ›

You'll want to make at least as many dumplings as your guests can eat in one sitting—estimate about 15 to 20 dumplings per guest, on the generous side.

Are dumplings a healthy meal? ›

As long as they're not pre-deep fried and contain whole, healthy ingredients they are an okay option, according to Austin. Aside from meat quality and how the dumplings have been cooked, the vegetable content (or lack thereof) is also crucial in knowing whether dumplings are a healthy food option.

What gives beef stew depth of flavor? ›

Aromatics. Like rosemary, thyme, and bay leaves. The base of the stew also uses onion and garlic for the best depth of flavor. I prefer to use fresh herbs when I can (though I haven't been able to find a fresh bay leaf in years), but include notes in the recipe to substitute dried herbs.

How to jazz up beef stew? ›

Add the wine and tomato paste to the onions and other aromatics in a pan before slow cooking. Plus, this helps to really deglaze any fond that's left. This ingredient is one that your mum and nan would probably use in their stews. It adds a bit of tang, sweetness and savoury spices that give an extra punch of flavour.

How do you make stew taste richer? ›

If it tastes off-balance, add some finishing flavors to bring it to the next level. Try adding soy sauce or Worcestershire for extra savory (or umami) flavor, a touch of honey or brown sugar for sweetness, lemon zest or vinegar for brightness or chili powder or smoked paprika for spice and depth.

What is the best pair for dumplings? ›

While dumplings are not traditionally served with side dishes, there are good pairings that make them a true meal.
  • Egg Drop Soup. Use homemade vegetable or chicken stock, you won't regret it! ...
  • Pickled Vegetables. Dill pickles, kimchi, even sauerkraut is good served on the side.
  • Fried Rice. ...
  • Noodle Soups.
Feb 21, 2018

What are the 3 main ways to cook dumplings? ›

Before you even start making your dumplings, first think about how you want to cook them. There are three basic ways: steaming, boiling, and steam-frying.

What are the most popular dumplings? ›

World of Dumplings
  • Gyoza – Japan. Gyoza dumplings. These little treasures are a staple in ramen houses throughout Japan. ...
  • Pierogi – Polish dumplings. Pierogi. ...
  • Momos – Nepalese dumplings. Fried momo. ...
  • Ha gow – Chinese dumplings. A selection of dim sum. ...
  • Bryndzove halusky – Slovakian dumplings. Bryndzove halusky.

What are dumplings usually made of? ›

Dumplings are most commonly formed from flour or meal bound with egg and then simmered in water or gravy stock until they take on a light cakey texture. Many recipes call for herbs, onions, grated cheese, or chopped meat to be rolled into the dough before cooking.

What are dumplings made of in soup? ›

This recipe creates fluffy, hearty dumplings with only four ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, and milk. They are an easy and delicious way to expand a meal and make any comforting stew or soup even heartier. Feel free to garnish with parsley or chives at the end for some color.

How were soup dumplings made? ›

A small restaurant owner Huang Mingxian accidentally created these soup dumplings when he added aspic (gelatin) to his pork filling and steamed it. He quickly realized that the dumpling had filled up with soup.

What are steamed dumplings made of? ›

The majority of Chinese dumplings are made with ground pork, and many dumplings use lamb. They are both great in flavor and contain good amount of fat. I always make sure the ground meat contains at least 20% fat. You can use ground meat with higher fat content as well.

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