At this time where our senses are being assaulted with myriads of Covid-19 rules and messages and (quite rightly) warnings of do’s and don’ts, we thought we’d present something good for the body & soul as both a preventative and therapy if you get ill.
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| Drop-dumplings round out the dish, or you can use pasta |
At this time where our senses are being assaulted with myriads of Covid-19 messages and (quite rightly) warnings of do’s and don’ts, we thought we’d present something good for the body as both a preventative and therapy if you get ill.
My Mum turns 100 this year. When we got sick as kids, out came the chicken (loads of vegetables) soup with dumplings and I am sure it worked, or maybe we just had a lot of faith in Mum. Either way, it’s very tasty and certainly can’t do you any harm, and just might do some good. If you are vegetarian, just substitute the Chicken for Tofu or Quinoa/Quorn protein pieces.
There’s also a couple of twists of my own – see if you can spot them.
Equipment: Big stainless steel or iron pot with a lid or a slow-cooker. Ladle spoon. Frypan.
Ingredients:
Try and make sure all ingredients are fresh and preferably organic.
SOUP
5-600g Chicken thighs free range/organic, chunky cut
4 x Chicken whole drumstick legs – bones are important
OR Use Tofu or veg-based meat substitute
1 x Leek, cut lengthways and then sliced and jiggled about
2 x brown onions, chopped but not diced too fine
1 x clove garlic, crushed by broad knife then diced
1 x 3 cm thumb of ginger, sliced & diced
1 x Swede or Turnip, peeled then cut into chunks
2 or 3 Parsnips depending on size, peeled and sliced not too thin
3 x Carrots, peeled then sliced
3 x Celery stalks, cut into 1cm bits
1 x bunch Broccolini, just florets cut of stalks and separated
100g Green Beans, topped&tailed, cut into 3 cm lengths
1 x large potato, peeled & cut into 2cm bits (Sweet Potato if you prefer)
1 x Sweetcorn on cob, fresh, kernels cut off
1 x 300g tin Marrowfat Peas or Baby frozen peas if you can’t get Marrowfat
1 x 1L Campbell’s low-salt chicken stock or bone broth (best) or Vegeta stock mix
1 x med bunch Parsley, chopped fine
3 x Thyme sprigs
1 x Bayleaf
2 x teaspoons chopped Rosemary
1 x small handful Basil leaves, torn up
1 x Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce or to taste
1 x Dessert spoon of ether Panang curry paste or Laksa paste
1 x teaspoon Cumin powder
2 x teaspoons sweet or smoked Paprika
Salt & Pepper to taste
Water
1 x jigger of Gin, chucked in 15 mins before serving.
DUMPLINGS (if dumplings aren’t your thing, chuck a handful of small pasta in!)
1 x cup plain flour
Splash of Olive or Sunflower oil
1 x teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 x Egg yolk only
Finely chopped Chives, about 2 Tbs worth
Half a cup of milk
(Mix it all up into a thick batter and put in fridge for 15 mins)
METHOD
Pour Chicken stock/bone broth into pot or slow cooker, medium heat.
Chuck chopped Leek in first
Pre-cook Onion, Garlic & Ginger in olive oil in a frypan, till onion is soft, chuck in pot
Using same pan, brown chicken in 2 batches (about 3 mins each side). Pull any skin off when browned. Set aside. (or dice Tofu/Quinoa)
Gradually chuck all rest of veggies in as you go
Splash Worcestershire sauce in
Give it all a good stir
Add all the chook
Top up water...hold the Gin until last
Let cook on a low simmer or on low in Slow Cooker, for 5-6 hours, stirring occasionally.
15 mins before serving, chuck Gin in, stir then:
Drop dollops of dumpling mix onto surface of soup from teaspoon or dessert spoon. Cover pot.
Dumplings take about 15 mins to cook, flip them over for a couple of mins at end.
You can add favourite flavours like Cayenne pepper or a Cinnamon stick, or more curry paste if you want.
Let everyone help themselves into soup bowls and no fighting over the dumplings!
You should get 2 days worth for two or a great meal for 4 -6. If saving any for next day, let cool and store covered in fridge.
That’s my contribution to the Covid-19 crisis and this highly nutritious dish costs less than $30 to pull together.
Wishing you all health and a fast business recovery to normality.
