Description
A comforting and hearty dumpling soup featuring soft, tender dumplings cooked directly in a savory broth loaded with vegetables and optionally chicken. This simple, cozy soup is perfect for warming up on chilly days and makes a satisfying meal with easy-to-find ingredients.
Ingredients
Soup Base
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 carrot, sliced
- 1 celery stalk, chopped
- 1 cup cooked chicken (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Dumplings
- 1 cup flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tbsp butter, melted
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and minced garlic, cooking until softened and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add Vegetables and Broth: Stir in sliced carrot and chopped celery, then pour in the chicken or vegetable broth. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Simmer the Soup: Reduce heat to low and let the soup simmer gently for 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld and vegetables to soften.
- Prepare Dumpling Dough: In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add milk and melted butter, mixing until a soft dough forms. Avoid overmixing to keep dumplings tender.
- Cook Dumplings: Using a spoon, drop small spoonfuls of dough onto the simmering soup surface. Cover the pot with a lid and cook for 10–12 minutes without lifting the lid to ensure dumplings steam and cook through properly.
- Finish and Serve: If using cooked chicken, stir it into the soup now. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle soup and dumplings into bowls and serve warm.
Notes
- Do not lift the lid while dumplings cook to maintain steam and ensure the best texture.
- For extra flavor, add fresh or dried herbs such as thyme into the broth before simmering.
- Use chicken broth for a richer flavor or vegetable broth for a vegetarian version.
- Optional: Add other vegetables like peas or corn for added texture and nutrition.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Comfort / International
