Chicken stew with oat dumplings

[Kateri-Marie]

CHICKEN STEW WITH OAT DUMPLINGS
In this classic comfort food dish, oats create a dumpling that is hearty and satisfying without being doughy.

Prep time: 10 minutes Total time: 35 minutes Serves: 4

2 tbsp cold butter, divided
2 leeks, white parts only, split and sliced
4 carrots, diced
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, about 8 oz each, cut into cubes
1/2 tsp salt, divided
2/3 cup all-purpose flour, divided
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 cup frozen baby peas
1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped and divided
1/2 cup quick oats
2 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup milk

1. In a large ovenproof saucepan or a Dutch oven, heat 1 tbsp butter. Add leeks and carrots, cook until leeks are translucent. Season chicken with 1\4 tsp salt and add to pan, stirring over medium-high heat until chicken is lightly cooked on all sides. Add 1 tbsp flour and stir until flour turns from white to beige. Add broth and stir over medium heat until flour dissolves into broth and mixture begins to thicken, bout 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in frozen peas and 2 tsp thyme leaves. Turn heat to low.
2. Meanwhile, make dumpling batter by mixing remaining flour, oats, thyme, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Add remaining butter in small pieces and mix lightly with fingertips. Add milk and stir just until a slightly wet batter forms.
3. Drop dumpling batter, by the tablespoonful, over the simmering chicken mixture. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and cook for 15 minutes. Serve immediately.

Totally delicious!

[CM]

Kateri-Marie, this looks like a perfect meal for these super cold days we're having! I love the addition of the leeks. Thanks for sharing!

I like to cook things like dumplings with oats or barley flour, too.

You can turn quick-cooking oats into a flour by processing it in a food processor until fine.

I use a grain mill to grind whole barley, rice, soybeans, lentils, nuts and all sorts of grains to add a few tablespoons here and there to anything that calls for flour. Be careful not to overdo, though - a little goes a long way!

[KarenB]

This looks like the perfect comfort food. Thanks for sharing. I like the idea of oats. Can't stand the mushy porridge my husband makes so I always look for other ways to get it in me.

[Cassie-Jane]

I hear you Karen..........Mushy porridge in fact all porridge is not my type of delicious!!
I will have to make this recipe one of these nights....sounds good

[Mariah-RoseCass]

Every sunday we have porridge! I hate it, but everyone else loves it. So I guess I can`t get out of that one.