[Cooking with Chef Don] Chicken Paprikaš with Homemade Dumplings

Day 4,709, 17:09 • Published in India India • by DonMogul

Inspired by the Raita article published recently, I have decided to share a recipe that I have LOVED eating since earliest childhood. My Croatian born grandmother would often make this dish when I visited for a meal and I wouldn't bother going for seconds... mainly because I would be on my FOURTH bowl of this gloriousness before I realised!

This is a very simple but delicious chicken dish. The exact origins of it are kinda up in the air. Every Balkan region has their own chicken paprikaš... everyone is of course convinced that their version is the best.

I know one thing for sure... no one can beat my grandmother's cooking! Here's the recipe!



Ingredients:
1 large white onion, chopped
¼ cup vegetable oil (sunflower, safflower or olive oil)
1 (4-pound) chicken, cut up (you can use any chicken meat you have really. I often tend to use chicken drumsticks and cook them in this dish)
1 tablespoon sweet red paprika
1 to 2 cups water 1 teaspoon Vegeta (or salt)

Instructions:

1. Wash the chicken and pat dry. Cover the bottom of a deep sauce pan with vegetable oil. Add the onion and sauté over low heat until translucent. Mix the red paprika into the onions. Add the chicken pieces and enough water to cover the chicken. Cover and cook on medium heat or until sauce thickens, about 30 minutes. As it cooks add water as needed to keep the chicken covered.
2. Add Vegeta and salt. Continue cooking for another 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. The chicken should be tender, and lightly brown on both sides. Prepare dumplings (recipe below) while chicken is cooking.

CHEF DON TIP: If you have time, I heartily recommend cooking this dish in a slow cooker. While you can certainly have a delicious meal cooking this in an hour on the stove... do yourself a favour if you can and take the time to cook it slowly.

When chicken is done, pour the chicken and sauce over the dumplings you just made and thank me for the epicness you are about to eat!

Dumpling Recipe Ingredients:
2 eggs
1 tablespoon shortening
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup water
1 ¾ to 2 cups all-purpose flour

1. Stir together the eggs, shortening and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Add the water and mix.

2. Add the flour gradually, ½ cup at a time, as you mix using a spatula. The dough should be smooth, and just thick enough to hold its shape when scooped with a spoon.

3. Fill a large saucepan ¾ full of water and bring to a boil. Add the dough, one heaping teaspoonful at time to the boiling water. It should stay clumped together, if not, add a little more flour to the dough. The dumplings will swell, and all will rise to the top when they are done. Remove from water with a slotted spoon and place in a serving dish.