Winner Winner Chicken Dinner - Bon Appetit's Chicken and Ricotta Dumplings

I am not a big dumpling fan so when I saw this Bon Appetit recipe for chicken and 'dumplings' that used ricotta gnocchi instead I had to try it. This recipe did not disappoint! It is a bit of a pain to prepare so I recommend breaking this into steps and doing some of it ahead of time. You could even skip the gnocchi and have a pretty killer chicken soup. Unless you are feeding a ton of people I would also recommend cutting it in half. Half is enough for at least 4 servings if not more. Hope you enjoy!

Ingredients

Gnocchi

• 1 pound ricotta
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour plus more
• 1 large egg, beaten to blend
• 1 1/4 cups finely grated Parmesan
• 3/4 teaspoons freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/2 tablespoon kosher salt

Chicken and Gravy

• 10 cups low-salt chicken broth
• 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
• 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 celery stalks, cut crosswise into 1/4"-thick slices
• 1 carrot, peeled, thinly sliced
• 1 parsnip, peeled, cut into 1/4"
• 1 leek, halved lengthwise, cut crosswise into 1/4"-thick slices
• 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
• Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
• Shaved Parmesan

• Special Equipment:

  Cheesecloth (optional)

Preparation

Gnocchi

• If using fresh ricotta that has excess liquid, you may need to drain it overnight. Line a fine-mesh strainer with cheesecloth and set it over a medium bowl. Add ricotta; cover with plastic wrap and let drain overnight in refrigerator. If using supermarket ricotta, proceed with recipe; no draining required.
• Gently mix ricotta, 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp. flour, egg, Parmesan, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl just to blend (do not overwork). Form dough into a ball (it will be sticky); wrap in plastic and chill for at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Place dough on a lightly floured work surface. Divide dough into 4 equal portions and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Using your hands, roll 1 portion into a 1/2"-diameter rope; cut crosswise into 1/2"-thick pieces. Lightly dust gnocchi with flour and transfer to pre-pared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining portions of dough. Cover gnocchi with a kitchen towel and chill until ready to cook. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 months ahead. Freeze on sheets, then store, frozen, in an airtight container.

Chicken and Gravy

• Bring broth to a boil in a large saucepan. Add chicken; reduce heat to low, cover, and gently simmer until chicken is tender and cooked through, 20–30 minutes. Remove chicken; let cool slightly and shred into bite-size pieces. Bring broth to a boil and cook until reduced to 8 cups, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a small heavy saucepan over low heat. Whisk in flour until smooth and cook, whisking constantly, until roux is pale beige in color, about 15 minutes (do not brown).
• Scrape roux into simmering broth; whisk until thickened and broth coats the back of a spoon. Reduce heat to low and add vegetables. Cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add shredded chicken and herbs. Season with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Chill, uncovered, until cold; cover and keep chilled. Rewarm before serving.
• Cook gnocchi in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until gnocchi float to the surface, about 2 minutes (slightly longer if frozen). Using a slotted spoon, transfer gnocchi to bowls, dividing equally. Ladle chicken and vegetables with gravy over. Season with pepper and top with Parmesan.

Read More http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2012/02/chicken-and-dumplings#ixzz1mUtdiiYS