Khapli Wheat Chicken And Dumplings For A Heartier, Comforting Soup
Khapli Wheat Chicken And Dumplings
55 mins
Cooking Time
Intermediate
Difficulty
24
Ingredients
Non Veg
Diet
Khapli wheat does double duty in this chicken and dumplings recipe, showing up both in the roux that thickens the broth and in the drop dumplings that go on top. A roux only needs flour's starch to thicken a liquid, so khapli, which is an ancient emmer wheat with a lower gluten strength than all-purpose flour, performs that part of the job just as well as regular flour does. Whisk it into the melted butter for the full minute the recipe calls for, since khapli's coarser, stone-ground texture needs a bit longer to fully smooth out and avoid any graininess in the finished broth.
The dumplings are where khapli wheat flour's lower gluten actually works in this recipe's favour rather than against it. The whole point of a good drop dumpling is a light, cloud-like texture, which depends on baking powder, which does the heavy lifting and the dough being stirred only until it barely forms. Using Aashirvaad Chakki Khapli Atta, which has more fibre, protein, plus iron and vitamin B1 which supports energy metabolism, is a great sibtitie for the typical maida or other whole wheat flour, purely because of its nutrient density.
Going back to the recipe, everything stays the same from the roux being made, vegetables sautéed, herb-infused broth readied alongside the chicken. The chicken simmers in broth with evaporated milk and peas added later. Then the dumplings go into the pot. Pick a wide, shallow pot, rather than a tall one, as the former gives more surface area for the dumplings to sit in a single layer rather than crowding on top of each other. The khapli wheat dumplings will roughly double in size as they cook, so oversized drops turn into oversized, undercooked dumplings in the centre.
Ingredients
UNITSIngredients
2 tablespoonsOlive oil
2Celery ribs, diced
2Carrots, large, diced
1Yellow onion, chopped
1Garlic clove, minced
5 tablespoonsUnsalted butter
⅓ cupAashirvaad Chakki Khapli Atta (for the roux)
6 cupsLow-sodium chicken broth
4 teaspoonsChicken bouillon paste
¼ teaspoonDried thyme
¼ teaspoonDried sage
¼ teaspoonDried rosemary
1 teaspoonKosher salt
½ teaspoonFreshly ground black pepper
1½ poundsBoneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
12 oz (1 can)Evaporated milk
½ cupFrozen peas
for garnishFresh chopped parsley
1⅔ cupsAashirvaad Chakki Khapli Atta (For the dumplings)
1 tablespoonBaking powder
½ teaspoonKosher salt
¾ cupMilk
¼ cupSour cream
2 tablespoonsButter, melted
Plate it up!
Plate it up!
Plating Instructions
Plating Instructions

Ladle into deep bowls, making sure a few dumplings sit visibly on top.
Pairing Instructions
Pairing Instructions

Serve with a piece of crusty bread or in a bread bowl for dipping.
Garnishing Instructions
Garnishing Instructions

Finish the dish with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley.
Yes, khapli wheat thickens the roux just as well as all-purpose flour since that job relies on starch rather than gluten, and its lower gluten strength is actually an advantage in the dumplings, where less gluten development means a lighter, less dense result.




