Ingredients

  • 5 lbs bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
  • table salt
  • fresh ground pepper
  • 4 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick)
  • 4 carrots, peeled and sliced 1/4-inch thick
  • 2 celery ribs, sliced 1/4-inch thick
  • 1 large onion, minced
  • 6 tablespoons Wondra Flour or 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 14 cup dry sherry
  • 2 (4 1/2 cup) cans low sodium chicken broth
  • 14 cup half-and-half
  • 12 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 cup frozen green pea
  • dumplings
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 3 tablespoons reserved chicken fat or 3 tablespoons butter

Method

  • Stew: Pat the chicken dry with paper towels, then season with salt and pepper.
  • Heat 2 tsp of the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until just smoking.
  • Add half of the chicken, skin side down, and cook until golden on both sides, about 10 minutes.
  • Transfer the chicken to a plate and remove the skin.
  • Pour off the chicken fat and reserve.
  • Return the pot to medium-high heat and repeat with the remaining two tsp oil and the remaining chicken.
  • Pour off and reserve the chicken fat in the pot.
  • Add the butter to the dutch oven, and melt over medium-high heat.
  • Add the mirepoix or the carrots, celery and onion and 1/4 tsp salt and cook until softenened, about 7 minutes.
  • Stir in the Wondra or flour and cook for about a minute, or until it smells slightly nutty and browns a little.
  • Whisk in the sherry, scraping the bottom to incorporate browned bits.
  • Stir in the broth, half and half, thyme and bay leaves.
  • Nestle the chicken, with any juices, into the pot.
  • Cover and simmer until the chicken is fully cooked and tender, about an hour.
  • Transfer the chicken to a cutting board.
  • Discard the bay leaves.
  • Allow the sauce to settle for a few minutes, then skim the fat from the top.
  • Shred the chicken, discarding the bones and return it to the stew.
  • Dumplings: Stir the flour, baking powder and salt together.
  • Microwave the milk and fat in a bowl until warm, about a minute.
  • Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture, stirring well until incorporated.
  • Drop by golf ball sized spoonfuls into the simmering stew and cover.
  • Cook without lifting the lid until the dumplings are steamed and double in size, about 15 minutes.
  • Serve hot.