Ingredients

  • 1 (4-pound) chicken with neck, gizzard, and heart
  • 3 medium carrots
  • 3 celery stalks
  • 1 small onion, halved
  • 1 head of garlic, unpeeled, cut in half crosswise
  • 2 dried bay leaves
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 1 large leek, white and green parts cut into a medium dice and washed, green top washed and reserved
  • About 20 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley, stems reserved and leaves chopped (2 tablespoons) for garnish
  • 3/4 cup dry white wine
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh chives
  • 1 small bunch of fresh chives, cut into 3/4-inch batons
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Method

  • Put the chicken, neck, gizzard, and heart in a 6-quart heavy pot.
  • Cover with 3 quarts cold water and bring to a simmer over high heat.
  • As the water approaches simmering, begin to skim away any fat or scum.
  • Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes while continuing to skim.
  • Add 1 of the carrots, 1 of the celery stalks, the onion, garlic, bay leaves, 1 tablespoon salt, and the peppercorns.
  • Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Transfer the chicken to a cutting board.
  • After letting it cool for a few minutes, cut off the breast meat, which ideally should be just done and still slightly pink at the bone.
  • Set the meat aside and return the rest of the chicken to the pot.
  • Simmer gently for 20 minutes over low heat.
  • Add the dark green top of the leek and the parsley stems to the pot, and simmer for 10 minutes.
  • While the chicken is cooking, dice the remaining 2 carrots and 2 celery stalks.
  • Remove the legs from the chicken and reserve.
  • Strain the brothyou will have about 2 quarts.
  • Discard the vegetables and bones.
  • Rinse out the pot and pour the broth back into it (off the heat).
  • Prepare the dumpling batter: Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
  • In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, buttermilk, and butter.
  • Add the wet ingredients to the dry.
  • Mix well with a wooden spoon, and then stir in the parsley and chives.
  • When the chicken legs are cool enough to handle, remove the skin and pick the meat off the bone.
  • Gently tear it into bite-size chunks.
  • Repeat with the reserved breast meat, and set all the chicken meat aside.
  • Bring the broth to a boil over high heat and add the diced carrots, celery, and leek and the wine.
  • Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 4 minutes, until the vegetables are slightly softened.
  • Add the cream and chicken and bring back to a simmer.
  • Check the seasoning and adjust as necessary.
  • Using two teaspoons, form dumplings and drop them into the simmering stew, spreading them out.
  • Towards the end of the process, the pot may begin to seem crowded; give it a gentle stir as necessary.
  • When all the dumplings are in the stew, give it another stir, flipping over any dumplings that are not submerged.
  • Cover and simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat, stir in the parsley and the chives, and serve with freshly ground pepper.