Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 3 small or 2 medium yellow onions, peeled & thinly sliced
- 8 chicken thighs, skinned
- 7 chicken drumsticks, skinned
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/3 teaspoon Hungarian paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra if needed for browning
- 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon Hungarian paprika
- 8 ounces sour cream (can use low fat, but gravy won't be as smooth)
- 1 teaspoon corn starch
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Dumplings:
- 6 eggs, beaten
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup water
- 2 teaspoons salt (for dough)
- Water for boiling dumplings
- 1 teaspoon salt for boiling dumplings
Instructions
- Prepare Onions and Seasoned Flour: Peel and thinly slice the onions, then set aside. In a dinner plate, combine the flour with garlic powder, 1/3 teaspoon paprika, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper to create a seasoned flour mixture.
- Dredge Chicken: Skin the chicken by pulling off the skin with a paper towel for grip, then pat dry. Set up an assembly line with chicken, the seasoned flour, and a 9x13 pan. Using a fork, coat each piece of chicken thoroughly in the seasoned flour, placing them in the pan once coated.
- Sauté Onions: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a deep skillet (at least 12 inches wide) over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onions and cook for about 6 minutes, stirring occasionally until soft and translucent.
- Browns Chicken: Add the floured chicken pieces to the skillet with the onions. Brown the chicken on both sides for 7-10 minutes, working in batches if necessary and adding more olive oil as needed to prevent sticking.
- Simmer Chicken in Paprika Stock: While browning the chicken, whisk 1 tablespoon paprika into 1 1/2 cups chicken stock. Place all browned chicken back into the skillet with onions and pour the paprika-infused stock over it. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and simmer gently for 25-40 minutes, occasionally spooning gravy over the chicken to keep it moist and tender.
- Prepare Dumpling Dough: Fill a large pot halfway with water and add 1 teaspoon salt, bringing it to a boil. In a medium bowl, beat eggs with a fork, then stir in flour, water, and 2 teaspoons salt, mixing thoroughly with a spoon until combined into a batter-like dough.
- Cook Dumplings: Keep the pot of salted water boiling uncovered. Using two teaspoons, scoop batter and scrape into the boiling water, adding dumplings in a single layer without crowding. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until dumplings float and are cooked through. Use a slotted spoon to remove, drain, and transfer dumplings to a foil-covered pan to keep warm. Repeat in batches until all batter is used.
- Check Chicken Doneness: Verify cooking by cutting into a thick piece of chicken; no pink should remain. If fully cooked, remove skillet from heat.
- Add Sour Cream: Stir dollops of sour cream into the hot chicken and gravy gently to combine, creating a creamy sauce.
- Thicken Gravy: Mix a few tablespoons of hot gravy with corn starch in a small cup until smooth. Gradually stir this mixture back into the skillet to thicken the sauce. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve: Plate dumplings in the center of each dish, spoon chicken and gravy over the top, and add extra salt and pepper if desired.
- Store Leftovers: Refrigerate dumplings in a covered container and consume by the next day as they tend to turn grey. Leftover chicken and gravy can be stored for 3-4 days. Alternatively, cook half the dumplings and refrigerate the remaining raw batter for fresh cooking the next day.
Notes
- Using low-fat sour cream will result in a less smooth sauce but will still taste good.
- Ensure dumplings do not stick together when boiling by adding them in small batches.
- The longer the chicken simmers, the more tender it becomes; just be careful not to overcook so the meat remains juicy.
- Leftover dumplings tend to discolor quickly, so consume within one day for best texture and appearance.
- You can brown the chicken in batches or use two skillets to speed up the browning process.
- Adjust salt and pepper seasonings to taste, especially after adding sour cream and thickening the gravy.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Hungarian