Dumpling Soup is the ultimate comfort food that combines tender, pillowy dumplings floating in a rich, savory broth with perfectly cooked vegetables. This soul-warming dish transforms simple ingredients into something truly special – the dumplings are light and fluffy like little clouds, while the broth is deeply flavorful and satisfying. What makes this soup so beloved is the contrast between the soft, herb-flecked dumplings and the clear, aromatic broth that carries flavors of chicken, vegetables, and fresh herbs. It’s the kind of meal that makes you feel cared for and nourished, perfect for cold days, family gatherings, or anytime you need a bowl of pure comfort. Each spoonful delivers warmth, flavor, and the satisfying feeling of homemade goodness.
Serves: 6 people
Cooking Time: 50 minutes
What You’ll Need
For the soup base:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 carrots, sliced into rounds
- 3 celery stalks, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 8 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded (optional)
For the dumplings:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 cup milk
- 1 large egg
For finishing:
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill (optional)
Creating the Flavorful Broth
Heat the olive oil or butter in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion, sliced carrots, and chopped celery. Cook these vegetables for about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften and the onion becomes translucent. This mixture creates the aromatic foundation that makes the broth so rich and satisfying.
Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth and add the bay leaves and dried thyme. If you’re using cooked chicken, add it now so it can heat through and infuse the broth with additional flavor. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer.
Preparing the Dumpling Mixture
While the broth simmers, prepare your dumpling batter. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. The baking powder is crucial for creating light, fluffy dumplings that won’t become heavy or dense. Stir in the chopped fresh parsley, which adds beautiful green flecks and fresh flavor to each dumpling.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, milk, and egg until well combined. The butter adds richness, while the milk provides moisture and helps create the tender texture you want in perfect dumplings.
Mixing the Dumpling Dough
Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and stir gently just until the ingredients are combined. The batter should be slightly lumpy and thick, similar to a thick pancake batter. Don’t overmix the dough, as this will make the dumplings tough and chewy instead of light and fluffy. A few lumps are perfectly fine and actually desired for the best texture.
Cooking the Dumplings
Make sure your broth is at a steady simmer – not boiling vigorously, which can break apart the dumplings, but not too gentle either, or they won’t cook properly. Using a large spoon or small ice cream scoop, drop rounded spoonfuls of the dumpling batter directly into the simmering broth. Work quickly but don’t worry about making them perfectly shaped – rustic, uneven dumplings are part of the charm.
Drop the dumplings around the pot, leaving some space between each one as they will expand during cooking. You should have enough batter for about 12-15 dumplings, depending on their size.
The Cooking Process
Once all the dumplings are in the pot, cover it with a tight-fitting lid and let them cook for 15 minutes without lifting the lid. This is important – the steam that builds up inside the pot is what makes the dumplings light and fluffy. Lifting the lid releases the steam and can result in dense, heavy dumplings.
After 15 minutes, you can lift the lid to check if the dumplings are done. They should have roughly doubled in size and look puffed and cooked through. If you insert a toothpick into the center of a dumpling, it should come out clean. If they need more time, cover and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
Final Seasoning and Serving
Remove the bay leaves from the soup and taste the broth for seasoning. Add salt and pepper as needed – the broth should be flavorful and well-seasoned to complement the mild dumplings. Stir in the fresh parsley and dill if using, which adds brightness and fresh herb flavor to the finished soup.
Serving Your Comforting Soup
Ladle the soup into bowls, making sure each serving gets 2-3 dumplings along with plenty of vegetables and broth. The dumplings will continue to absorb some broth as they sit, so serve immediately while they’re at their fluffiest. Each bowl should be steaming hot and filled with the aromatic, comforting flavors that make this soup so special.
Tips for Perfect Dumplings
The key to light, fluffy dumplings is not overmixing the batter and maintaining the right temperature while cooking. The broth should be simmering steadily but not boiling hard. If your dumplings turn out heavy, you likely overmixed the batter or the heat was too low during cooking. Practice makes perfect, so don’t worry if your first batch isn’t ideal.
Storage and Reheating
Dumpling soup is best enjoyed fresh, as the dumplings can become soggy if stored too long. However, leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. When reheating, do so gently over low heat and add a little extra broth if needed, as the dumplings will have absorbed some liquid. The texture won’t be quite the same as fresh, but it will still be delicious.
Variations and Additions
This basic recipe is wonderfully versatile. Add different vegetables like peas, corn, or potatoes based on your preferences or what you have available. For a richer flavor, use half chicken broth and half cream or add a splash of white wine to the broth. Some people like to add herbs like sage or rosemary to the dumpling batter for different flavor profiles. You can also make this vegetarian by using vegetable broth and omitting the chicken, or make it heartier by adding more protein like turkey or ham.
