Spring Green Chicken Stew With Cheddar Dumplings
by Cherrypick
Make a transitional Sunday lunch for when spring is just around the corner. Fresh pesto lifts the flavour of this stew, but you can substitute it with a jar.
Method
Based on 4 servings, adjust as needed.
Step 1
Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole dish over a medium-high heat and brown the chicken on all sides until golden all over (you may have to do this in batches). Remove to a plate and set aside.
Step 2
Fry the lardons in the dish for a few minutes, then add the onions and leeks. Cook over a medium heat for 8-10 mins until the vegetables have softened. Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute, then add the flour. Season and cook for 2 mins more.
Step 3
Slowly stir in the wine and cook until it has bubbled away, then stir in the stock. Return the chicken to the dish along with the bay leaves and cover with a lid. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 45 mins-1 hr, or until the chicken is tender. Once completely cool, the stew will keep frozen for up to three months. Defrost in the fridge overnight, then reheat in a pan before continuing.
Step 4
Put the pesto, most of the basil, the watercress and a ladleful of hot liquid from the dish in a food processor or blender. Blitz to a loose green paste, pour into the stew and add the peas. Remove from the heat.
Step 5
Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. To make the dumplings, rub the butter into the flour until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Mix in half the grated cheese and some seasoning, then add 110ml water, mixing it in using a cutlery knife to form a light, sticky dough. Break off walnut-sized lumps of the dough and shape into small balls.
Step 6
Put the dumplings on top of the stew, then scatter over the remaining cheese. Transfer the dish to the oven. Bake for 25 mins until the dumplings are golden brown and cooked through. Scatter over the remaining basil to serve.
- Ingredients
- Based on 4 servings
-
2 Bay Leaves 1x Sainsbury's Bay Leaves 3g -
100g Frozen Peas 1x Sainsbury's Garden Peas 910g -
2tbsp Olive Oil 1x Sainsbury's Olive Oil 500ml -
75g Extra Mature Cheddar, grated 1x Sainsbury's British Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese 400g -
1large Onion, chopped 1x Sainsbury's Onions Loose -
2 Garlic Cloves, crushed 1x Sainsbury's Garlic -
100ml White Wine 1x Sainsbury's House Pinot Grigio (Small bottle) 18.7cl -
1small bunch Basil 1x Sainsbury's Fresh Packed Basil 30g -
2tbsp Plain Flour 1x Sainsbury's Plain Flour 500g -
500ml Chicken Stock 1x Sainsbury's Stock Cubes, Chicken 10x10g -
100g Fresh Pesto 1x Sainsbury's Basil Pesto, Taste the Difference 150g -
80g Watercress 1x Sainsbury's Watercress 60g -
125g Butter 1x Sainsbury's British Butter, Salted 250g -
200g Self Raising Flour 1x Sainsbury's Self Raising Flour 500g -
1 Leek, chopped 1x Sainsbury's Leeks Loose -
8 Skinless, Boneless Chicken Thighs 1x Sainsbury's 1kg British Chicken Thigh Fillets -
100g Smoked Bacon Lardons, pancetta or chopped bacon 1x Sainsbury's Smoked Bacon Lardons 250g