Warming chicken soup with vegetables, fresh herbs are farina dumplings. Farina dumplings will hold their shape and not fall apart in a broth. These dumplings are hearty and buttery delicious.
What is Farina?
- Farina flour is coarse and made from ground semolina wheat kernels. There are several brands sold in the USA from Bob’s Redmill, Honeyville, and Cream of Wheat. I’m most familiar with the creamy porridge that I had for breakfast as a child served with a pat of butter, honey, and milk. The perfect snow day breakfast served with buttery toast for dunking. My favorite!
- Farina dumplings are firmer than the all-purpose flour variety and make the perfect addition to soups. These dumplings won’t fall apart like dumplings made with white flour.
- The dumplings can even be made ahead. Cook them in broth then store them in enough broth to keep them moist in a covered container in the refrigerator. Drop them into the soup and heat right before serving.
- Farina dumplings originated in Eastern Europe, Austria, and Bavaria. They are, also, known as Hungarian Dumplings.
Making Chicken Soup
- In a large pot drizzle about 1 tablespoon oil. Add chopped celery, carrots, and onions.
- Sauté the carrots, celery, and onions until soft and the onions are translucent.
- Add chicken stock.
- Simmer over medium-low heat for about 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Salt and Pepper to taste.
Making Perfect Farina Dumplings
-
Combine milk and salt in a saucepan. Bring it to a simmer. Slowly sprinkle in Cream of Wheat or Farina.
-
Stirring constantly. Cook for 2-3 minutes. This mixture will become very thick.
-
Remove from heat and stir in butter until smooth.
-
Add beaten eggs until the mixture is smooth.
-
Stir in parsley.
- The dumpling mixture will be smooth and thick. Let batter rest for 15 minutes in the fridge.*
*Dumplings tend to dissolve if the batter is too soft. Let the batter rest in the refrigerator to help the semolina absorb some of the liquid and get firm.
Finishing the Soup
- Using two spoons shape the dumplings into tight oval shapes.
- Bring to soup to a bare simmer.* Gently drop the dumplings into the soup. Cover and let them gently simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Add chicken and gently stir to combine. DO NOT OVER STIR or the chicken will turn into shreds in the soup, which isn’t that pretty.
- Gently add fresh herbs.
*If the broth is boiling too much, turn the heat down and don’t add the dumplings until the broth is barely simmering. Let the dumplings simmer at a low temperature.
A Word About Chicken Stock
The delicious soup starts with great chicken stock. Consider making homemade chicken stock. The flavor of your chicken soup will be enhanced more than you can imagine. Here is a link for my chicken stock. It’s is so delicious and will ramp up soups and sauces. If you purchase boxed or canned chicken stock (which can save you time), be sure to check the list of ingredients. I choose boxed chicken “stock” over chicken “broth”. Look for natural ingredients with less sodium.
Chicken Soup with Farina Dumplings
Warming chicken soup with vegetables, fresh herbs are farina dumplings. Farina dumplings will hold their shape and not fall apart in a broth. These dumplings are hearty and buttery delicious.
Ingredients
Chicken Soup
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 2 carrots large, chopped
- 2 celery ribs chopped
- 1 onion chopped
- 4 quarts Chicken Stock
- 2 cups cooked chicken Rotisserie chicken works great.
- 1 tablespoon rosemary fresh, chopped
- 2 tablespoons parsley fresh, chopped
- 1 tablespoon thyme fresh, or 1 tsp dried
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Dumplings
Farina Dumplings
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup Farina Bob's Redmill or Cream of Wheat
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
Chicken Soup
-
In a large pot drizzle about 1 tablespoon oil and sauté the carrots, celery, and onions until soft and the onions are translucent. Add chicken stock and simmer over medium-low heat for about 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Salt and Pepper to taste. Add the dumplings from the recipe below. Drop dumplings with a tablespoon into simmering soup. Add chicken. Cover and gently simmer over low heat for 10-12 minutes or until dumplings are cooked. Add the rosemary, parsley, thyme, and chicken. Stir gently. Do not over stir or the chicken and dumplings will begin to fall apart.
Farina Dumplings
-
Combine milk and salt in a saucepan. Bring it to a simmer. Slowly sprinkle in Cream of Wheat or Farina, stirring constantly. Cook for 2-3 minutes. This mixture will become very thick. Remove from heat and stir in butter and eggs until the mixture is smooth. Stir in parsley.
-
Drop by tablespoons into simmering soup. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
Sharon A Nelson says
My Mother made the dumplings like John’s directions. Simply Perfect and delicious.
Janet Barton says
I love your comment. Grandmothers make the best comforting food. Thank you so much.
Michele Worthington says
please can these be frozen????? My Grammy used to make these all the time with Chicken Paprikash. My entire family is hungarian and I love making all my hand me down recipes, unfortunately I never asked this question and all have passed away. These were one of my favoritesas well as the paprikash!!! and kifles!!
Janet Barton says
Hi Michele, I have never frozen these dumplings before, but I would think that they can easily be frozen. I would put them on a baking sheet with a sheet of parchment paper, then place the tray in the freezer. Once the dumplings are frozen they can be removed from the tray and put in a freezer bag. I would add them to the simmering soup frozen or thawed. I hope this has been helpful. Please let me know if you try freezing the dumplings. What a treasure you have with the Grammy’s recipes.
rebecca says
Making this tonight. my grandmother and mom used to make this type of dumpling. i loved it.
Janet Barton says
I hope you love it! It’s one of my favorite winter warming soups. Please let me know if you like it.
John says
Farina, butter,egg, salt and pepper. No milk! No precook in saucepan!
Mix ingredients. Spoon in to broth.
Janet Barton says
Bravo! This method saves time and another pot to clean.
Tanya says
How much of each do you put? My mom made it this way but she used oil in of butter
Janet Barton says
I only use 2 tablespoons of butter. I’m sure 2 tablespoons of oil would work just as well.
Donna l Alden says
So no milk and heating before