When Sainsbury’s challenged me to come up with a recipe using leftovers, I knew straight away one that I would chose. Me, Derm & Tara love this dish – M & V pretend they hate it by taking it for a walk around their plate/bowl – which surely suggests its gorgeous, right?
I love that the quantities really depend on what meat and veg you have got leftover – Most veg can be bunged in. I used 2 red peppers and a handful of green beans that were just turning bendy in the dish pictured but carrots, leeks, cabbage, even butter beans would work well.
Either turkey or chicken can be used – I had some chicken breasts that I wanted to use. We are having to shop differently at the moment – I’m having to get used to 3 children & 2 adults eating more than I’m used to. I don’t quite want to get onto massive pack sizes but I’m finding standard supermarket pack sizes not quite big enough. I used 4 breasts which actually worked out plenty for us 5.
I was even more thrifty by using some thyme that I bought fresh for 3p just after Christmas – I’ve been drying it out on the kitchen windowsill, tied up with pretty ribbon so it didn’t look like I just haven’t tidied up!
I cooked the chicken breasts first in the oven while I was getting all the other ingredients ready but what would be even better would be to use up the leftover pieces of your cooked chicken/turkey after a Sunday roast. This would really cut down on time – I find this way, I know that the chicken is well cooked and that it speeds up time if your kids decide that they will pass out with starvation if you don’t feed them straightaway and won’t let them have a biscuit while they wait.
I used the instruction from the Atora packet to make my Herby Dumplings – You can do these in advance so they are ready to just plonk in when the casserole is cooking:
- Mix all the dry ingredients (listed below) in a medium bowl and any dried herbs that you fancy (we used up the last of the thyme) and add the water a little at a time until you have a wet dough.
- Cover your hands with flour and roll in to approx 8 dumplings (we get slightly more out of a standard mixture as the kids only like small dumplings).
- Add onto the top of the casserole and cover with the broth.
- Put the lid on and cook for 25-30 mins
Chicken Leftovers Casserole with Herby Dumplings
Ingredients
- Splash of Vegetable Oil
- One small onion or leek or celery will do
- The equivalent of 3-4 chicken breasts or thighs
- 1.5 pints stock - either vegetable or chicken
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 2 red peppers - frozen mixed peppers are fine
- handful of green veg - I used green beans but peas mixed veg, even a small tin of broad or butter beans are fine
- 2 tbsp plain flour
- 1 tbsp double cream if you have it
- Herby Dumplings according to the instructions on the Atora packet
- 100 g self-raising flour plus extra to rub on your hands
- 50 g Atora Suet I used the Vegetable version
- Pinch of salt
- Cold water - About 6 tbsp
Instructions
- Soften the onions in a large pan until transparent
- Add the chicken/turkey and stock and bring to the boil
- Add the herbs and vegetables
- Add the Herby dumplings and cook for approx 25-30 mins (Instructions for making dumplings above)
- Right near the end add the flour (I let it down with 2 tsp water to make a runny paste before adding to the casserole to stop lumps)
- If you are using the cream, add it now.
- Add S & P to taste and serve immediately.
- Even though we had plenty of dumplings, we couldn't resist dunking granary bread in there too - Delicious!
You’re making me hungry, simple food is the best!
I really loved making (and eating) this – It will definitely be one of our staples – Now I just need to convince the kids! x
Mmmm- looks good. I am rubbish with left overs so I will bookmark this bad boy!
Enjoy it! I’m quite bad sometimes too though – I tend to wait until I know whatever is leftover is really out of date so I have no option to throw it away – getting better though! x
have pinned for future reference!
Fab, Becky – Thanks – Hope you enjoy it x
Helen you should be on the advert!! You’d be well better than old woman that says “Ohh it’s really mustardy” lol yours looks nicer than hers xx
Ha! You are too kind – I’ve got more of a face for radio though 😉 and eeew to mustard! x
This is great, as I never know what to do with leftovers. I have to admit we usually end up throwing them out. Eeek I know what a waste. Definitely book marking this pronto. Looks great.
Thanks Jenny, hope you enjoy it! x
that’s tea sorted! thank you
This looks absolutely gorgeous and fairly simple which is perfect for me! I’m the opposite and am trying to get used to cooking for 1 rather than 2… it’s harder than it sounds but I think this recipe is quite adaptable x
Just made a really similar recipe for todays dinner with dumplings from left over rolls! Yours looks super yummy!
I haven’t made dumplings before but I really fancy them after reading this. They must go really well with the chicken casserole.
Looks so attractive! Thanks so much for joining in with #recipeoftheweek. I’ve Pinned and Tweeted this post and there’s a fresh linky live now for this week. Hope you can join in! x