Summer has officially ended, so it’s time to whip out the comfort food recipes to keep warm and cozy. I’m a big fan of bold flavors, so the spicy, tangy nature of Cajun cuisine really appeals to me. Not to mention, I love the history and culture associated with the flavors of the South. One chilly day I had a ton of ingredients I needed to use up, so I threw them in a pot, added a bunch of spice and some broth, whipped up some hearty dumplings, and voilá: my own Cajun-inspired chicken and dumpling soup!
Cajun Chicken Sausage and Dumpling Soup
Ingredients for the soup:
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 1/2 lb. chicken-apple sausage, sliced
- 1/2 lb. spicy chicken sausage, sliced (I used andouille)
- 8 oz. greens (I used kale)
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 c. tomato, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 c. carrots, chopped
- 3/4 c. potato, chopped
- 8 c. chicken stock
- 2 tsp. dried thyme
- 3 tbsp. paprika
- 2 tsp. chili powder
- 1/2 tsp cayenne
- 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 2 tsp. onion powder
- 2 tsp. garlic powder
- 4 bay leaves
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
Ingredients for the Dumplings:
- 2 c. flour
- 1 tsp. salt
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 c. water
To make the soup:
-In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil. Sauté onions until tender, add carrots, potatoes, minced garlic, spices, red bell pepper, and tomatoes. Stir until tomatoes and peppers are browned.
-In a skillet, brown the sausage.
-Add browned sausage and raw greens to soup pot.
-Add stock to the soup pot, stir, and bring to a boil.
-Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
To make the dumplings:
-In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder.
-Add water, and stir until well combined.
-Scoop tablespoons of dumpling batter into soup.
-Continue to simmer soup for 15 minutes.
Enjoy!