Vegan Chicken and Dumplings

Welcome to my new series on Southern Comfort Foods! I grew up in (and currently live in) Southeast Tennessee. This post starts a new series on Southern cuisine, and the first dish I’m sharing is Vegan Chicken and Dumplings!

As I began brainstorming ideas, I knew I had to reach out to a proper Southern food authority. My mother –a genuine Southern Food Queen in her own right- offered to help me out. This recipe holds a lot of meaning for her. I’ll let her explain it to you in her own words:

Hello! I’m Kate’s mom, Debbie. I was born in the early 1950s and my mother grew up in Mississippi during The Great Depression. My favorite childhood food was Chicken and Dumplings. I have fond memories of standing on a stool as a toddler, watching her roll out the dumplings. I’d ask for a taste and then burn my tongue because I couldn’t wait for them to cool! There are many versions of dumplings; some are like biscuits, and some are like noodles. But my mom always said, ‘A real dumpling is made with chicken broth, instead of milk or water.’ To this day I make them that way. After you mix your dry ingredients, you take a warm cup of broth and melt the butter in it. Then slowly pour your buttered broth into the dry mix. Then roll them out!”

Chicken and dumplings are a beloved staple in Southern cooking. Rural families used other types of meat as well. Evidently, my grandmother’s family sometimes hunted squirrels for this recipe when other options were scarce! However, this dish is most often made with chicken, so that’s what I’m aiming for. Dumplings offered a hearty and filling addition to the meal, keeping everyone full for longer. They prepared the dish in large pots or cast-iron Dutch ovens, making it a practical choice for feeding hungry, hardworking families and communities.

This vegan chicken and dumplings recipe carries so much comfort and nostalgia. A true staple in Southern households, this dish transcends generations, offering a taste of tradition and connection to our ancestors. I try to imagine how my grandmother and her family survived The Great Depression with the help of this staple. In her early years, life was hard, and she ensured her descendants were well cared for. by working tirelessly throughout her life.

With my mother’s guidance and her family recipe in hand, I present to you a veganized version that pays homage to our Southern culinary heritage without the need for chicken (or squirrels :P).