Poltavski Halushky (Ukrainian Dumplings with Chicken and Bacon)
Local name: Полтавські галушки
In short: Soft homemade dumplings simmered in chicken broth with potatoes, topped with fried bacon, onion, garlic and dill. It takes about 1 h 35 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 1 h 5 min
- Resting
- 10 min
- Total
- 1 h 35 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 420 kcal
Halushky are the small, soft dumplings of Ukrainian home cooking, and Poltava halushky are the best known. The batter is a thick mix of egg, flour and water that is dropped from a spoon into simmering broth, where the dumplings puff and float. Here they cook with chicken and potatoes, then the pot is topped with fried bacon, onion, garlic and dill. It is a filling one-pot meal, and it needs no rolling or shaping.
Instructions
- Put the chicken, halved onion, carrot, bay leaf, 1 tsp of the salt and the water in a pot. Bring to a boil, skim, then simmer for 40 minutes until the chicken is very tender.
- Lift out the chicken and shred the meat. Discard the bones, onion, carrot and bay leaf. Return the broth to a simmer, add the potatoes and cook for 10 minutes.
- Whisk the eggs, water and 1/2 tsp salt in a bowl. Stir in the flour until you have a thick, sticky batter that falls from the spoon in ribbons. Rest it for 10 minutes.
- Cook the bacon in a pan over medium heat for 6 minutes. Add the chopped onion and cook for 8 minutes more until golden. Take the pan off the heat.
- Dip a teaspoon in the hot broth, scoop a spoonful of batter and slide it into the simmering pot. Repeat, dipping the spoon each time. Cook until the halushky float, then for 3 more minutes.
- Return the chicken to the pot with the bacon and onion, garlic, dill and black pepper. Heat through for 2 minutes and serve in deep bowls, with sour cream if you like.
Tips
- Dip the spoon in the hot broth between dumplings so the batter slides off easily.
- Keep the broth at a gentle simmer and cook the dumplings in batches. Hard boiling breaks them apart.
Questions and answers
Can I make halushky ahead of time?
Make the broth ahead, but cook the dumplings just before serving. They absorb the broth and turn soft if they stand.
Can I make halushky without bacon?
Yes. Fry the onion in sunflower oil and add a little smoked paprika for flavor.
How are halushky different from gnocchi?
Halushky are made from an egg and flour batter, not potato, and are simply dropped from a spoon rather than rolled or shaped.
How long does it take to make Poltavski Halushky (Ukrainian Dumplings with Chicken and Bacon)?
About 1 h 35 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 1 h 5 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Poltavski Halushky (Ukrainian Dumplings with Chicken and Bacon)?
About 420 kcal per serving, with 27 g of protein, 46 g of carbohydrates and 14 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 420 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 27 g |
| Carbohydrates | 46 g |
| Fat | 14 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 1000 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
