Step 1

In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the celery, carrots, onions, salt, pepper and thyme. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often, until the vegetables start to soften. Add the chicken broth and chicken (if using uncooked chicken). Bring to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes until the chicken is just cooked through and/or veggies are tender. Remove the chicken to a plate and cut into small pieces.

Step 2

In a small bowl (or blender), combine the 1/2 cup water and 1/4 cup flour until smooth. Whisking vigorously, slowly add the flour mixture into the hot broth and stir until well combined. Stir in the frozen peas and cooked chicken and bring the soup back to a simmer.

Step 3

For the dumplings, in a medium bowl, stir together the dry ingredients. Add the sour cream, milk and oil. Stir just until combined (don’t overmix).

Step 4

Drop teaspoon-sized amounts (the dumplings should be fairly small, they’ll expand while cooking) of dumpling dough into the boiling soup, covering the entire surface of the soup. I use a #60 small cookie scoop. Cover the pot and simmer the soup and dumplings for 12-15 minutes. Do not lift the lid of the pot while the dumplings cook! Add time if the dumplings haven't cooked all the way (or if they are bigger in size than teaspoon-sized portions).

Step 5

When the dumplings have cooked fully, remove the lid and gently stir the dumplings to break them apart, if needed. Serve.