Chicken and Curried Dumplings

2 tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, chopped
1 hot green chili, minced
2 chicken thighs
2 boneless split chicken breasts
1 bay leaf
2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken stock
1 (13.5 ounce) can lite coconut milk
1 (11 ounce) can of whole corn with juice
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Sprigs of fresh purple basil for garnish

Dumplings:
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp. curry powder
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. butter
1/2 cup milk

Heat the olive oil in a large pot and saute garlic, onion and chili. Add chicken, bay leaf and chicken stock and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer the chicken until it is tender and the thigh juices run clear, about 40 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pot and, when it is cool enough to handle, remove the skin and separate the meat from the bones. Return the chicken meat to the pot along with the corn. Add salt and pepper. Keep warm over low heat.

Prepare the dumplings: In a medium bowl, mix the flour, curry powder, baking powder and salt together. In a small saucepan over low heat, bring the butter and milk to a simmer. Add the butter and milk mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring with a fork until the mixture just comes together. Drop batter by spoonfuls into stew. Cover and simmer until the dumplings are cooked through, about 15 minutes.

To serve, ladle chicken, gravy, and dumplings into warm bowls. Garnish with purple basil.

Serves 4.