New to dovecot admin, question about testing a dovecot configuration

I am new to dovecot administration, not new to postfix administration.

When setting up a new postfix/dovecot combo from scratch, can I start with dovecot alone and still be able to test it? E.g. can I address the local delivery agent with some sort of test email? If so, how? I haven’t been able to find it in the wiki.

Gerben Wierda Chess and the Art of Enterprise Architecture https://ea.rna.nl/the-book/ Mastering ArchiMate https://ea.rna.nl/the-book-edition-iii/ Architecture for Real Enterprises https://www.infoworld.com/blog/architecture-for-real-enterprises/ at InfoWorld On Slippery Ice https://eapj.org/on-slippery-ice/ at EAPJ