Farmhouse Herbed Stuffing

Ingredients for Farmhouse Herbed Stuffing

• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter

• 2 medium onions, cut into 1/4-inch dice (about 3 cups)

• 6 stalks celery with leaves, cut into 1/4-inch dice (about 600ml )

• 1 (400g) package seasoned bread stuffing cubes

• 1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped

• 1 teaspoon celery salt

• 1 teaspoon dried sage, crumbled

• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed

• 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme, crumbled

• 1/4 teaspoons salt

• 1/4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

• 300ml hot Homemade Turkey Stock or canned turkey stock, plus 120ml more if baking all of stuffing outside of turkey

How to make Farmhouse Herbed Stuffing

In 12-inch, heavy skillet over moderate heat, heat butter until hot but not smoking. Stir in onion and celery, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 15 to 20 minutes. (Vegetables can be prepared up to 1 day ahead and refrigerated. Reheat before continuing: In 12-inch, heavy skillet over moderately high heat, sauté, stirring often, until heated through, about 5 minutes.)

Transfer to large bowl and add stuffing cubes, parsley, celery salt, sage, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir in 300ml hot stock.

Use immediately to fill cavities and spread remainder in baking dish as directed in Classic Roast Turkey recipe .

Preheat oven to 177°C and butter 3-quart casserole or 9-by 13-inch baking dish. Transfer stuffing to dish and drizzle with 120ml hot stock (stuffing baked outside of the turkey won't be soaked in the turkey's juices, so extra stock is drizzled on top to keep it moist). Cover with aluminum foil and bake until heated through, about 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until top is slightly crisp and golden, about 10 minutes longer. Serve immediately.

Sausage and Sage Stuffing: In large, heavy skillet over moderate heat, sauté 450g bulk pork sausage, breaking up pieces with spoon, until meat shows no sign of pink, about 10 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer to large bowl. Proceed with recipe, adding ingredients to bowl with sausage and substituting 2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage for dried rosemary and sage.

Dried Apricot and Pecan Stuffing: Dried fruit are better than fresh in stuffing because the latter get soggy with long baking. Preheat oven to 177°C. Spread 170g (170g) pecans on rimmed baking sheet and toast, stirring occasionally, until browned and fragrant, about 10 minutes. Cool and coarsely chop. In medium bowl, combine 350ml diced dried apricots and hot water to cover. Soak until apricots plump, about 30 minutes, then drain well. Proceed with recipe, tossing apricots and pecans with other ingredients in large bowl.

Test-Kitchen Tips: Warm, moist stuffing is an optimal environment for bacteria such as salmonella or E. coli to multiply, so it's important to follow safe procedures. Be sure to make the stuffing at the last minute so it can go into the bird warm. This helps it move above the "danger zone" (the optimal temperature range for bacteria growth) more quickly during roasting. Stuffing baked outside of the turkey can be spread in the baking dish and refrigerated for a few hours while the turkey roasts, but it should be prepared on the same day as baking.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.