Sausage, Fig & Cranberry Stuffing

November 16, 2011  //  42 Comments »
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Yesterday I asked readers on my Facebook page what they were most looking forward to eating next week for Thanksgiving. I always look most forward to, surprise, side dishes and dessert! Most specifically, stuffing, mashed potatoes and dinner rolls are my go-to on Thanksgiving. I could easily eat a massive pile of each and call it a day (as well as a very successful Thanksgiving meal). For the most part growing up, stuffing was always really good, pretty much your standard onion, celery, chicken broth, poultry spice and cubed bread variety. Fast forward to last year when, a few weeks before Thanksgiving, I was watching Ina Garten make a rolled, stuffed turkey breast. This is the stuffing she used. I think it took me a good 10 minutes to pick my jaw up off the floor. This was maybe the biggest hit of Thanksgiving last year and my Chief Culinary Consultant has declared it the best stuffing he has ever eaten. Ever.

I couldn’t get over all of the outstanding flavors that dance around together in this stuffing. We obviously have sausage, figs and cranberries, but there’s more, so much more. Those figs and cranberries are soaked in brandy, wowza! We also have rosemary and pine nuts. And of course the staples of onion, celery, and seasoned stuffing mix. Basically, the most amazing clash of flavors in a stuffing that man has ever seen.

As I mentioned above, this was a HUGE hit last year. Everyone was ooh-ing and aah-ing over it, asking what was in it and how it was made. My plan this year is to somehow hoard a portion for myself. Shhh, I’m not going to tell anyone where I’m stashing it! I highly recommend making this stuffing – you will be crowned a Thanksgiving rock star (and really, what better type of rock star is there?).

One year ago: Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Crisp Squares

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Sausage, Fig & Cranberry Stuffing

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

MY OTHER RECIPES


Prep:30 minutes

Cook:45 minutes

Total:1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients:

¾ cup large-diced dried figs, stems removed

¾ cup dried cranberries

½ cup Calvados or brandy

¼ cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter

1½ cups diced onions

1 cup (½-inch-diced) celery (about 3 stalks)

12 ounces pork sausage, casings removed (sweet, mild or hot - your preference)

1½ tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves

3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted

3 cups herb-seasoned stuffing mix

1½ cups chicken stock

1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Butter a 9x13 casserole dish; set aside.


2. Place the dried figs and cranberries in a small saucepan and pour in the Calvados and ½ cup of water. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then lower the heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.


3. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large (12-inch) skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and celery and saute until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the sausage, crumbling it into small bits with a fork, and saute, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes, until cooked and browned. Add the figs and cranberries with the liquid, the chopped rosemary, and pine nuts, and cook for 2 more minutes. Scrape up the brown bits with a wooden spoon.


4. Place the stuffing mix in a large bowl. Add the sausage mixture, chicken stock, egg, salt and pepper and stir well.


5. Transfer the stuffing to the prepared casserole dish. Bake for 45 minutes.


*Note: The stuffing can be assembled the day before, just cover and refrigerate.


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Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!

(Recipe adapted from Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics)


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posted in Fall, Side Dishes, Thanksgiving
42 Comments »