Christmas Stuffing
Christmas stuffing is a much-loved savoury dish that is traditionally prepared with bread, herbs, spices, nuts and sometimes even meat to make a delicious and heartwarming side for your holiday Turkey.
Christmas Stuffing is loved by young and old alike, what makes it special is the combination of flavours and textures, but also its versatility as you can use a wide range of ingredients to prepare it and make it your own.
There are a few key things to keep in mind when making Christmas Stuffing but once you know the basics there isn’t just one recipe when it comes to stuffing, as long as you get the basics in like breadcrumbs and spices, you can pretty much create your own.
What are the main ingredients used to make Christmas Stuffing:
- Bread. Stale, crusty or sourdough bread is preferable when making stuffing, this is the perfect ingredient for binding and absorbing flavours.
- Aromatics, spices and herbs. Saute onions, garlic, celery, leeks and carrots all add a lot of flavor. Spices such as our Gran Luchito Fajita and Spice Mixes will bring a delicious Mexican twist to your stuffing, as well as Chipotle Paste for a deliciously smoky taste. Herbs, like rosemary, thyme and sage.
- Meat. Sausages, bacon, ham, chorizo and minced meat can be used to make stuffing.
- Fruit or nuts. Dried or fresh fruits, like apples and apricots. Any kind of nuts will make sure to keep your stuffing in the holiday mood.
What are our top tips to make Christmas Stuffing:
- Use good quality ingredients for the best results.
- Make sure the stuffing is moist but not soggy. You can use stock, butter or even pan drippings.
- Cook the stuffing covered in foil first and then remove it just at the end, to allow it to get golden brown and crispy on the top.
Serve this Christmas stuffing as an accompaniment to our roast turkey recipe.
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Prep time
20MINS
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Cook time
50MINS
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Total time
1HR 10MINS
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Ideal for
Side -
Make it
Mexican -
Serves
6
Nutrition: Per serving
kcal 237 fat 15g saturates 4.7g carbs 16.5g sugars 3.3g fibre 1.4g protein 9.4g salt 1.3g
Found in the
Mexican Section
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 small leek, chopped into small pieces
- 1 red onion, finely diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 tbsp Gran Luchito Chipotle Paste
- ½ cup pale ale beer
- 1 tangerine, juice
- 100 g walnuts, roughly chopped
- 2-3 rosemary sprigs
- Salt & Pepper
- 6 sausages, with casings removed
- 350g stale sourdough bread, cut into cubes
- 1 lemon, zest
- 1 tangerine, zest
- Extra olive oil for drizzling on top
How to make it
- Heat up a large frying pan over medium heat with the olive oil, once hot enough add the butter and let it melt. When the butter begins to bubble away, add the leeks, onion and carrots, stir and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Once the onion and leeks are translucent add half of the chipotle paste and combine it with the veg.
- Add the beer and mandarin juice and let it simmer slowly until the carrots cook through and most of the liquid is absorbed. Finally, add the walnuts and rosemary leaves to the cooked vegetables, season with salt and pepper, stir and remove from the heat. Allow it to cool down completely.
- Once the vegetable mixture has cooled down, transfer it to a bowl and combine it with the sausage mixture, add the remaining chipotle paste, lemon and mandarin zest, a pinch of salt and pepper. With your hands combine the mixture. Finally, add in the sourdough cubes and mix them with the sausage filling using your hands.
- Transfer the mixture into a baking dish and arrange it evenly, add a good drizzle of olive oil on the top and cover it with tin foil, place it in the oven and cook for 40 minutes. Then remove the foil and cook for a further 8-10 minutes allowing the top to crisp up. Serve warm as a delicious side for your Christmas dinner, enjoy.
What to serve with Christmas Stuffing
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FAQs
What is Christmas stuffing?
Christmas stuffing, also known as dressing, is a savoury side dish typically made from bread cubes or crumbs, vegetables like celery and onions, and various seasonings. It is traditionally served with roasted turkey or chicken during Christmas dinners.
How did stuffing become a tradition for Christmas?
Stuffing became a Christmas tradition from the old practice of filling the cavity of poultry with a mixture of ingredients to enhance flavour. This practice has evolved over time into the savoury bread-based dish we enjoy today.
Can you make stuffing vegetarian or vegan?
Absolutely! For a vegetarian version, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. For vegan stuffing, skip any dairy, use vegan bread, and replace any eggs with flax eggs or another vegan egg substitute.
What can I do with leftover Christmas stuffing?
Leftover stuffing can be used in various ways. You can add it to a frittata or a soup, create a stuffing crust for a pie or mix it into a salad. You can even make stuffing muffins or stuffing pancakes.
Is it safe to cook stuffing inside the turkey?
While it's traditional to do so, it's generally safer to cook stuffing outside the turkey. Cooking stuffing inside the turkey can risk not fully cooking it to a safe temperature, potentially leading to foodborne illnesses. However, if you prefer it this way, ensure to cook it until it reaches a temperature of 165°F (74°C).
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