How to Make A Delicious Vegetarian, Sage, Stuffing

Making a good stuffing to go with your turkey or turkey substitute can be easy. This one just eliminates any meat products but adds great taste with the addition of varied ingredients and extra spices. Giblets are often added to regular stuffing so if you miss these, crumble in a bit of spicy vegetarian sausage.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 medium onions, chopped
• 3 stalks of celery, chopped
• 1 large apple, cored, peeled, and chopped
• 1/2 cup mushrooms, chopped
• 1/3 cup pecans, or nuts of your choice, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 1/2 tablespoons sage
• 1//2 teaspoon marjoram
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon rosemary
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon celery salt
• 4 cups, or more, dried breadcrumbs, this may vary depending on how dry your breadcrumbs are.
• 1 1/4 cups vegetable stock, this may vary depending on how dry your breadcrumbs are

1. In a heavy skillet, over medium heat, heat the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the chopped onions. Sauté the onions until they are transparent. Add the butter and when it is melted, add the celery, and, if you are using fresh mushrooms, add these too. Sauté until the mushrooms have lost most of their liquid. If you use canned mushrooms, sauté only briefly.

2. Add the apples and the pecans and sauté briefly to blend the flavours. Remove from heat. In a large bowl place the breadcrumbs. Into the crumbs, stir the salt, pepper, sage, marjoram, thyme, rosemary, oregano, allspice, and celery salt. If you are not a sager-lover, hold back on 1 tablespoon of the sage and add bit by bit later. Into the breadcrumb mixture, pour the onion mixture. Blend well. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Butter a 9 by 13 baking dish.

3. Begin adding the stock to the crumb mixture, stirring as you add. Add until a handful of the mixture holds its shape if you squeeze it. Taste and adjust spices if necessary. If you did not add all the sage before, add it gradually to taste now. Add more breadcrumbs or vegetable stock until you achieve a consistency you are happy with. Adjust seasonings. You will be baking for 10 minutes uncovered so bear that in mind.

4. Pour the stuffing into the buttered casserole. Cover tightly with foil. Bake for approximately 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake until golden-brown. You can bake the stuffing ahead of time and reheat, if you wish. Enjoy!

[tachic]

on 4/29/2009 Good tip on vegetarian sage dressing.

[prism]

on 11/23/2008 My mouth is watering as I read this. Sounds very yummy! Thanks!