Cast Iron Oyster And Cornbread Stuffing Recipes

OYSTER AND CORNBREAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Prepare the corn bread according to package directions. Allow bread to cool, then crumble into a large bowl.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x9 inch baking pan.
• Over medium-low heat melt butter in a large saucepan. Mix in the onions and celery. Cook slowly, stirring occasionally until onions are soft. Transfer to the bowl with bread crumbs.
• Chop the oysters. Mix oysters, eggs, pepper, poultry seasoning, sage, chicken broth and reserved oyster liquid into the corn bread mixture. Transfer to the baking dish.
• Bake uncovered in the preheated oven 45 minutes.

OYSTER STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9- by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Add the cornbread, parsley and rosemary to a large mixing bowl. Heat 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the celery, green onions and bell pepper to the skillet and saute until softened, about 10 minutes. Add the remaining 4 tablespoons butter and melt. Add the cooked vegetables and melted butter into the bowl with the cornbread and stir to combine. Pour the milk, oysters and reserved oyster juice over the cornbread, then season with the garlic powder, 2 teaspoons salt and some pepper. Pour in the chicken stock and eggs and stir until well combined and cohesive. Spread into the prepared baking dish.
• Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake, about 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until the top begins to brown, about 30 minutes more.

OYSTER DRESSING

Steps:

• The day before making the stuffing, bake the cornbread: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and place a 10-inch cast-iron skillet in the oven. In a bowl, combine the cornmeal, salt, sugar, baking powder and baking soda. Whisk to combine well. In a large bowl, combine the buttermilk, eggs and creamed corn, whisking to combine thoroughly. Add the dry ingredients to the buttermilk mixture and stir to combine. If the batter will not pour, add more buttermilk.
• Swirl the vegetable oil in the hot cast-iron skillet. Pour the batter into the skillet and bake until the cornbread is golden brown and springs back upon the touch, about 20 minutes. Let cool in the skillet, then crumble 6 cups of the cornbread and spread out on a baking sheet. Let the cornbread dry out at room temperature, uncovered, about 24 hours.
• Make the stuffing: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Heat the vegetable oil in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, celery, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion and celery are semitranslucent, about 15 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat; add the crumbled cornbread, oyster crackers, thyme and sage and stir well. Next, add the oysters with their liquor and the eggs; stir until combined. Pat the mixture down into an even layer.
• Put the skillet on the middle rack of the oven and bake until golden brown and crisp around the edges, about 30 to 35 minutes.

OYSTER STUFFING

Steps:

• Put the oysters in a strainer over a medium bowl to catch their liquor. Reserve 3/4 cup of the oyster liquor. In a large bowl, combine the crumbled cornbread and oysters.
• Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Add the bacon and cook for 1 minute. Drain and pat dry with a paper towel.
• Melt 1/2 cup of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the foaming subsides, add the bacon, shallot, celery, salt, and season with pepper, to taste. Cook, stirring, until soft, about 10 minutes. Add the parsley, thyme, reserved oyster liquor, and vermouth and bring to a boil. Transfer the shallot-herb mixture to the cornbread and oysters and stir to combine. Set aside for 10 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Transfer the cornbread mixture to a buttered 1-quart gratin dish, dot with the remaining butter, and bake until browned and crusty, about 1 hour.
• Remove from the oven and serve immediately.
• Butter a 3 1/4 x 5 3/4 x 2-inch loaf pan. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the egg and combine with the milk. Pour the milk mixture into the cornmeal mixture and mix lightly with a rubber spatula until a thick batter is formed. Stir in the melted butter until just incorporated.
• Spoon the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Let cool.
• Yield: 1 small loaf of cornbread