Chestnut Fig Stuffing Recipes

BRIOCHE STUFFING WITH CHESTNUTS AND FIGS

Steps:

• Dice brioche into a medium-fine dice and allow to dry in a low oven or overnight at room temperature. Once dry, you will have about 2 cups total.
• Melt 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) of butter in a sauté pan. Sweat the celery, fennel, apple and onion until translucent and soft. ("Sweating" vegetables means slowly cooking them over low heat until soft but not brown.)
• In a second sauté pan, melt the remaining butter and cook sausage gently. Combine the butter and sausage with the diced brioche, celery and onion mixture, chestnuts, figs, reduced stock and stock in a large bowl and toss gently. Season with salt to taste. Gently add eggs and toss to combine. Finish with chopped herbs, spices and pepper.
• Bake in a 9- by 13-inch baking dish at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes or until browned and hot throughout.

CHESTNUT-FIG STUFFING

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the bread, chestnuts, and figs; cover and set aside.
• In a large skillet, heat the oil, onion, and celery over medium-high heat and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the chicken stock and thyme, heat to a boil, and remove from heat. (The receipe can be made to this point up to 1 day ahead.)
• Cover and refrigerate the stock and bread separately).
• Add the stock to the bread mixture, along with the eggs, salt, and pepper.
• Toss to combine.
• Place in a baking dish and cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake with the turkey during the first hour of cooking.

CHESTNUT STUFFING

Steps:

• Spread bread cubes in single layers on baking sheets. Let dry at room temperature, uncovered, overnight.
• Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Add chestnuts; cook until soft, about 20 minutes. Drain; let cool slightly. Peel and quarter chestnuts; set aside. Peeled chestnuts can be refrigerated in an airtight container 2 to 3 days.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and celery; cook, stirring, until onions are translucent, about 10 minutes. Add sage; cook 3 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup stock; cook until reduced by half, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer onion mixture to a large bowl. Add remaining 4 1/2 cups stock, the chestnuts, bread, salt, and parsley; season with pepper. Toss to combine. If not stuffing turkey, transfer to a buttered 17-by-12-inch baking dish. Cover; bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Uncover; bake until hot and golden brown, 30 minutes more.

ROASTED CHESTNUT, FIG AND CORNBREAD STUFFING

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients together and bake for 25 minutes in a small roasting pan at 375 degrees.

SAUSAGE, CHESTNUT AND FIG STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 8x8x2-inch glass baking dish. Sauté sausage in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat until brown and cooked through, breaking into small pieces with back of fork, about 5 minutes. Add chopped shallots and celery to skillet and sauté 5 minutes. Stir in figs, 1/2 cup chicken broth, brandy and thyme and bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until figs are tender, about 5 minutes.
• Mix 4 cups breadcrumbs, chestnuts and sausage mixture in large bowl. Stir in remaining § cup chicken broth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer stuffing to prepared baking dish. Cover baking dish with foil. Bake stuffing 25 minutes. Remove foil; bake stuffing until top begins to brown, about 10 minutes longer.