Fancy Mushroom Stuffing Recipes

HAZELNUT, SAGE, AND MUSHROOM STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F with racks in upper and lower thirds. Generously butter baking dish.
• Arrange bread in 1 layer in 2 large shallow baking pans and toast, switching position of pans halfway through baking, until golden and dry, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. (Leave oven on.)
• Meanwhile, cook shallots in 1 stick butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden, about 6 minutes. Add mushrooms, celery, thyme, sage, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid given off by mushrooms has evaporated and mushrooms are browned, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Add wine and deglaze skillet by boiling, stirring and scraping up any brown bits, until wine is reduced by about half, about 2 minutes. Transfer to bread in bowl. Add hazelnuts and parsley and toss.
• Whisk together stock, eggs, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, then stir into bread mixture. Transfer to baking dish and dot top of stuffing with remaining 1/2 stick butter.
• Bake, loosely covered with a buttered sheet of foil (buttered side down), in lower third of oven 30 minutes, then remove foil and bake until top is browned, about 15 minutes more.

FANCY MUSHROOM STUFFING

Steps:

• Using a sharp knife, mince the chanterelles and the shiitakes (a food processor will mince the mushrooms too fine). In step 1 of the recipe for basic bread stuffing, add the minced mushrooms to the skillet with the minced onion. Cook over low heat for 15 minutes, rather than 5 minutes. Add all remaining ingredients except bread cubes and broth and stir well. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl, add the bread cubes and broth and toss to combine well. If baking in a casserole, it will not be necessary to add more chicken broth.

CHEESY MUSHROOM STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and lightly browned, about 6 minutes. Push the mushrooms to one side of the skillet and add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, then add the scallion whites, shallot, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring, until the shallot is softened, about 3 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and carefully add the brandy. Return to the heat and cook until the pan is dry, about 30 seconds. Let cool slightly.
• Whisk the eggs, heavy cream, chicken broth, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl. Stir in the bread cubes, mushroom mixture, 1 cup each fontina and cheddar, the scallion greens and parsley. Let sit 30 minutes to allow the bread to soak up the egg mixture.
• Butter a 3-quart baking dish. Add the stuffing and top with the remaining 1/4 cup each fontina and cheddar. Bake until golden brown, about 1 hour. Let sit about 20 minutes before serving.