Smoked Oyster And Bacon Stuffing Recipes

HERBED OYSTER STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Spread bread cubes in 2 shallow baking pans and bake in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of pans halfway through baking, until golden, 25 to 30 minutes total. Cool bread in pans on racks, then transfer to a large bowl.
• Meanwhile, cook bacon in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 10 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain, reserving fat in skillet.
• If bacon renders less than 1/4 cup fat, add enough oil to skillet to total 1/4 cup fat. Cook onions, celery, thyme, sage, garlic, salt, and pepper in fat in skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to bowl with bread cubes, then stir in bacon, parsley, butter, and oysters. Drizzle with stock, then season with salt and pepper and toss well.
• Transfer stuffing to a buttered 3- to 3 1/2-quart shallow baking dish. Bake, covered, in middle of oven 30 minutes, then uncover and bake until browned, about 30 minutes more.

OYSTER AND BACON STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Spread out the bread on 2 baking sheets; bake until dried out, about 1 hour, rotating the baking sheets as needed.
• Increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Melt the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until crisp, about 8 minutes. Remove 1/4 cup of the drippings, leaving about 1/2 cup in the pot. Add the onion, celery, carrots and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and add 1 1/2 cups stock. Add the marjoram and set aside.
• Whisk the remaining 1 1/2 cups stock and the eggs in a large bowl. Add the scallions, parsley, Old Bay, oysters with their liquor and the vegetable-bacon mixture. Add the bread and mix until most of the liquid is absorbed. Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer the mixture to a 3-quart baking dish. Sprinkle with the parmesan and bake until browned on top, 30 to 40 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.

OYSTER-AND-BACON DRESSING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees with a rack in upper third. Brush a shallow 2-quart baking dish with butter.
• Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium until crisp and fat is rendered, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain, leaving fat in skillet. Add onion and celery to skillet; season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are soft and golden in places, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in sage and cayenne; cook 30 seconds. Add wine and boil until mostly evaporated, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in cream and reserved oyster liquor; simmer until reduced and thickened slightly, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in oysters; season with salt.
• In a large bowl, toss crackers with melted butter to evenly coat. Sprinkle one-third of cracker mixture evenly in bottom of prepared baking dish. Spoon half of oyster mixture evenly over crackers. Repeat layering with another one-third of cracker mixture and remaining half of oyster mixture. Toss remaining one-third of cracker mixture with parsley; sprinkle evenly over top.
• Bake until golden brown on top and heated through, 20 to 25 minutes (if top is browning too quickly, tent with foil). Sprinkle with bacon and serve immediately.