Sourdough Dressing With Truffle Butter And Candied Chestnuts Recipes

THE BEST SOURDOUGH STUFFING

Steps:

• Chop the onions, celery, mushrooms, garlic, optional walnuts or chestnuts, and herbs.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, mushrooms, and garlic. Saute and add salt and pepper to taste (the amount you use will depend on your preference and your stock e.g. homemade unsalted or not).
• When the vegetables have softened, add the herbs and optional nuts, and saute for another minute or so, then add 1 cup of the stock.
• In a medium bowl (with a pour spout if possible), beat the eggs, then add the remaining 2 cups of stock.
• Place your cubed sourdough bread in a large mixing bowl. (You could put the bread directly in the baking pan, but stirring may be difficult.)
• Pour the saute mixture over the cubed bread and mix. Then pour on the stock-egg mixture and fold everything until it's thoroughly combined.
• Preheat your oven to 350°F and lightly oil or butter a 9x13 baking dish.
• Transfer the mixture to your baking dish and spread evenly, cover and let sit for about 20 minutes for the bread to absorb the liquids.
• After the rest, if the top bread cubes seem dry and there is no loose liquid underneath, sprinkle on 1-2 cups of water, stir everything again inside the pan, and then put the pan in the oven.
• Bake for 45-50 minutes, until the internal temperature is at least 160°F. Cover with foil if the stuffing begins to brown too much.
• After removing from the oven, sprinkle with additional fresh herbs if you want.

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.

SOURDOUGH DRESSING WITH TRUFFLE BUTTER AND CANDIED CHESTNUTS

Steps:

• Spread cubed bread evenly on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees or until slightly toasted. Keep oven on. Cool bread and place in a large bowl.
• Melt 1/2 stick butter in a wide, heavy skillet over medium heat and add leeks, shallots, celery root, sage and thyme, seasoning with pepper. Cook until celery root is tender, about 7 minutes. Add apples and cook until fork tender, then add mixture to bread.
• Wipe pan, turn heat to medium high. Add 2 tablespoons butter and mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper and cook 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms release their liquid and most of it has evaporated.
• Add Madeira and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, scraping up any browned bits in pan. Add mushrooms and chestnuts to bread mixture.
• In a saucepan, bring stock and currants to a boil; pour over bread mixture and mix thoroughly. Mix in 1/4 cup truffle butter, the parsley and chervil. Add a little more pepper, and more salt if necessary.
• Increase oven heat to 375 degrees. Place mixture into a greased 9-by-13-inch baking dish, dot with remaining truffle butter and bake for 30 minutes, or until top layer is slightly brown and crisp.