Italian Stuffing with Sausage and Parmesan Cheese

Side Dish

Recipe courtesy of Thanksgiving 101 by Rick Rodgers

Makes 10 cups

Ingredients: 
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks with leaves, chopped
  • 2 red bell peppers, cored, seeded, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 lb Italian sausage (sweet or hot) casing removed
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed ot red pepper
  • 12 ounces, day old crusty Italian bread, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese, fresh grated is ideal
  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 1½ cup turkey stock (chicken stock OK to use)

Note: While Italian sausage and your favorite thanksgiving turkey may not sound as if they go together, take it from us - great!

Italian Stuffing with Sausage and Parmesan Cheese

Italian Stuffing with Sausage and Parmesan Cheese

Click image to enlarge

Method: 

In a large skillet heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, celery, bell peppers and garlic. Cook, stirring often until soft, about five minutes.
Add the sausage (without casing) and break up meat with wooden spoon and cook about ten minutes. Stir in the basil, oregano, salt and red pepper.
Transfer to a large bowl.

Add the bread and cheese and mix well (use you hands). Stir in the melted butter, wine and enough stock to moisten the dressing, about one cup.

Use to stuff turkey and roast turkey as you normally would - adjust time for stuffing. See Turkey Basics
or
Place in a buttered baking dish, drizzle with an additional 1/2 cup of stock, cover and bake as a side dish.

Author's note: When I asked my Italian-American neighbors how they made their stuffing, they all shared essentially the same recipe. It's got that old world flavor and aroma. For variation, some cooks add one cup of toasted pine nuts or one cup coarsely chopped black olives for even more flavor.


 

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