Herby Bread-and-Butter Stuffing for Two

Stuffing is often THE most traditional part of the Thanksgiving meal. This is a good recipe, but I would need to use a good sourdough wheat or levain bread. I would sauté 1/2 C diced celery with the shallots, followed by a quick sauté of 1 C sliced mushrooms. So feel free to add the ingredients or spices and herbs that will bring back your fondest memory of a Thanksgiving stuffing. To all those who will point out that this is “dressing” not “stuffing,” remember, “you say tomato, I say tomahto!”

Very good suggestions which illustrate the flexibility of a good recipe. I would need to omit the egg. No problem there, just add a bit more stock. As far as stuffing or dressing: you could use a bit less stock and stuff the bird with it, making it inarguably stuffing. Or, pour some pan drippings into it, and no one will ever know, except how delicious it is.

To prepare fresh bread, just tear up or cut bread roughly and toast lightly i a 250 or 300 F oven for a few minutes. If it seems to have dried out too much, just add more moisture (speaking from experience).

I have to start off by saying I’m not a stuffing/dressing person but I saw this photo and immediately thought, “now that’s something I think I can get behind.” Although Thanksgiving is happening on a much smaller scale, I still wanted it feel special with amazing food. Today I experimented with some recipes that I’ve been eyeballing, just to get a feel for timing and flow. This dressing recipe was on my list and it was everything! Crunchy, chewy, savory and anything but mushy. Loved it!

Dressing, is traditionally served alongside the turkey, if you grew up in the backwoods of South Carolina. Stuffing, however, is called that because it is literally stuffed in the turkey. So, yes, this is dressing. Not stuffing. It's a preparation thing, not a terminology. If you grew up in the backwoods of South Carolina, of course.

This is exceptionally good! The egg and broth make for a wonderfully light texture, unlike other dressings I have made. I used more traditional herbs (thyme, rosemary and sage), sautéing them in step 2. I wasn't quite up for dill, basil or cilantro in my dressing, but to each their own. It was the texture of the final product that set this apart.

Lol, no one cares if you call it dressing or stuffing.

I love these tips, esp the celery which I always find to be such a crucial element in stuffing. Yum...can’t wait. Any ideas on how to stale the bread? Maybe tear/cut it a day before and just leave out until the day?

I’ve never made stuffing before; but tried this recipe because of all the fresh herbs. I bought a half-loaf of garlic sourdough bread and a half-loaf of rosemary sourdough bread to use instead of plain bread. I don’t think the extra butter pieces on top are needed; but this the best stuffing I’ve ever had. I will be baking this more often than once a year. I highly recommend this recipe.

substitute olive oil for butter Before putting in oven, cook in cast iron skillet for 20 min on low. That makes the bottom crusty, too

Not at all. I always use egg. It helps keep it a bit moist and holds it together.

Excellent dish. I added an apple and used my challah bread.I used about 3/4 cup homemade stock and I did use the egg.

Needed 4 more servings than planned so tripled the ingredients. Used pain au levain for the bread and added 2 cups of mushrooms, which I sautéed in the same pan I’d just cooked the shallots in. Mushrooms added flavor and texture. The result was fabulous and a lot less fussy than other recipes for stuffing I’ve used in the past. Who needs sausage?

This is basically the stuffing I’ve made for more than 15 years. I have laid a turkey half or spatchcocked chicken over the stuffing and roasted it covered for 20 minutes and uncovered for 20-30. Always turns out with plenty of crispy, buttery, crunchy yum and a beautiful roasted bird on top. I do prefer Ciabatta for the bread and add chopped rosemary and sage as well as thyme because I love the flavor. I sometimes add sautéed finely diced and sautéed celery for my husband.

A propos Karen's comment about Thanksgiving traditions, in addition to adding celery and mushrooms, I added chestnuts.