Description

Make the holiday meal special as well as delicious with this special herb and sausage stuffing to go along with the turkey and other side dishes.

Ingredients

• 1-2 T. olive oil
• 1 lb. loose sweet or hot Italian sausage (pork or turkey)
• 2 yellow or Vidalia onions, diced
• 4 large celery stalks, diced
• 2 T. minced fresh sage or 1 T. dried sage
• 1 T. minced fresh thyme or 1 1/2 t. dried thyme
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1/2 t. ground black pepper
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 lb. (about 8 c.) bagged stuffing bread cubes or fresh Italian bread, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1 c. chicken stock, plus more as needed

Steps

1. Heat 1 T. oil in a large (3-quart) saute pan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add sausage in small chunks and cook, stirring frequently, until the sausage is broken up and cooked through.
2. Transfer sausage to a very large mixing bowl (big enough to hold all the stuffing components), leaving the drippings in the pan. (If you're using turkey sausage and there isn't much fat left in the pan, add the second tablespoon olive oil.)
3. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir the onions and celery into the drippings/oil in the pan. Cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are very soft and translucent but not browned.