Caramelized Onion Cranberry Apple Stuffing

Caramelized Onion Cranberry Apple Stuffing

 

Ingredients

• 5 cups cubed whole-wheat bread, (about 8 slices)
• 5 cups cubed white bread, (about 8 slices)
• 2-3 cups vegetable broth, divided
• 1 Tbs olive oil or butter/ butter substitute
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced or 1 tsp garlic paste
• 2-3 apples peeled, cored and chopped
• 5 tsp chopped fresh sage, or 2 teaspoons dried
• 2 tsp chopped fresh thyme, or 1 1/2 teaspoon dried
• 2 green onions thinly sliced
• 3/4 cup chopped fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1/4 tsp salt
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Spread whole-wheat and white bread on a baking sheet and bake until lightly toasted, 15 to 20 minutes.
   
   
2. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add celery and onion; cook, stirring occasionally until everything is tender and the onions begin to caramelize, about 10-15 minutes. Season with a little salt and pepper.
    
3. Add apples, cook for 3 minutes longer. Add 1 cup vegetable broth, garlic, sage and thyme. Reduce heat to low and simmer until the apples are tender and most of the liquid has evaporated, 5 to 7 minutes.
   
   
4. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and add the toasted bread, green onions and cranberries. Drizzle additional 1-2 cups broth over the bread mixture and toss until evenly moistened but not too soggy (this is open to your own preferential interpretation). Season with salt and pepper.
   
   
5. Transfer stuffing to a lightly oiled casserole dish and cover with a lid or foil. Bake until heated through, 35 to 45 minutes. If you would like a crisp top, uncover for the last 15 minutes of baking.

Variations

 

         1.       Use chicken stock/broth instead of vegetable broth.

        2.      For a spicy meaty stuffing, brown ½ lb hot Italian sausage meat in the large skillet first. Remove the sausage from the pan when fully cooked and use the same pan to cook the onions and remaining ingredients.  Add the sausage to the stuffing mixture with all other ingredients before baking.

       3.      If you like a firmer stuffing, mix in two lightly beaten eggs to the bread mixture before baking. This will help set the stuffing like a savory bread pudding.