Best 3 Southern Italian Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes

ITALIAN SAUSAGE STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and butter a shallow 3-quart baking dish. Melt 6 tablespoons butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, stirring and breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until lightly browned and no longer pink, about 6 minutes.
• Add the celery and onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the sage. Add the broth, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper; bring to a simmer, then remove from the heat.
• Whisk the eggs in a large bowl. Add the parsley, bread cubes and sausage-broth mixture and stir until combined. Transfer the stuffing to the prepared baking dish. Cut the remaining 2 tablespoons butter into small cubes and scatter evenly over the stuffing. Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes, then uncover and bake until golden, 20 to 30 more minutes.

SOUTHERN ITALIAN THANKSGIVING STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a deep 9x13 inch baking dish or roasting pan. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and stir in the sausage. Cook and stir until the sausage is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink. Drain and discard any excess grease. Place the browned sausage into a large mixing bowl. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil and pancetta in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the pancetta begins to brown, stir in the onions and celery, and cook until the onion softens and turns translucent, about 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic, and cook another 3 minutes until the aroma of the garlic mellows. Scrape the onion mixture into the bowl with the crumbled sausage. Add the French bread, cornbread, dried sage, poultry seasoning, salt, and pine nuts; stir well. Pour in the chicken broth and mozzarella cheese; stir until the chicken stock has been absorbed by the bread and the stuffing is evenly mixed. Pack the stuffing into the prepared baking dish, and dot the butter overtop. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, then remove the foil, and continue baking until the top has turned golden brown, about 15 minutes more. Sprinkle with the fresh sage and shaved Parmesan cheese to serve.

GRANDMOTHER'S SOUTHERN DRESSING WITH COUNTRY SAUSAGE AND TURKEY GIZZARDS

Steps:

• For the cornbread: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch-square casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside. Whisk together the melted butter, buttermilk and eggs in another large bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the cornmeal mixture and whisk until just combined.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish and bake until golden and firm to the touch, about 40 minutes. Makes 10 cups.
• For the dressing: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Put the onions, celery and bell peppers in a food processor. Add the gizzards and process until the mixture is very finely minced but not mushy.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the vegetable and gizzards mixture and the country sausage and cook, breaking up the sausage into small pieces with a wooden spoon and seasoning with salt halfway through, until the sausage is browned, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Transfer the sausage mixture to a large bowl and add the cornbread, melted butter, garlic powder and dried Italian seasoning. Season with salt and pepper to taste and gently combine with a rubber spatula. Whisk together the milk and eggs in a small bowl and pour over the cornbread mixture. Add the chicken stock and stir to combine. Stir in the parsley and sage.
• Spread the mixture into the prepared casserole dish, pressing the mixture lightly until packed. Bake until slightly golden and set, 35 to 40 minutes. Serve immediately with hot sauce if desired.