Butternut Squash Stuffing Recipe- Operating on Actual Meals

About this Stuffing

When you’re seeking to strive one thing new on your vacation menu, how about roasted butternut squash stuffing for a twist on the basic Thanksgiving aspect dish?

This recipe options conventional stuffing flavours like thyme, sage, apple, onion and celery with gentle however crispy sourdough bread. The roasted butternut squash provides a touch of sweetness that pairs effectively with the tart apple and contemporary herbs.

Not solely will this stuffing make your private home odor wonderful, it’s positive to be a favorite a part of your Thanksgiving dinner or another vacation meal.

Serve your do-it-yourself stuffing with mains like stuffed butternut squash or chickpea loaf or extra sides like mashed potatoes, inexperienced beans, gravy and Brussels sprouts.

Ingredient Notes

Please be aware the complete ingredient record is situated within the recipe card on the backside of the publish. This part covers notes on every ingredient and any substitutions.

• Butternut Squash: You’ll want 1 small to medium-sized butternut squash or about 5-6 cups cubed. You need to use frozen butternut squash cubes however I’d suggest utilizing contemporary. You’ll be able to substitute one other number of squash or strive candy potato.
• Olive Oil: You need to use olive oil or one other different cooking oil for roasting the squash.
• Bread: I like sourdough bread for stuffing however one thing like brioche or challah bread or any form of crusty bread can be good. In a pinch any bread works and you may as well use gluten-free bread if wanted.
• Butter: Use any model of plant-based butter. When you’re not vegan you should utilize common butter.
• Onion: You need to use white or yellow onion.
• Celery: You’ll want 4-5 stalks of contemporary celery.
• Apple: Use a tart inexperienced apple selection akin to Granny Smith.
• Garlic: You’ll want 3 cloves of uncooked garlic.
• Contemporary Sage: This stuffing actually shines with contemporary sage and thyme however you may substitute 2 tsp dried sage and 1 tsp floor thyme for the contemporary herbs if wanted.
• Contemporary Parsley: You’ll want contemporary parsley.
• Broth: Any vegetable broth you take pleasure in works. You need to use carton broth, do-it-yourself vegetable broth or combine up some bouillon.
• Nuts: It’s optionally available to sprinkle your stuffing with chopped pecans or walnuts. I like pecans over walnuts however each work. They add a little bit of nutty flavour and crunch.

Step 1: Put together the Bread

You’ve got two choices for making ready the bread on your stuffing. Dice the bread after which:

1. Unfold it out on a baking sheet and go away it out in a single day, uncovered, to dry it out.
2. Unfold it a single layer a baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes at 300 F till flippantly crisp and a little bit golden. Watch out to not burn it!

Fast Observe: Don’t skip this step or your stuffing might be mushy. Bread that’s been overlooked uncovered for a day is good, although if you happen to haven’t ready prematurely, the oven methodology works effectively. You need the bread to be a bit onerous and crunchy.

Step 2: Roast the Squash

Preheat the oven to 400 F and begin making ready the butternut squash. To arrange the squash:

1. Minimize the stems off the highest and backside so it’s flat on both finish.
2. Peel the squash then reduce it in half crosswise so you might have the highest half and backside half.
3. Minimize every bit in half lengthwise.
4. Scoop the pulp and seeds out of the underside half.
5. Dice the squash.

The recipe calls for five cups of cubed squash which is roughly a small to medium-sized squash. You need to use a bit kind of if you happen to like. The quantity doesn’t must be actual.

When you have additional squash, you should utilize it in a soup or salad like this roasted squash salad or sluggish cooker butternut squash soup.

Step 3: Saute the Aromatics

As soon as the squash is within the oven, chop your onion, celery, apple, garlic and contemporary herbs.

Soften the butter in a big skillet or pot. As soon as melted, add the onion, garlic, celery and apple and cook dinner these for 7-8 minutes till they’re softened.

Add the contemporary sage and thyme and cook dinner for one more 1-2 minutes.

Fast Observe: When you have a Dutch oven, you should utilize that to saute as it will likely be sufficiently big to combine the stuffing in. When you would not have a big pot, you should utilize any pan to saute then switch all the things to a mixing bowl to combine the stuffing in step 4.

Step 4: Combine the Stuffing

You’ll be able to both combine the stuffing up within the pot if it’s giant sufficient or switch all the things to a big mixing bowl to mix.

Mix the roasted butternut squash, bread and vegetable combination, together with 1.5 cups of the broth and blend effectively.

Style and season with extra salt and pepper. Observe that some vegan butters and vegetable shares are saltier than others, so style and season as you proceed by way of the recipe.

After you’ve combined it up, assess the quantity of broth wanted. The stuffing must be utterly moistened however not soaking or soggy. We’re going so as to add extra broth within the ultimate step earlier than baking.

Grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish then add the stuffing to the dish. Drizzle with extra broth and sprinkle with the pecans, if you happen to’re including them.

Step 5: Bake the Stuffing

Cowl the dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes then take away the foil and bake for one more 20-25 minutes till the bread is browned and crispy on high.

Variations

• Add as much as 1/2 cup dried cranberries while you combine all the things collectively.
• Attempt the identical quantity of leeks as an alternative choice to onions or strive a combination of each.
• Roast 1-2 cups quartered Brussels sprouts with the squash.
• Add as much as 1 cup cooked wild rice or a wild rice mix.
• Add 1-2 cups thinly sliced mushrooms with the onions.

Making Forward

• You’ll be able to dry out the bread 1-2 days forward. If the bread is prepared however you’re not able to cook dinner but, retailer the bread in a sealed bag or container till you’re prepared.
• You’ll be able to cook dinner the onion combination 1-2 days and advance and retailer it within the fridge.
• You’ll be able to bake the stuffing forward of time, cowl with foil then reheat within the oven at 350 F for 10-Quarter-hour earlier than serving.
• You’ll be able to assemble the whole casserole, up till the purpose of baking, then cowl and place in your fridge tightly coated for 1-2 days. Take away from fridge 45 minutes earlier than baking (to come back to room temperature). 

Storing

• Retailer leftover squash stuffing within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
• It may be saved wrapped within the casserole dish or transfered to an hermetic container.
• Reheat stuffing within the microwave in particular person parts or within the oven at 350 F for about 10 minutes till heated by way of.