Stuffing
Source of Recipe
Cook's Illustrated
Recipe Introduction
America’s Test Kitchen is a 2,500-square-foot kitchen located just outside of Boston. It is the home of Cook’s Country and Cook’s Illustrated magazines and is the workday destination for more than three dozen test cooks, editors, and cookware specialists. Our mission is to test recipes until we understand how and why they work and arrive at the best version.
Published November 1, 2010. From Cook's Illustrated.
Serves 10 to 12.
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
Using ordinary sandwich bread “staled” in a low oven soaked up more liquid and made for a better-tasting bread stuffing recipe. To infuse the stuffing with meaty turkey flavor, we browned turkey wings on the stovetop, then used the same pan to sauté the aromatics. When we placed the stuffing in a baking dish, we arranged the seared wings on top to get every last bit of turkey juice and fat to render. Finally, placing the baking dish on a baking sheet protected the bottom layer against the oven’s heat.
Two pounds of chicken wings can be substituted for the turkey wings. If using chicken wings, separate them into 2 sections (it’s not necessary to separate the tips) and poke each segment 4 or 5 times. Also, increase the amount of broth to 3 cups, reduce the amount of butter to 2 tablespoons, and cook the stuffing for only 60 minutes (the wings should register over 175 degrees at the end of cooking). Use the meat from the cooked wings to make salad or soup.
List of Ingredients
2 pounds hearty white sandwich bread (20 to 22 slices), cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 16 cups)
3 pounds turkey wings , divided at joints (see note)
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter , plus extra for baking dish
1 large onion , chopped fine (about 1 1/2 cups)
3 celery ribs , chopped fine (about 1 1/2 cups)
2 teaspoons table salt
2 tablespoons minced fresh thyme leaves
2 tablespoons minced fresh sage leaves
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 1/2cups low-sodium chicken broth
3 large eggs
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leavesRecipe
1. Adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and heat oven to 250 degrees. Spread bread cubes in even layer on 2 rimmed baking sheets. Bake until edges have dried but centers are slightly moist (cubes should yield to pressure), 45 to 60 minutes, stirring several times during baking. (Bread can be toasted up to 1 day in advance.) Transfer to large bowl and increase oven temperature to 375 degrees.
2. Use tip of paring knife to poke 10 to 15 holes in each wing segment. Heat oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until it begins to shimmer. Add wings in single layer and cook until golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Flip wings and continue to cook until golden brown on second side, 4 to 6 minutes longer. Transfer wings to medium bowl and set aside.
3. Heat butter in skillet over medium heat. When foaming subsides, add onion, celery, and ½ teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened but not browned, 7 to 9 minutes. Add thyme, sage, and pepper; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add 1 cup broth and bring to simmer, using wooden spoon to scrape browned bits from bottom of pan. Add vegetable mixture to bowl with dried bread and toss to combine.
4. Grease 13 by 9-inch baking dish with butter. In medium bowl, whisk eggs, remaining 1½ cups broth, remaining 1½ teaspoons salt, and any accumulated juices from wings until combined. Add egg/broth mixture and parsley to bread mixture and gently toss to combine; transfer to greased baking dish. Arrange wings on top of stuffing, cover tightly with aluminum foil, and place baking dish on rimmed baking sheet.
5. Bake on lower-middle rack until thickest part of wings registers 175 degrees on instant-read thermometer, 60 to 75 minutes. Remove foil and transfer wings to dinner plate to reserve for another use. Using fork, gently fluff stuffing. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Turkey Wings to the Rescue
Baking stuffing with browned turkey wings on top creates the same rich savoriness of stuffing cooked inside the bird. Here is the basic formula; see the recipes above for instructions on adding meat and fruit.
1. Prep wings
Cut through the joint with a sharp chef’s knife. If the turkey wing comes with a tip, cut through this joint as well.
2. Brown Wings
Sear the turkey wings to trigger the flavor-producing Maillard reaction. Remove them from the skillet.
3. Sauté Aromatics
Cook the chopped onions and celery in rendered fat and butter to develop a savory flavor base.
4. Deglaze with Broth
Deglaze the pan with broth to release the fond and capture every last bit of flavor. Add mixture to dried bread cubes.
5. Top, Cover, Bake
Top the stuffing with the browned wings, cover with aluminum foil to trap moisture, and bake.
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