Description
This savory stuffing recipe combines smoked turkey bacon, fresh herbs, and rustic bread cubes to create a flavorful and comforting dish perfect for family meals and special occasions. Easy to prepare with simple ingredients, it offers a rich smoky depth balanced by bright parsley and sage, moist vegetables, and a natural gelling agent for a perfect texture that’s tender yet cohesive.
Ingredients
Scale
Stuffing Base
- 4 cups rustic bread cubes, lightly toasted
- 6 slices smoked turkey bacon
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Seasonings and Liquids
- 1 teaspoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon natural gelling agent
Instructions
- Prepare the Bread Cubes: Cut rustic bread into bite-sized cubes then toast them lightly on a baking sheet in the oven until they are golden and crisp to the touch, creating a sturdy but tender base for the stuffing.
- Cook the Smoked Turkey Bacon: In a large pan over medium heat, cook the smoked turkey bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon and set aside, leaving the flavorful bacon fat in the pan.
- Sauté the Vegetables: Add chopped onion and celery to the pan with bacon fat and sauté until soft and translucent, developing a fragrant base for the stuffing.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, gently combine toasted bread cubes, sautéed vegetables, crispy bacon pieces, fresh parsley and sage, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural), sea salt, and ground black pepper. Drizzle the vegetable broth gradually while tossing to moisten the mixture evenly without making it soggy.
- Add the Natural Gelling Agent: Incorporate the natural gelling agent into the mixture to help the stuffing hold together with a soft yet cohesive texture.
- Bake the Stuffing: Transfer the mixture into a greased baking dish and bake in a preheated oven at 175°C (350°F) for 30 to 40 minutes until the top is golden brown and crisp with a tender, flavorful interior.
Notes
- Toast the bread well to prevent mushiness and create contrast in texture.
- Add vegetable broth gradually to avoid soggy stuffing; it should be moist but hold its shape.
- Use fresh herbs for brighter, fresher flavors.
- Cook bacon first and use its rendered fat to impart smoky richness throughout the dish.
- Mix ingredients gently to keep bread cubes from breaking down too much.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: stuffing recipe, savory stuffing, smoked turkey bacon, fresh herbs, family meal, holiday side dish
