Apple Fennel Stuffing
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While the turkey always gets top billing at Thanksgiving, everyone knows the real stars of the show are the sides. Despite all the time and effort it takes, we can count on one hand the number of times that the turkey has been properly cooked. So if you are considering cooking Thanksgiving dinner while camping this year, we’d highly recommend you to ditch the bird and go straight for what matters: the sides. The centerpiece of which should be this Apple Fennel Stuffing.
We’ve always had an affinity for stuffing. There’s something about a big heaping serving of aromatic carbs that just warms the soul. This camping friendly version doesn’t take much longer to prepare than store-bought Stove Top™ and isn’t loaded with high fructose corn syrup, sodium, and other preservatives. So now you can enjoy your stuffing with partially reduced guilt.
This recipe calls for one loaf of stale-ish bread. Easy enough, right? Just buy your bread a few days in advance and leave it out overnight. But moments of clarity and foresight like this are far and few between when camping. So if you forget, like we did, that the bread should be stale, we’ve got a few tricks for you.
If you remember in the morning, immediately cut the bread up in the 1” cubes and leave out, uncovered. This should firm the bread up enough by dinner time. If you remember moments before you’re supposed to start making it, then we suggest slicing the bread and toasting it slightly over a fire or in a pan. Slightly is the operative word.
So whether you’re making Thanksgiving in the great outdoors, or just have a hankering for some stuffing, give this Apple Fennel Stuffing recipe a try.
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 medium onion
- 1 large apple
- 1 large bulb fennel
- 1 tablespoon dried sage, (not ground)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 14 oz can vegetable broth
Instructions
- Cut the loaf of bread into 1" cubes and leave out overnight so that they become slightly stale (this helps them from turning to mush when you add the liquid). This step can (and should!) be done at home.
- Core and chop the apple and the fennel into bite sized pieces. Reserve the fennel fronds if they came attached. Dice the onion.
- Heat the oil in a dutch oven over medium high heat. Add the onions, apple, fennel, sage, and salt. Saute until the onions and fennel have softened, 7-10 minutes.
- Add the bread to the dutch oven. Pour the broth over the stuffing mixture, toss quickly to combine everything, and cover the dutch oven. Allow the stuffing to absorb the liquid over low heat for about 5 minutes. Uncover, toss, and serve!
Notes
Cutting board
Dutch oven
Large spoon
Measuring cups & spoons