Porcini, Chestnut and Sausage Stuffing

By BlueSchmoo

Cook's Note

If you forget to leave the bread on the counter overnight to dry, toast it in an oven heated to 200 degrees for 30 minutes. This recipe makes a generous amount of stuffing. If the entire batch doesn't fit (loosely packed) inside the turkey, bake the leftovers in a separate dish.

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried porcini mushrooms
• 1 1/2 cups boiling water
• 1/2 pound slab bacon, finely chopped
• 1 small onion, finely chopped (1 cup)
• 1 leek, white and pale-green parts only, rinsed well and finely chopped
• 3 celery stalks, finely chopped (1 1/2 cups)
• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3/4 pound sweet Italian sausages, casings removed
• Liver from turkey, coarsely chopped
• 5 cups cubed, crustless white bread, dried overnight
• 2 cups coarsely chopped peeled chestnuts
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1 1/2 cups Giblet Stock
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
• ________________________
• MAKES 4 1/2 Cups
• 1/2 cup dried porcini mushrooms
• 3/4 cup boiling water
• 1/4 pound slab bacon, finely chopped
• 1/2 small onion, finely chopped (1/2 cup)
• 1/2 leek, white and pale-green parts only, rinsed well and finely chopped
• 1 Lg or 2 sm celery stalks, finely chopped (3/4 cup)
• 1 sm garlic clove, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 6 onces sweet Italian sausages, casings removed
• Liver from turkey, coarsely chopped
• 2 1/2 cups cubed, crustless white bread, dried overnight
• 1 cup coarsely chopped peeled chestnuts
• 1 1/2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
• 3/4 cup Giblet Stock
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Details

Adapted from marthastewart.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. Combine porcini with boiling water, and let soak for about 30 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until crisp, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a plate, reserving drippings in skillet. Add onion, leek, celery, and garlic to skillet, and cook until translucent and tender, about 10 minutes.

3. Drain porcini, reserving 1 cup soaking liquid. Coarsely chop porcini, and add to skillet. Cook for 2 minutes. Transfer mixture to plate with bacon.
Heat oil in same skillet. Add sausage, and cook, crumbling with a spoon, until browned, about 7 minutes. Add liver, and cook until browned, about 2 minutes. Add to bacon mixture. Let cool. (Mixture can be refrigerated overnight; bring to room temperature before using.)

4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 3 Qt Casserole, Combine bacon mixture, bread, chestnuts, and thyme. Pour stock and reserved porcini soaking liquid over the top. Season with salt and pepper, and toss. Let stand for 10 minutes, allowing bread to soak up liquid.

5. Transfer stuffing baking dish, cover if desired, and bake until heated through, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.