Thanksgiving stuffing is normally made using white bread or croutons as the main ingredient although a lot of chefs and cooks favor grains, rice, cornbread, fruits and even vegetables. Much-preferred Thanksgiving fillings include grains and rice that provide exceptional foundations for making non-bread stuffing. Rice stuffing, also known as dirty rice is another choice and usually comes on Sunday dinner tables and holidays.
They are usually prepared with pepper, onions, livers, poultry giblets and seasonings. These ingredients are the ones that provide the rice with that “dirty” but flavorsome appearance. Wild rice may be added to your Thanksgiving stuffing – brown rice, white rice or bread. Wild rice is known for its nutty flavor and fibrous texture. For additional protein in your recipe, try healthy grains and legumes like rye and lentils. When using grains, be careful not to overcook them. Cook grains tender yet chewy and firm. They will finish cooking in any casserole or turkey dish.
Another much-loved Thanksgiving stuffing is bread. If you will be preparing bread stuffing, the packaged bread mixes will do. But like other cooks, you surely want to craft your own extraordinary concoction. There are some tips you must remember. Use a day-old firm or dense European-style bread rather than soft white bread. Retain the crust and cut the bread at half an inch cubes and air-dry all night. When you add meat or vegetables to the dressing, make sure that they are cooked and cut in qualified amount to the cubed bread. Add sufficient fluid to keep the dressing damp but not watery. Fresh chicken or turkey broth adds a nice flavor.
Finally, Thanksgiving will be a lot tangy with cornbread Thanksgiving stuffing. For some, if it isn’t cornbread, it’s not stuffing at all. When you are in a hurry, packaged cornbread stuffing is good although preparing cornbread from scratch will be more gratifying and quick. Cornbread must be made and frozen a day or a week before it will be used as stuffing. Cut bread in cubes and air dry them for the night. When you are ready for your dish, you can add full-flavored crisply cooked bacon, smoked ham or sausage. Thanksgiving stuffing is this versatile and all you have to do is choose what’s best for the holiday this year.