Bread Stuffing with Leeks, Bacon, and Apple
By America's Test KitchenPublished on June 1, 2011
Time
3¼ hours
Yield
Serves 10 to 12
Ingredients
2 pounds hearty white sandwich bread (20 to 22 slices), cut into ½-inch cubes (about 16 cups)3 pounds turkey wings, divided at joints (see photo) (see note)2 teaspoons vegetable oil ¾ pound bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter, plus extra for baking dish2 leeks, white and light-green parts halved lengthwise, washed, and sliced thin3 celery ribs, chopped fine (about 1 ½ cups)2 teaspoons table salt 2 tablespoons minced fresh thyme leaves 2 tablespoons minced fresh sage leaves 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 2 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth 3 large eggs 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled and cut into ¼-inch dice
Before You Begin
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.
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- Return skillet to medium-high heat and add bacon; cook until crisp, about 8-10 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towel-lined plate and pour off all but 2 tablespoons of fat from the pan.
- Heat butter with rendered fat in skillet over medium heat. When foaming subsides, add leeks, 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.
- 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, apples, and bacon 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.
- 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.
Time
3¼ hoursYield
Serves 10 to 12Ingredients
2 pounds hearty white sandwich bread (20 to 22 slices), cut into ½-inch cubes (about 16 cups)
3 pounds turkey wings, divided at joints (see photo) (see note)
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
¾ pound bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces
4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter, plus extra for baking dish
2 leeks, white and light-green parts halved lengthwise, washed, and sliced thin
3 celery ribs, chopped fine (about 1 ½ cups)
2 teaspoons table salt
2 tablespoons minced fresh thyme leaves
2 tablespoons minced fresh sage leaves
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
3 large eggs
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled and cut into ¼-inch dice
Test Kitchen Techniques
Ingredients
2 pounds hearty white sandwich bread (20 to 22 slices), cut into ½-inch cubes (about 16 cups)
3 pounds turkey wings, divided at joints (see photo) (see note)
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
¾ pound bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces
4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter, plus extra for baking dish
2 leeks, white and light-green parts halved lengthwise, washed, and sliced thin
3 celery ribs, chopped fine (about 1 ½ cups)
2 teaspoons table salt
2 tablespoons minced fresh thyme leaves
2 tablespoons minced fresh sage leaves
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
3 large eggs
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled and cut into ¼-inch dice
Test Kitchen Techniques
Ingredients
2 pounds hearty white sandwich bread (20 to 22 slices), cut into ½-inch cubes (about 16 cups)
3 pounds turkey wings, divided at joints (see photo) (see note)
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
¾ pound bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces
4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter, plus extra for baking dish
2 leeks, white and light-green parts halved lengthwise, washed, and sliced thin
3 celery ribs, chopped fine (about 1 ½ cups)
2 teaspoons table salt
2 tablespoons minced fresh thyme leaves
2 tablespoons minced fresh sage leaves
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
3 large eggs
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled and cut into ¼-inch dice
Test Kitchen Techniques
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.
Before You Begin
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.
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- Return skillet to medium-high heat and add bacon; cook until crisp, about 8-10 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towel-lined plate and pour off all but 2 tablespoons of fat from the pan.
- Heat butter with rendered fat in skillet over medium heat. When foaming subsides, add leeks, 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.
- 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, apples, and bacon 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.
- 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.
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