By Anastasia Papadimitriou
I think it’s important that everyone can be included in a Thanksgiving Feast, so, here’s a classical recipe, with a twist. This vegan stuffing is so tasty, you won’t even miss the meat, and, the best part is, it doesn’t only have to be part of the Thanksgiving table, it can honestly be eaten every day.
Ingredients
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 cup coarsely chopped cipollini onions
3 cups chopped & stemmed mushrooms, mix of shiitake & cremini
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 stalks celery, diced
1/4 cup chopped sage, plus 8 leaves for garnish
2 tablespoons minced rosemary
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
5 cups cubed crusty ciabatta + nine-grain bread*
3 kale leaves, coarsely chopped or torn
2 cups vegetable broth, plus more for reheating
1/4 cup dried cranberries
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease an 8x12 or 9x13 casserole dish.
In a very large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions, mushrooms, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and several grinds of fresh pepper, and let the mushrooms cook until they begin to soften, 5 to 8 minutes, stirring only occasionally. Add the garlic, celery, sage, and rosemary, and cook until everything is soft and the mushrooms are golden brown, 8-10 minutes.
Add the balsamic vinegar, stir, and scrape any bits off the bottom of the pan. Add the bread and the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil and toss to coat. Add the kale and cook until it begins to wilt about 1 minute. Add 1 cup of the broth and stir.
Transfer to a casserole dish and pour the remaining 1 cup broth evenly over the stuffing.
Sprinkle with the dried cranberries, remaining whole sage leaves and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Let sit for at least 15 minutes or until ready to serve.