Focaccia Stuffing with Apples and Pancetta

Focaccia Stuffing with Apples and Pancetta

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Ingredients

STUFFING

  • 8 cups cubed ½ inch focaccia bread (about 1 lb)
  • 8 oz pancetta diced
  • 6 tablespoons butter
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 2 Gala apples cut into ½-inch cubes (2 cups)
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 2 eggs slightly beaten
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage leaves
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves

WALNUT TOPPING

  • ½ cup chopped walnuts toasted
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 teaspoon grated orange peel

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 325°F.
  • Place bread cubes on ungreased cookie sheet.
  • Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until dry and crispy.
  • Cool completely.
  • Meanwhile, spray 4-quart Dutch oven with cooking spray.
  • Add pancetta; cook over medium-low heat 10 to 13 minutes, stirring frequently, until crisp.
  • Using slotted spoon, transfer pancetta to large bowl; set aside.
  • Reserve 2 tablespoons drippings in Dutch oven.
  • Add butter to drippings in Dutch oven; heat until melted.
  • Increase heat to medium-high.
  • Add onion, celery, salt and pepper; cook 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender.
  • Add apples; cook 2 minutes longer.
  • Add broth.
  • Heat to boiling; reduce heat.
  • Simmer uncovered 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, using spoon to release browned bits from bottom.
  • Remove from heat; cool 5 minutes.
  • Add eggs, sage and thyme to pancetta in bowl.
  • Stir in bread cubes.
  • Add broth mixture; stir to combine.
  • Spray 13×9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish or 3-quart casserole with cooking spray.
  • Spoon stuffing into baking dish.
  • Bake uncovered 40 to 45 minutes or until center is hot and top is browned and crispy.
  • Cool 5 minutes.
  • In small bowl, stir together topping ingredients.
  • Sprinkle over stuffing.

Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

Kitchen Secrets

To toast walnuts, sprinkle in ungreased skillet. Cook over medium heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently until nuts begin to brown, then stirring constantly until nuts are light brown.

Kitchen Secrets

To make dicing the pancetta easier, place it in the freezer 10 minutes before cutting.
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Course Bread / Fruit / Main Dish / Pork
Holliday Christmas