CORNBREAD STUFFING WITH SAUSAGE AND CORN NUTS

Cornbread Stuffing With Sausage and Corn Nuts image

Cooking the pulverized corn nuts in butter along with the stuffing vegetables blooms them like spices, bringing out all their earthy, funky, wonderful corniness.

Provided by Rick Martinez

Categories Bon Appétit Thanksgiving Fall Side Stuffing/Dressing Sausage Chile Pepper Celery Sage Thyme Dairy Free Tree Nut Free Peanut Free Soy Free Onion

Yield 8-10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

3 lb. cornbread, cut into ¾" pieces (14-16 cups)
1½ lb. breakfast sausage, casings removed if needed
1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), plus more for pan
2 medium onions, chopped
4 celery stalks, chopped
Kosher salt
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 Thai chiles or 1 jalapeño (with seeds), chopped
¾ cup corn nuts, finely ground in a food processor, blender, or mortar and pestle (about ½ cup)
¾ cup dry white wine
1 Tbsp. finely chopped sage
2 tsp. finely chopped thyme
3 large eggs
Freshly ground black pepper
3½ cups turkey stock or low-sodium chicken broth

Steps:

Preheat oven to 325°F. Divide cornbread evenly between 2 large rimmed baking sheets and bake, tossing occasionally, until dried out and lightly browned around the edges, 40-50 minutes. Let cool at least 10 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 350°F.
Meanwhile, cook sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring and breaking up with a spoon, until lightly browned and cooked through, 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
Reduce heat to medium and melt butter in same skillet. Add onions and celery; season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, 8-10 minutes. Add garlic and chiles. Cook, stirring once, until very fragrant, about 1 minute. Add corn nuts and cook, stirring often, until very fragrant and vegetables are starting to brown around the edges, about 3 minutes. Add wine and cook, stirring occasionally, until almost completely evaporated, about 3 minutes. Add sage and thyme and toss to combine. Remove from heat.
Combine cornbread, sausage, and vegetable mixture in a large bowl. Whisk eggs and stock in a medium bowl until very well combined. Pour over cornbread mixture and let sit, gently stirring every minute or so, until cornbread has absorbed all or virtually all of the liquid. Season with salt and pepper (about 1 Tbsp. Diamond Crystal or 1½ tsp. Morton kosher salt).
Lightly butter a 3-qt. or 13x9x2" baking dish. Transfer stuffing to dish and tap dish lightly against counter to distribute and compact stuffing. Cover tightly with foil and bake until stuffing is very hot throughout and bubbles appear around sides, 40-45 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 425°F and remove foil. Continue to bake stuffing until top is lightly browned, 15-20 minutes longer.
Do Ahead: Stuffing can be baked at 350°f 3 days ahead. Let cool, then chill. Reheat in a 350°F oven before increasing temperature to 425°F and removing foil.