SAUSAGE FENNEL STUFFING

Sausage Fennel Stuffing image

Yield Makes about a 10 cups, enough to stuff a 12- to 14-pound turkey with extra to bake on the side

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casing discarded
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
2 medium-large onions, chopped fine
1 1/2 pounds fennel bulbs (sometimes called anise, about 2 medium), stalks trimmed flush with bulbs and bulbs chopped fine (about 4 1/2 cups)
2 teaspoons fennel seeds, chopped fine
1/4 cup Pernod or other anise-flavored apéritif
2 teaspoons dried thyme, crumbled
2 teaspoons dried tarragon, crumbled
5 cupscorn bread for stuffing or packaged corn bread stuffing

Steps:

In a 10- to 12-inch heavy skillet cook sausage over moderately high heat, stirring and breaking up lumps with a fork, until no longer pink. Transfer sausage with a slotted spoon to a large bowl.
Add butter to fat remaining in skillet and cook onions, chopped fennel, fennel seeds, and salt to taste over moderate heat, stirring, until fennel is softened, about 10 minutes. Add apéritif, thyme, and tarragon and cook, stirring, until most liquid is evaporated. Add mixture to sausage with corn bread or packaged stuffing and toss to combine well. Season stuffing with salt and pepper and cool completely. Stuffing may be made 2 days ahead and chilled, covered. (To prevent bacterial growth do not stuff turkey cavities ahead.)