Mushroom Stuffing: Should You Add Mushrooms To Your Recipe?

Mushroom stuffing is a tasty and simple dish to make, perfect for Thanksgiving or any time of the year. The mushrooms are cooked in olive oil, deepening their flavour, and then mixed with bread cubes, herbs, and vegetables. The type of mushroom and bread used can be varied to suit personal preference, and the dish can be made vegetarian or vegan. The end result is a creamy, savoury, and bread-based pudding with an earthy flavour.

Mushroom stuffing recipe

Ingredients

• Mushrooms (white, cremini, shiitake, oyster, or button mushrooms)
• Bread (French loaf, baguette, sourdough, or rustic loaf)
• Butter
• Olive oil
• Eggs
• Broth (vegetable, chicken, or turkey)
• Herbs (sage, thyme, and parsley)
• Salt and pepper
• Onion
• Celery
• Garlic
• Maple syrup
• Parmesan cheese
• Bacon (optional)
• Sausage or pancetta (optional)
• Apples (optional)
• Walnuts (optional)

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Heat olive oil in a pan and cook the mushrooms until they are browned.
• Add onion, celery, herbs, and garlic to the pan and sauté for a few minutes until softened.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and broth.
• Cut the bread into 1-inch cubes and place them in a large bowl.
• Add the warm vegetable mixture to the bread cubes and toss to combine.
• Pour the egg and broth mixture over the stuffing and toss to coat.
• Mix in Parmesan cheese.
• Add more broth if the mixture looks dry.
• Transfer the stuffing to a greased baking dish.
• Cover the dish with buttered foil and bake for 30 minutes.
• Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
• Serve and enjoy!

Tips and Variations

• You can add bacon, sausage, or pancetta to the stuffing for a heartier dish.
• For a sweeter touch, add some maple syrup or peeled and cubed apples to the mixture.
• If you like nuts, try roasting some walnuts and adding them to the stuffing.
• Feel free to experiment with different types of mushrooms to find your preferred flavour and texture.
• This recipe can easily be halved or modified to suit your taste preferences.

How to cook mushrooms for stuffing

Mushrooms are a great addition to stuffing, especially for vegetarians. They add a depth of flavour and texture to the dish.

When it comes to cooking mushrooms for stuffing, there are a few methods you can use, depending on the type of mushrooms you are using and the other ingredients in your stuffing.

Firstly, it is important to clean the mushrooms before cooking. Mushrooms tend to have a lot of dirt on them, so give them a quick rinse in a colander under cold running water. Then, use a damp paper towel to wipe them and remove any remaining dirt from the caps and stems.

If you are using the mushrooms as the main ingredient in your stuffing, you can cook them in olive oil. This will help draw out their moisture and brown them, deepening their flavour. You can then add other ingredients such as onions, celery, herbs, and garlic to the pan and cook until softened.

If you are using mushrooms as part of a vegetable mixture for your stuffing, you can add them to a pan with some butter or oil and sauté until golden. You can then add other vegetables and herbs and cook until softened.

For a more crispy texture, you can remove the stems from the mushrooms and chop them finely. Cook the chopped stems in butter or oil until most of the moisture is evaporated. You can then add garlic and bread crumbs and cook until toasted, creating a crispy base for your stuffing.

When cooking mushrooms for stuffing, it is important to taste the mixture and adjust the seasoning as needed. You can also add broth or stock to the mixture if it seems dry.

Once your mushroom mixture is cooked, you can transfer it to a baking dish and bake it until golden and cooked through.

Bread types for mushroom stuffing

When making mushroom stuffing, it's important to use dry, slightly stale bread. The bread should be cut into bite-sized cubes to make it easy to eat. You can experiment with different types of bread, but it's best to avoid soft breads like brioche.

• Sourdough: This type of bread has a sturdy texture and a distinctive flavor that can enhance the taste of the stuffing.
• Cornbread: Using a packaged cornbread stuffing mix can save time, but you can also make your own cornbread from scratch and crumble it once it's cooled down. Avoid using recipes that include sugar.
• French bread: A country-style French loaf with the crust cut off can be used to make delicious stuffing. Cut the bread into 1-inch cubes before baking.
• Baguette: A traditional French baguette can also be used for mushroom stuffing.
• White bread: This type of bread can be combined with sourdough or cornbread to create a mixture of flavors.

When preparing the bread for mushroom stuffing, it's a good idea to bake the cubes in the oven until they are dry and slightly toasted. This will help them absorb the flavors of the other ingredients and create a cohesive dish.

Herbs and spices for mushroom stuffing

Mushroom stuffing is a great option for vegetarians and vegans, and can be a delicious addition to a Thanksgiving meal. The herbs and spices used in mushroom stuffing are key to creating a delicious, earthy flavour.

The type of bread used is important, and a crusty French loaf cut into cubes is a popular choice. The bread should be dried out before using, and some recipes suggest toasting the cubes in the oven.

For the herbs, sage is a popular choice, and is often used alongside parsley, thyme, and rosemary. Fresh herbs are recommended, but dried can also be used. The herbs are typically cooked with the mushrooms, onions, celery, and garlic, before being combined with the bread cubes.

Spices such as black pepper and salt are also commonly used in mushroom stuffing. Some recipes also include poultry seasoning, which contains various ground-up herbs and seeds.

Wild mushrooms are often used to create a rich, savoury, umami flavour. A mix of cremini, shiitake, and oyster mushrooms can be used, or white or button mushrooms for a milder flavour. Rehydrated dried mushrooms can also be used, and add a chewy texture.

Vegetarian mushroom stuffing

This mushroom stuffing is a tasty vegetarian alternative to meat-based stuffing. It's soft, moist, and fluffy, with a chewy texture. The recipe is simple and easy to follow, and you can experiment with different types of mushrooms and bread.

Ingredients:

• Mushrooms (white, button, cremini, shiitake, portobello, etc.)
• Bread (rosemary roasted garlic bread, baguette, sourdough, cornbread, gluten-free, etc.)
• Eggs
• Vegetable broth
• Butter
• Olive oil
• Onions
• Celery
• Herbs (thyme, sage, rosemary, parsley, etc.)
• Salt and pepper
• Walnuts (optional)
• Apples (optional)
• Cranberries (optional)
• Cheese (optional)

Instructions:

• Cook the mushrooms in olive oil until they start to brown, deepening their flavor.
• Stir in the onions, celery, herbs, and garlic, and let them soften for a few minutes.
• In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and vegetable broth together.
• Place the bread cubes in a large bowl and add the warm vegetable mixture, tossing to combine.
• Add the egg mixture to the stuffing and toss to coat.
• Mix in butter and cheese (if desired).
• Add more broth if the mixture looks dry.
• Transfer to a greased skillet or baking dish. Cover with foil and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.
• Remove the foil and bake for another 30 minutes, or until golden.
• For crispy edges, leave the foil off during the last 10 minutes of baking.

This vegetarian mushroom stuffing is sure to be a hit at your next holiday gathering!

Frequently asked questions