A Smaller Gathering at Thanksgiving
Happy November! This holiday season is definitely different than ever before. In our family, we have a tradition on Thanksgiving to get together with my dad's side of the family. It's a fun time with about 20 - 30 people who are all really good cooks! But this year, with all the social distancing guidelines and precautions, there won't be a joyous and awkward family food fest. So if you're only getting together with like six people, then is roasting an entire turkey really worth it? Don't get me wrong - turkey leftovers are the bomb. Turkey sandwiches, turkey and white bean soup, homemade turkey broth, shredded turkey tacos... Yummm.
But a turkey is BIG and it makes a LOT of meat. So here's a way to enjoy the traditional turkey flavor, without risking your insanity defrosting and cooking a turkey all day long to only satisfy a few people. This one-pot Thanksgiving turkey stuffing comes together so easily. The ground turkey allows you to cook flavorful turkey and stuffing at the same time! All the flavors sing in this dish with the seasoned ground turkey, fresh celery and carrots, the herby thyme and parsley, the bit of heat from the chili flakes, the umami of the miso, and the magic of bread.
Traditional Thanksgiving with a Twist
There are two not-so-traditional ingredients that I added in this one-pot Thanksgiving turkey stuffing.
The first is miso paste. Miso is made of fermented soybeans. It adds a whole new dimension of salty, umami, rich flavor to your Thanksgiving stuffing.
Chili flakes are one of my favorite spices to add to savory dishes. In small amounts, it doesn't add "spicy" to the point of a fire explosion on your tongue. Instead, it adds a pleasing warmth, like a cozy small fireplace you want to sit beside all night long.
What are some of your family's go-to recipes and traditions for the holidays? I sure will miss my Aunt Emily's cranberry trifle and my Dad's famous mashed potatoes. Since this year is different, I think it's the year to take a few risks and get a little creative with traditional dishes. Also check out my roasted veggies and sausage and turkey stuffed squash recipes, which are tasty, healthy and super simple for a small gathering this holiday season! Or if you're more of a turkey bacon person than a ground turkey person, make some bacon sage cornbread stuffing! 🙂
One-Pot Thanksgiving Turkey Stuffing
Ingredients
- 1 baguette, diced into large bite-size chunks (about 10 cups)
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 2 cups diced yellow onion
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups diced celery
- 1 cup diced carrot
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes
- ½ cup chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 tablespoon miso paste
- 2 large eggs
Instructions
- Dice the baguette into bite-size chunks, to get about 10 cups of bread cubes.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Over medium-high heat, melt the butter in a Dutch oven.
- Add the ground turkey and diced onion along with the salt and pepper. Cook until the meat is browned, about 8 minutes.
- Add the garlic, celery, carrots, chili flakes, parsley and thyme. Cook for another 2 minutes, until the garlic and herbs become fragrant.
- Move the Dutch oven off the heat. Mix in the bread cubes, and 1 cup of broth.
- In a small bowl, microwave the remaining 1 cup of broth for one minute. Whisk in the miso paste and two eggs. (The miso paste will more easily dissolve if the broth is warm). Combine the broth/miso/egg mixture with the rest of the stuffing.
- Cover the Dutch oven with the lid and cook in the oven for 40 minutes. Enjoy!!
jimerzen
Looks yummy! Maybe I could make for my special guests on Thanksgiving. Or we could grab some sushi and musubi and head out to a sunset.
strawberryandcream
Either would be delicious! Maybe you could make sushi with thanksgiving turkey?? Whaaaaat! 😳ðŸ˜ðŸ’¡
Markus + Micah
Yum! I love your photos here a lot. Can I just ask what those cut flowers are? They look lovely.
strawberryandcream
I'm like 90% sure they are carnations 🌸 They were a gift from my sweetie pie so I'm not totally sure. But they stay fresh and vibrant for weeks! 🥰
Markus + Micah
Please tell your sweetie pie I approve of him 100%.
strawberryandcream
Hahaha! Awww 🥰 I will tell him!!
🌸🌺🌼🌹🌷ðŸ’🌻 What's your go-to gift for your significant other when it's not like a “special occasionâ€?
LaDonna Remy
This sounds really delicious.
strawberryandcream
Thank you so much! ☺ï¸
Yum-number1
Wow!! This is a great post. Super convenient for all the smaller get-togethers this year! Thank you for sharing your ideas!!
strawberryandcream
Thank you!! That's what I was thinking too 😉 I hope you get to try it! 🦃