This delicious gingerbread stuffing, inspired by Nigella Lawson, is the perfect addition to your holiday meal. It’s quick, easy, and packed with savory flavors from streaky bacon, sweet apples, and aromatic gingerbread. Whether you stuff your turkey or bake it separately, this flavorful dish is sure to impress your guests!
Ingredients Needed:
- 500g onions finely chopped
- 325g apples, peeled and cored, finely chopped
- 45g butter
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 750g streaky bacon, finely chopped
- Zest of 2 clementines or 1 orange
- 800g good shop-bought gingerbread loaves (such as McVitie’s Jamaica), loosely crumbled
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- Approx. ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
How To Make Gingerbread Stuffing Recipe?
- Prepare the Vegetables and Fruit: Using a food processor or by hand, finely chop the onions and apples.
- Cook the Onions and Apples: In a large saucepan, heat the butter and oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and apples, and cook for 10–15 minutes until softened.
- Add the Bacon: Finely chop the streaky bacon and add it to the onion and apple mixture. Stir frequently, cooking for another 5 minutes.
- Add the Zest: Stir in the zest of the clementines or orange.
- Combine with Gingerbread: Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool slightly. Once cooled, stir in the crumbled gingerbread. Let it cool completely if preparing ahead of time.
- Add the Eggs and Pepper: Just before cooking, stir in the beaten eggs and freshly ground pepper to bind the stuffing.
- Stuff the Turkey or Bake the Stuffing: Use the mixture to stuff your turkey, or transfer it to a generously buttered baking dish (approx. 25cm x 9cm x 7cm / 10 x 3½ x 3 inches deep).
- Bake: Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C (180°C fan) / gas mark 6 / 400°F for 45 minutes, either inside the turkey or in the baking dish. If baking in a less full oven, cover the dish with foil for the first 30 minutes to keep it moist.
- Cool and Serve: Let the cooked stuffing rest for 10 minutes before turning it out and slicing. Alternatively, spoon it directly from the dish if preferred.
Recipe Tips:
- Don’t Overcook the Bacon: Fry the bacon just until it’s cooked through, not crispy. This keeps it soft and flavorful in the stuffing.
- Cool the Mixture Before Adding Eggs: Let the stuffing mixture cool a little before adding the eggs to prevent them from cooking too quickly.
- Use Fresh Gingerbread Loaf: Fresh gingerbread makes the stuffing moist. Avoid dry gingerbread for better texture.
- Be Generous with Butter: Butter the baking dish well to help the stuffing cook evenly and taste extra good.
- Let the Stuffing Rest: Let the stuffing sit for 10 minutes after baking to make it easier to serve.
How To Store & Reheat Leftovers?
- Refrigerate: Let the leftover stuffing cool to room temperature before storing it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Freeze: Once cooled, place the stuffing in an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 2 weeks.
- Reheat: Heat the stuffing in a pan with a bit of butter or oil over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 290 kcal
- Total Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
- Sodium: 450mg
- Potassium: 150mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 42g
- Dietary Fiber: 2g
- Sugars: 12g
- Protein: 6g
Try More Nigella Lawson Recipes:
- Nigella Gingerbread Stuffing
- Nigella Ginger Cake With Lemon Icing Recipe
- Nigella Chocolate Gingerbread Cake
Nigella Gingerbread Stuffing Recipe
Description
This delicious gingerbread stuffing, inspired by Nigella Lawson, is the perfect addition to your holiday meal. It’s quick, easy, and packed with savory flavors from streaky bacon, sweet apples, and aromatic gingerbread. Whether you stuff your turkey or bake it separately, this flavorful dish is sure to impress your guests!
Ingredients
Instructions
- Prepare the Vegetables and Fruit: Using a food processor or by hand, finely chop the onions and apples.
- Cook the Onions and Apples: In a large saucepan, heat the butter and oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and apples, and cook for 10–15 minutes until softened.
- Add the Bacon: Finely chop the streaky bacon and add it to the onion and apple mixture. Stir frequently, cooking for another 5 minutes.
- Add the Zest: Stir in the zest of the clementines or orange.
- Combine with Gingerbread: Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool slightly. Once cooled, stir in the crumbled gingerbread. Let it cool completely if preparing ahead of time.
- Add the Eggs and Pepper: Just before cooking, stir in the beaten eggs and freshly ground pepper to bind the stuffing.
- Stuff the Turkey or Bake the Stuffing: Use the mixture to stuff your turkey, or transfer it to a generously buttered baking dish (approx. 25cm x 9cm x 7cm / 10 x 3½ x 3 inches deep).
- Bake: Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C (180°C fan) / gas mark 6 / 400°F for 45 minutes, either inside the turkey or in the baking dish. If baking in a less full oven, cover the dish with foil for the first 30 minutes to keep it moist.
- Cool and Serve: Let the cooked stuffing rest for 10 minutes before turning it out and slicing. Alternatively, spoon it directly from the dish if preferred.
Notes
- Don’t Overcook the Bacon: Fry the bacon just until it’s cooked through, not crispy. This keeps it soft and flavorful in the stuffing.
- Cool the Mixture Before Adding Eggs: Let the stuffing mixture cool a little before adding the eggs to prevent them from cooking too quickly.
- Use Fresh Gingerbread Loaf: Fresh gingerbread makes the stuffing moist. Avoid dry gingerbread for better texture.
- Be Generous with Butter: Butter the baking dish well to help the stuffing cook evenly and taste extra good.
- Let the Stuffing Rest: Let the stuffing sit for 10 minutes after baking to make it easier to serve.
Nigella Gingerbread Stuffing Recipe