Fig, Apple & Sage Stuffing

You'll never go back to traditional butter-laden stuffing recipes after trying our low-fat version – ample flavor and moisture come from sautéed vegetables, juicy apples and broth!

Photo: Yvonne Duivenvoorden

By Julie O'Hara

Serves: 16
Hands-on time: 25 minutes
Total time: 35 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 24-oz loaf whole-wheat bread (680 g), trimmed of crust and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 to 3 carrots, peeled and finely chopped (about 1 cup)
• 3 to 4 celery ribs, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
• 1 large white onion, finely chopped
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 1 tsp chile powder
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• Fresh ground black pepper, to taste
• 10 to 12 unsweetened dried figs, chopped (about 1 cup)
• 2 apples (such as McIntosh, Cortland, Gala or Golden Delicious), cored and chopped
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth, plus additional 1/2 cup as needed
• 1 1/2 tbsp chopped fresh sage

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Divide bread among 2 rimmed baking sheets and arrange in a single layer; transfer to oven and bake for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring once, until lightly toasted.
2. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, heat oil on medium-high. Add carrots, celery and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in thyme, rosemary, chile powder, salt and pepper. Add figs and apples and stir well to combine. Remove from heat, add bread and stir to combine. Stir in broth. Stuffing should be uniformly moist but not wet; if needed, add additional 1/2 cup broth. Stir in sage. Stuff turkey and cook according to recipe.

Nutrients per 1/2-cup serving: Calories: 162, Total Fat: 3 g, Sat. Fat: 0 g, Carbs: 33 g, Fiber: 5 g, Sugars: 11 g, Protein: 6 g, Sodium: 324 mg, Cholesterol: 0 mg

Nutritional Bonus: This flavorful stuffing is a radical departure from the traditional variety, which can pack 280 calories and 13 grams of total fat into a 1/2-cup serving compared to just 162 calories and 3 grams of fat in our clean version.

TURKEY-FREE OPTION:If you’d prefer not to stuff your turkey or would like to enjoy this stuffing with a turkey-less menu, no problem! Simply coat a large baking dish with olive oil cooking spray and add stuffing. Drizzle with an additional 1 to 1 1/2 cups broth (you want a moist, but not wet, consistency), cover with foil and bake at 400°F for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake until the top is lightly browned, 10 to 15 more minutes
.