Cajun Chestnut Holiday Dressing Recipe
Rated 5.0 stars by 1 users
Servings
8
Prep Time
1 minute
Cook Time
1 hour 20 minutes
Cajun Chestnut Holiday Dressing is a bold and flavorful twist on a classic holiday side dish, blending rich, seasonal ingredients with the vibrant kick of Spicelopedia™ Rajun Cajun seasoning. This dressing starts with cubes of crusty French bread that soak up a luxurious mixture of heavy cream, chicken broth, and egg. A mirepoix of onions, celery, and carrots is sautéed until tender, then combined with earthy, roasted chestnuts to add texture and depth. The Rajun Cajun seasoning infuses the dish with a zesty, spiced heat that perfectly complements the creamy, nutty elements. Baked until golden and crisp on top, this dressing is a crowd-pleaser that brings a warm, Southern flair to any holiday table.
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread (12 oz.)
- 15 fresh chestnuts
- 20 oz. reduced sodium chicken broth
- ½ cup chopped mirepoix (carrot, celery, onion) or trinity (green pepper, celery, onion)
- 1 tsp. avocado oil
- 1 Tbsp. mixed freshly chopped herbs (parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, or combination)
- 1 Tbsp. Spicelopedia™ Rajun Cajun seasoning (or more to taste)
- 1 large egg, beaten
- ½ cup heavy cream
Directions
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Cut the French bread into bite-sized chunks. Bake for 30 minutes, until the bread is crispy. Remove from oven and transfer to a mixing bowl.
- Add the Chestnuts to a pot of cold water. Bring to a boil, and immediately remove them using a slotted spoon. Let cool slightly.
- Increase the oven to 425 degrees. Using a knife, cut a slit in the chestnut shell. Place slit side down on a baking sheet. Bake for 15 -20 minutes, until the chestnuts are softened. Remove from the oven, let cool, then remove the shells and chop the nuts.
- Decrease the oven to 350 degrees. Soak the bread in the chicken or vegetable broth.
- Chop the vegetables. Add oil to the skillet and sauté for three minutes.
- Add the chopped chestnuts, sauteed vegetables, herbs and seasoning to the bread. Whisk the egg together with the cream. Add to the bread mixture. Toss to coat.
- Transfer to a pie plate or baking dish coated with cooking spray. Cover with tin foil and bake for 50 minutes.
- Remove the foil and continue to bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown and center is firm.
Recipe Note
If using 3-day stale bread, you can omit baking the bread.