This stuffing recipe may become a weeknight ritual. It’s so much better than the pre-packaged stuff and it’s oh so delicious!
1 lb. ground sausage (buy the links and split if you can’t buy it loose)
1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil + 1/4 cup
Black pepper & Kosher salt to taste
2 loaves of bread – try to get something like focaccia, etc.
1 cup Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese
1 small-medium diced green pepper
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil – drained & chopped
1 small (4 oz.) can drained, chopped black olives
2 minced garlic cloves – or more to taste
4-5 large leaves torn basil
2 eggs
1-1/2 cups water
1/4 cup (4 Tbsp) butter cut into little cubes/chunks
Preheat your oven to 350 and get out a large rimmed cookie sheet (jelly roll pan) then grease the pan and set it aside.
Place the 1 tsp. oil into a skillet and when it’s hot crumble and cook the sausage until it’s no longer pink – this takes about 15 minutes – then set aside. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper then transfer to the baking sheet. Bake it for 10 minutes then place the pan on a wire rack to cool a bit.
Meanwhile, cut the flavored bread you bought into cubes, then place in a really large bowl. Add the sausage, cheese, green pepper, tomatoes, olives, basil and garlic. Break the eggs into a bowl or large Pyrex-type measuring cup, add water and whisk; pour this over the bread mixture and mix/toss it to coat.
Now butter a 13 x 9 baking dish and scrape the contents of the bowl into it. Dot with the butter and bake uncovered for about 30 minutes.