Wild Rice Stuffing with Apple & Sausage

Prep Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 14

Ingredients:
  • 1 ¼ cups wild rice (8 ounces)
  • 4 cups cubed rye bread (1/2-inch cubes), preferably day-old
  • 1 pound sweet turkey sausage, casings removed
  • 2 cups chopped leeks, white and light green parts only
  • 2 tart apples, cut into 1/4-inch dice
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • 3 cups reduced-sodium chicken or turkey broth
  • 1 cup dried cherries
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans
  • 1 ½ tablespoons minced fresh marjoram
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 300°F.
  2. Place rice in a medium saucepan and add enough water to cover by about 1 1/2 inches. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer, cover and cook until tender, about 1 hour. (Or prepare according to package directions.) Drain well.
  3. Meanwhile, spread bread on a baking sheet; bake, stirring once halfway through, until dry and crisp, about 25 minutes.
  4. Increase oven temperature to 425°. Coat a 3- to 4-quart baking dish with cooking spray.
  5. About 15 minutes before the rice is done, cook sausage and leeks in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring and breaking up with a spoon, until the sausage is browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Add apples and celery; cook for 3 minutes more.
  6. Transfer the sausage mixture to a large bowl. Add the rice and bread, then stir in broth, cherries, pecans, marjoram, thyme, salt and pepper. Transfer to the prepared baking dish and cover tightly with foil.
  7. Bake the stuffing for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake until the top is browned, 15 to 20 minutes more.
Tips:

Wild rice is a whole grain! Whole grains are rich in fiber which has numerous health benefits. Turkey sausage is a healthier fat/protein option as well.

Nutrition:

Per serving: 291 calories; 13 g protein; 10 g fat; 40 g carbohydrates; 5 g fiber; 510 mg sodium

Recipe source: https://www.eatingwell.com/