Vegan Seasoned Holiday Dressing

by Christine Pesta

Growing up, my mom would make this dressing every year. The only difference being that she used meat along with the other ingredients. I’ve always loved the seasonings, and the texture of the bread. It was always flavorful and never too soggy, or too dry. Thankfully, it didn’t take too much effort to convert her dish into one that was vegan-friendly.

I now serve this vegan version of her stuffing every year for at least two or three special-occasion meals. This can be served with your favorite vegan loaf as a side dish, or with a serving of roasted vegetables for a meal. You can drizzle your favorite vegan gravy over it. This stuffing is also very tasty the following day, that is, if you can manage to not eat it all in one sitting!

Ingredients
1 pkg. Pepperidge Farm Stuffing Mix
1/2 lb. Vegan beef grounds
1 Onion, chopped
1 Green Bell pepper, chopped
1 c. Vegetable broth
1 4oz. can of sliced mushrooms (or 1/3 – 1/2 cup fresh mushrooms, sautéed)
1/4 tsp. Black pepper
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. Sage
1/2 tsp. Garlic powder
1 Flax egg (optional)
1 T. Vegan butter (optional)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sauté the onions and peppers just briefly, then let cool before adding to the mixture. Mix all ingredients together well. Use additional broth to moisten if necessary, being careful not to make the mixture too wet – just enough so that it sticks to itself. Place in an 8 x 8 casserole dish, or baking dish of equivalent capacity. Place dish in oven for 35 minutes. Once top is browned and crispy, and stuffing is cooked through, it may be removed from the oven to cool slightly before serving. This can also be refrigerated and reheated should you need to bring it for a potluck, or have any leftovers.

Variations
Of course, everyone likes different things in their stuffing. Aside from the ingredients above, you can also add such things as chopped celery, carrots, leeks, raisins, or dried cranberries. Some may even wish to throw in a handful of pumpkin seeds or walnuts. If you choose to place leeks in your stuffing, you will only need one, and it is recommended that you sauté it along with the onions and peppers before placing it with the other ingredients to be mixed together.