Faux Turkey and Mushrooms with Stuffing Bake

I made up this recipe for my faux American Thanksgiving spread. It works well to make the night before, which saves on last minute cooking.

Faux turkey and mushrooms ingredients

  • 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup sliced kastanje (chestnut) mushrooms.
  • 1/4 cup porcini mushrooms that have been soaked in 1/2 cup of warm water (keep the soaking water for the sauce).
  • 1/4 red pepper for colour (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 1/2 vegetable or mushroom bullion cube or miso
  • 125 grams crème fraîche
  • 1 package Vegetarische Slager Kipstuckjes (Vegetarian Butcher Chicken Chunks)
  • Fresh ground black pepper

Stuffing ingredients

  • 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2-3 celery stalks (finely diced)
  • 1 medium onion (diced)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 2 cups whole wheat bread cubes either dried a few days or toasted in oven about 30 minutes 150°C (300 °F) until bread is dry.
  • 1 1/2 vegetable or mushroom bullion cube
  • 1 cup of water, or a little more depending on how moist you like your stuffing.
  • 1-2 tablespoon fresh thyme, sage and parsley leaves
  • Fresh ground black pepper

Faux turkey and mushrooms preparation

  1. Put olive oil in a frying pan and saute Vegetarische Slager kipstukjes and mushrooms until brown.
  2. Add flour and saute for about 2-3 minutes to make a roux.
  3. Add soaked porcini mushrooms with the soaking water, bullion, and crème fraîche and cook until thickened.
  4. Fresh ground black pepper to taste.
  5. Put in the bottom of a square glass baking dish.

Stuffing preparation

  1. Put olive oil in a frying pan and saute celery, onions about 5 minutes.
  2. Add the garlic and saute another 1-2 minutes.
  3. Add water, bullion, thyme and sage and let simmer a few minutes.
  4. Turn off heat and toss in the bread cubes and fresh ground black pepper to taste.
  5. Place on top of the chicken and mushrooms in the glass dish and smash it down.
  6. Store covered in the refrigerator overnight.

Final preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 175°C (350 °F)
  2. Test the Bake covered about 20 minutes, then uncovered for about 20 minutes more.