Stuffing without bread? Blasphemy. Bread is quite possibly my favorite food, as evidenced by the Spinach Mushroom Stuffing and Pomegranate Za’atar Stuffing I make every year (drenched in my Vegan Mushroom Gravy). But what about a gluten free stuffing to pacify Aunt Sally? A low carb dressing for cousin Bob? A little something for your keto cousin Karen? Cauliflower couldn’t be more different from bread, I get it! But this stuffing is so insanely delicious in its own right. Have I ever led your tastebuds astray? Rather than thinking of this as a replacement for the bread stuffing we all know and love, consider this a fun addition to the Thanksgiving recipe collection. You can have your bread stuffing and it it, too.
Ingredients
Don’t be intimidated by the lengthy ingredient list–it’s mostly just veggies and spices! You can also add cooked crumbled sausage (regular or vegan) if you’re looking for the flavors of sausage stuffing.
Cauliflower: The main event of our stuffing. Carrot: I love the sweet pop and color carrot adds. Rainbow carrots would be gorgeous here. Celery: I think celery is a must for stuffing but if you’re celery averse, you can omit it. Onion and garlic: Our aromatic flavor base! Mushrooms: Roasted mushrooms add major meatiness to this dish. I don’t recommend skipping them! I buy them sliced to lessen prep time. Cremini or Baby Bella are great. Butter: It may seem like a lot of butter but the fat is what makes this reminiscent of stuffing. It adds so much flavor! Olive oil can be substituted for dairy free. Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce: I wanted extra umami since there’s no broth in this recipe. Tamari can be used for gluten free stuffing. Egg: Egg adds a little more richness. This stuffing still doesn’t bind together like traditional stuffing, so it can easily be omitted for vegan or egg free stuffing. Sage and thyme: The spices that give our stuffing the token cozy herby flavor. Apple: I love the sweet tart bite of apple here for contrast. Granny Smith will add all tartness, so if you want more sweetness, use Honeycrisp or Golden Delicious. You want a crisp apple that’s not too sweet. Pecans: Pecans add so much dimension, flavor and needed texture. I really don’t think any other nut will have the same effect! I’d suggest walnuts if you absolutely cannot get pecans. I would not recommend almonds.
How to make healthy stuffing (step by step)
What’s healthier than a stuffing made of 100% veggies? As a Dietitian, you know I love seeing veggies playing a key role on the turkey table!
How to serve
enjoy for breakfast with a fried egg and hot sauce serve with all your favorite Thanksgiving sides serve as a side dish for dinner with fish, veggie burgers or chicken
How to store
Store leftovers in an air-tight container for up to 4 days.
More healthy Thanksgiving sides
Maple Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole Vegan Green Bean Casserole Pumpkin Pie Bars Favorite Cranberry Orange Sauce Skillet Cornbread Vegan Gravy
