Sage Bread Thanksgiving Dressing

Ingredients

• 10 cups unseasoned dried bread cubes, white or wheat (450 g)
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (85 g)
• 1 large yellow onion, finely diced (250 g)
• 4 celery ribs, finely diced (180 g)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt (6 g)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (1 g)
• 2 teaspoons dried rubbed sage (2 g)
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme (1 g)
• 2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth (590 g)
• 2 large eggs, beaten (100 g)

Instructions

1. Prepare pan and bread. Heat oven to 375°F and butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Put dried bread cubes in a large mixing bowl.
2. Cook vegetables. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, celery, salt, and pepper, then cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring often, until onion is translucent and celery is tender but not mushy. Stir in sage and thyme for 1 minute.
3. Whisk liquid. Whisk broth and eggs in a measuring jug until fully blended. Use warm broth, not boiling broth, so the eggs combine smoothly without setting. Keep the mixture beside the bread for easy pouring.
4. Mix gently. Add cooked vegetables to bread and fold carefully. Pour in half the broth mixture, fold, then add the rest. Stop when cubes are evenly damp, still distinct, and no liquid pools at the bowl bottom. Rest 5 minutes.
5. Bake covered. Transfer dressing to the prepared dish and spread it evenly without packing it down. Cover tightly with foil and bake 30 minutes, until edges are set and the center is steaming hot.
6. Finish uncovered. Remove foil and bake 15 minutes longer, until the top is deeply golden with crisp ridges. Rest 10 minutes before serving so the center settles and portions scoop cleanly.

Notes

• For firmer dressing, add the final 1/2 cup broth only if cubes look dry after folding. Bread dryness changes absorption.
• For a meatless pan, use low-sodium vegetable broth. Taste before adding salt because packaged broths vary and flavors concentrate during baking.
• A deeper, smaller pan needs additional covered baking before uncovering, because its center heats more slowly than a 9-by-13-inch dish.