Chinese Sausage and Chestnut Stuffing Recipe

Chinese-American chef Doron Wong offers a modern take on traditional Chinese fare at Yunnan Kitchen in New York City, but the dishes that grace his own Thanksgiving table are a fusion of his two cultures. Here, Chef Wong shares his mother’s recipe for Chinese sausage and chestnut stuffing.

Photo: Keller & Keller Photography/StockFood

Chinese Sausage and Chestnut Stuffing
by Lena Wong
Serves 4 to 6

Lena Wong made this stuffing for her children every Thanksgiving “as a way to make sure we were brought up with American culture,” said her son, Doron Wong. “It has the perfect balance of both Eastern and Western flavors, so our whole family could enjoy the holiday without culture shock.”

Non-stick spray (she prefers Pam Original)
2 Tbsp. canola oil
3 links Chinese sausage, casing removed, diced small
½ lbs. sweet Italian sausage, casing removed, diced small
1 yellow onion, finely diced
1 bunch celery, finely diced
2 large cloves garlic, minced
Giblets from 1 turkey, rinsed and chopped
2 tsp. poultry seasoning (she prefers McCormick)
10 cups dried and cubed white bread
2 cups chestnuts, roughly chopped (sold at Asian supermarkets, ready to eat with no shell)
1 ½ cups chicken stock
1 ¾ tsp. kosher salt
¾ tsp. black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Prepare a 12-by-8 inch casserole dish with non-stick spray and set aside.

In a large sauté pan, warm the oil on medium-high heat. Add both Italian and Chinese sausages and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, approximately 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and reserve.

In the same pan, sauté the onions, celery, garlic, giblets until onions are translucent, approximately 7 minutes. Remove from heat.

In a large bowl, combine the onion mixture with the sausage mixture. Add the bread, chestnuts, and chicken stock and toss until evenly mixed. Season with salt, pepper and poultry seasoning.

Evenly distribute stuffing in the casserole dish and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the top has browned. Serve immediately.

More Thanksgiving stories:
What to Cook the Day After Thanksgiving
Cranberry Soda Recipe
Thanksgiving Leftovers Pizza Recipe

What’s on your Thanksgiving menu? Let us know below!