The Secret Ingredient for the Best-Ever Stuffing, According to Regis Philbin

When it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, the turkey may be the centerpiece, but everyone knows the meal is really about the sides. Depending on the household, stuffing (aka dressing) may be the side dish that comes under the most scrutiny, and for good reason. There are many ways stuffing can go sideways: too dry, too wet, too salty, not enough flavor.

But we just found stuffing inspiration from a rather unlikely source: the late television personality Regis Philbin. According to Philbin, the best stuffing is made with raisins. Before you stop reading, this addition is nothing like raisins in potato salad, which, in my opinion, should never be together.

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Why Regis Philbin Added Raisins to Stuffing

Regis Philbin shared his raisin tip a few years ago via a brief Thanksgiving segment on the Rachael Ray Show. While he didn’t provide the actual recipe, he noted that raisins in stuff was his Thanksgiving specialty and that they “look good and they taste great." "It's absolutely adorable," added. "You'll love it." He said to use “real moist raisins in your stuffing.”

In the video, you can tell that Philbin is trying to sell Rachael on the idea, but if you really think about it it's not that unusual. People add fruit to stuffing all the time, whether that's fresh fruit like apples and pears or dried fruit, like dried cranberries, currants, and apricots. The little hits of sweetness that the fruit provides is a nice contrast to the savory ingredients: bread, onions, sausage, etc.

Related: I Made Regis Philbin's Favorite Pasta and It's My New Go-To Weeknight Dinner

How to Make Regis Philbin’s Stuffing

This recipe works with all kinds of stuffing, whether you prefer a version made with white bread or cornbread. Start by soaking the raisins in hot water for about 15 minutes to plump them up. Scoop them out of the water with a slotted spoon and mix them with the rest of your ingredients. This tip is useful for homemade or dried stuffing from a box. You can use a combination of golden or brown raisins, or just one of them. And keep the soaking liquid, too. If your stuffing mixture is a bit dry you can add some of the liquid to help add sweetness and moisture.

Related: The Top Chef-Approved Two-In-One Stuffing That's My New Favorite Thanksgiving Side

There are tons of stuffing recipes out there, but if you want to try something new, give Regis Philbin’s tip a try. Who knows? You could become a fan, and it could become a new tradition in your family.

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