Calabacitas Stuffing is a wonderful, easy to make turkey stuffing with vegetables and a Southwest flair. Just a bit spicy and with lots of flavor.
Am I jumping the gun here publishing a turkey stuffing recipe a month before Thanksgiving? I got the idea for this, happened to have the ingredients, so I just had to try it. I knew it would be good, and sure enough, it is!
Calabacitas is one of my all-time favorite Southwestern vegetable dishes, and it’s even incredibly nutritious, Paleo, and low-fat, low calorie. I just knew it would be a great enhancement to traditional stuffing, blended in and stuffed into the bird. Calabacitas is a sautéed melange of zucchini, onion, garlic, corn, chiles, and spices. Yummy! In this recipe, I just mixed it in with a package of Stove Top Stuffing Mix prepared (almost) per the directions. (I used half the water; vegetables add liquid to the mixture.) Then I stuffed a turkey with it and after scooping it out, browned it in the oven. If you’re stuffing a bird with it, use the guidelines on the stuffing mix to determine if you need to double or triple recipe. (See notes)
It’s hard to resist – very tasty! Of course, the dressing is not low cal, Paleo, and low fat like the calabacitas. Sorry! Can’t have everything, you know….
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 2 cups diced zucchini
- 1 cup frozen corn
- ½ cup diced green chiles
- 1 tsp oregano
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 package Stove Top Stuffing Mix (for a bird up to 8 lbs)*
- 4 tbsp butter
- ¾ cup water
- optional: fresh parsley for garnish; parsley is also good blended into the mixture.
- Saute onion in olive oil over medium heat for 1-2 minutes.
- Add garlic, zucchini, corn, chiles, oregano, and salt and cook, covered for about 3 more minutes. Set aside.
- Bring ¾ cup water and butter to boil in medium saucepan. (Note this is half the water called for in the instructions on the stuffing mix box.).
- Stir in stuffing mix and let stand 5 minutes.
- Stir in the calabacitas sauteed vegetables and mix thoroughly.
- Place in 9"x13" baking dish and bake at 400 degrees 20 minutes or until browned. Or stuff turkey or chicken up to 8 lbs if desired and roast bird. Then spoon into baking dish and bake 20 minutes to brown.
- Serve & enjoy!
Note the stuffing mix calls for 1 box of stuffing mix for a bird up to 8 lbs, 2 boxes for a bird 8-12 lbs, and 3 boxes for 12+ lbs.
Commentary:
Am I jumping the gun here publishing a turkey stuffing recipe a month before Thanksgiving? I got the idea for this, happened to have the ingredients, so I just had to try it. I knew it would be good, and sure enough, it is!
Calabacitas is one of my all-time favorite Southwestern vegetable dishes, and it’s even incredibly nutritious, Paleo, and low-fat, low calorie. I just knew it would be a great enhancement to traditional stuffing, blended in and stuffed into the bird. Calabacitas is a sautéed melange of zucchini, onion, garlic, corn, chiles, and spices. Yummy! In this recipe, I just mixed it in with a package of Stove Top Stuffing Mix prepared (almost) per the directions. (I used half the water; vegetables add liquid to the mixture.) Then I stuffed a turkey with it and after scooping it out, browned it in the oven. If you’re stuffing a bird with it, use the guidelines on the stuffing mix to determine if you need to double or triple recipe. (See notes)
It’s hard to resist – very tasty! Of course, the dressing is not low cal, Paleo, and low fat like the calabacitas. Sorry! Can’t have everything, you know….
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