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Gluten-free Wild Rice Stovetop Dressing will be a hit year-round

 
Gluten-free Wild Rice Stovetop Dressing will be a hit year-round, not just at Thanksgiving.
Gluten-free Wild Rice Stovetop Dressing will be a hit year-round, not just at Thanksgiving.
Published Nov. 10, 2016

We all have our favorite winter dishes and mine is stuffing — or dressing, technically, since I don't stuff it in a turkey.

The classic flavors lull me into feeling like I'm in white-capped mountains, even when I live in sunny San Diego and could pull off a Thanksgiving beach barbecue. Rosemary, sage, thyme, dried cranberries and a little sausage work winter-wonderland magic for me.

My oldest daughter is also a fan. Valentine is also gluten intolerant. For several years, I simply made my holiday dressing with dried gluten-free bread cubes, but we wanted other options that didn't involve fussing with gluten-free breads whose texture can be unpredictable in a dressing recipe. This Wild Rice Stovetop Dressing fits the bill.

It has all the classic taste of my grandma's holiday stuffing and none of the gluten. Plus, it's pulled together in under 30 minutes in one pan on the stove.

One link of turkey sausage is enough to add flavor and richness, so this dish is comforting without being overly heavy. Note, you can omit sausage entirely and use vegetable broth to make this dish vegetarian. Typical holiday herbs — rosemary, thyme and sage — can be dried or fresh, so use whatever you are buying for the rest of your meal.

Butternut squash adds a touch of welcomed color, sweetness and vitamins, and a small sprinkling of dried cranberries and pecans completes the holiday touch. But, feel free to serve this dish anytime. It's a perfect complement to any grilled or roasted meat or fish.

Food Network star Melissa d'Arabian is an expert on healthy eating on a budget. She is the author of the cookbook "Supermarket Healthy."