Hi all! Today we have a really yummy stuffing for you….and it’s vegetarian friendly! My sister’s a vegetarian (the kinds that still eats fish though, hooray sushi dinners!) and poor her because she’s a part of a very carnivorous family. True story. Anyway, last year we posted a really tasty Sausage and Sage Stuffing with Dried Cranberries and Hazelnuts. I loved it so much that I used that stuffing last year for my family’s thanksgiving get together (along with my mom’s traditional stuffing she makes every year….which is so simple, yet so AMAZING). The sausage stuffing has become one of my absolute favorite stuffings! Sadly, my sister could only smell it and even more sad, stuffing’s her favorite thanksgiving dish. So this year I’ve decided not to be an inconsiderate a-hole and make a very vegetarian friendly stuffing that my big sis’ can chow down on as well as the rest of us meat eating Parks!
Okay, back to this years’ stuffing. I’ve used a combo of both squaw bread and whole wheat sourdough because I love the almost honey-kissed and mild flavor of the Squaw bread paired with the more hearty sourdough. There are diced persimmons in this stuffing and it pretty much makes this dish super special. I grew up eating persimmons as they are one of my mom’s favorite winter fruit. We had boxes upon boxes of these guys at our home every winter and when they began to over-ripen, to the point where it just begins to feel mooshy and the skin begins to wrinkle, my mom (the genius) would gently arrange them into large ziploc bags and stick them in the freezer. A couple months would go by with no activity involving the frozen persimmons until one day on a warm spring day my mom would take one of the frozen persimmons out of it’s frozen home, peel the skin back like a banana (while holding the shriveled and tough leaves) and hand it to me to eat….instant….all natural….persimmon….sorbet. Doesn’t this sound like the best thing EVER??? I told you my mom’s a genius. 
Persimmon and Squaw Stuffing
Serves 8 to 10
Ingredients:
12 ounces cubed (1/2 inch) and toasted squaw bread (about 9 1/2 cups)
6 ounces cubed (1/2 inch) and toasted whole wheat sourdough bread (about 5 1/2 cups)
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, divided
1 medium yellow onion, diced
3 celery stalks, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
14 cremini mushrooms, cleaned and thinly sliced
3 (slightly under ripe) fuyu persimmons, peeled and diced
1/2 teaspoon light brown sugar
2 1/2 tablespoons minced thyme
1 tablespoon chives, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons minced rosemary
28 to 32 ounces (3 1/2 -4 cups) high quality vegetable (or chicken) stock, warmed
2/3 cup finely grated gruyere cheese, optional
salt and pepper to taste
1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9”x 13” baking dish with 2 tablespoons butter and set aside.
2. Place both types of bread into a large mixing bowl and toss together. In a large skillet melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium high heat. Add onion, celery and garlic and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes or until vegetables begin to get translucent. Season with salt and pepper. Pour mixture over the bread.
3. Place skillet back over heat and melt 2 tablespoons butter. Sauté mushrooms for 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Pour mushrooms over the onion mixture and toss together.
4. Place skillet back over heat and melt 2 tablespoons butter. Add persimmons and sauté for 1 minute. Sprinkle with brown sugar and toss together. Sauté for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Pour persimmon- sugar mixture over bread and vegetable mixture and toss together.
5. Add thyme, chives, rosemary, and half of stock and gently fold together until well combined. Add remaining stock and fold until the entire mixture has been evenly saturated and completely mixed together. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Press mixture into the prepared baking dish and cover with foil. Bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and top stuffing with small dots of the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and grated gruyere (if using).
7. Bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes or until the top has become golden brown. Allow stuffing to cool for 5 minutes. Serve.
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Yikes. You might consider using a less offensive word to describe that type of bread.
I feel/hope people are familiar enough with this type of bread that they would know we’re not trying be offensive whatsoever!!!
Any suggestions?
I have never heard of “squaw” bread, perhaps you mean bannock? Like that term better
No, not at all. Bannock is totally different from the kind I used. This squaw bread isn’t a flat bread/fry bread, it’s a slightly sweet flavored bread.
I love the idea of using persimmons in stuffing! It’s one of my mom’s favorites as well so I’ll definitely have to make this for thanksgiving this year. Thanks for the recipe and awesome post!
Wow, really gorgeous pictures today! I’ve yet to cook with a persimmon. It’s nice to know there’s the option of making stuffing with it.
I have NEVER used persimmons, but I think this would be a lovely start!
This looks phenomenal!!! What a lovely and uber colorful play on traditional stuffing. This would be such a great addition to my traditional Thanksgiving feast.
xx. Lou
I am normally not a stuffing person but you just made me want some! I love the persimmon! And the gorgeous greenery. Your photos just POP off the page!
So pretty! This actually looks perfect for the holiday diner party that I will be styling!
I had never heard of Squaw bread before — totes thought this was a meaty dish at first glance
But this sounds so amazing! Stuffing is my FAVorite Thanksgiving dish and I can’t wait to get my hands on some! We are hosting Thanksgiving for about half the crowd’s worth of vegetarians, so this is a perfect idea! I might try it! thanks 
Whoa! This is super unique!
In the last picture, it kind of looks like the thyme leaves are sprouting up out of the stuffing
So cute! This sounds like it would be a fun unique addition to any Thanksgiving dinner!
Sounds nice. I’ve never tried to cook savoury dishes with persimmons. I only use them in salads and cakes. Thanks for the idea.
Wow, would never have thought about persimmons… wondering how it will taste like!
I am so excited to make this for tomorrow’s Thanksgiving feast! Do you think it can be made early (or at least some of it?) Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Hi Lauren, you can definitely make this ahead of time. I would maybe wait to make it until you need it; otherwise just double check on the moisture sitch before serving and top with a little bit more butter and stock before reheating (if the stuffing looks a little dry). Hope you like it! happy thanksgiving!
What a creative stuffing recipe! I love the hints of ‘sweet’- just perfect for the holiday season! Thanks for sharing…
-Shannon
Okay, so what IS squaw bread? I saw a link to this recipe on Pinterest, where it was called “Persimmon and Squaw Stuffing” and I admit I came over partly because I love persimmons but mainly because I was shocked at the title. “Squaw Bread” only marginally better. You say it’s sweet: is it like King’s Hawaiian Bread? or is it a quick bread of some sort?
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