Pocket Dressing Recipe (2024)

Recipe from Lora Smith

Adapted by Jeff Gordinier

Pocket Dressing Recipe (1)

Total Time
1 hour 25 minutes
Rating
4(58)
Notes
Read community notes

In a lot of states, people don’t just eat food on Thanksgiving; they hunt for it. Lora Smith, a writer and farmer with roots in Kentucky, sends along a recipe handed down from her great-grandmother, for her family’s “pocket” dressing: a baked patty of dressing that slides easily into the pockets and knapsacks of rabbit and quail hunters. The Smiths also have the patties at the table, where they are passed around on a platter.

Texture is key. The outside must be browned and crisp. Inside, softness comes from cornbread and biscuits, and chewiness from foraged mushrooms. A family member (traditionally, the oldest matriarch) leaves a thumbprint indentation on each patty before baking, so that a little gravy can settle and soak in.

The hunt continued through Thanksgiving weekend. “They’d again take the leftover dressing wrapped in wax paper with them, and sometimes turkey sandwiches or turkey with fresh biscuits pulled out of the oven that morning,” Ms. Smith said. “My father always carried a small backpack where he kept extra leftovers and cold bottles of co*ke. His other job was to carry the rabbits and quail they shot in the backpack.” When the weather was especially chilly, the patties solved another problem. According to Ms. Smith, “they also served as nice hand warmers.” —Jeff Gordinier

Featured in: The United States of Thanksgiving

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Ingredients

Yield:24 patties

  • Olive oil, for the muffin tins
  • 1pound buttermilk biscuits (about 12 2½-inch biscuits) or ½ loaf stale white bread
  • 1batch cornbread from 8-inch-square pan, preferably not sweet (see note)
  • 12tablespoons (1½ sticks) butter
  • 1large onion, chopped, (1½ cups)
  • 5stalks celery, chopped (2 cups)
  • 5sage leaves, roughly chopped
  • 10ounces roasted chestnuts (store-bought is fine), chopped
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1pound shiitake or cremini mushrooms (or a combination), chopped
  • 3eggs, beaten
  • 2 to 3cups turkey broth

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (22 servings)

339 calories; 19 grams fat; 7 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 8 grams monounsaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 36 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 4 grams sugars; 7 grams protein; 397 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Pocket Dressing Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil 2 12-cup muffin tins. Finely crumble biscuits and cornbread into a large bowl with your hands; set aside.

  2. Step

    2

    Melt 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to soften, about 5 minutes. Add celery and cook 4 more minutes. Stir in sage and chestnuts and season with salt and pepper to taste; transfer to the bowl with biscuit and cornbread crumbs.

  3. Step

    3

    Melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter in skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until they have released most of their liquid and are beginning to brown, about 8 minutes; remove to the bowl with onion mixture and crumbs.

  4. Step

    4

    Add eggs and 2 cups turkey broth to bowl and stir until everything is well-combined and moist. The mixture should hold together when squeezed in your hand. Add up to ½ cup more broth if mixture is too dry.

  5. Form mixture into 3-inch balls with your hands. Flatten balls slightly between your palms, then set them in prepared muffin tins. Use your thumb or fingers to form a dimple in the top of each. Fill dimples with turkey broth. Transfer to oven and bake until the tops are browned and starting to crisp, about 40 minutes. Serve alongside turkey, drizzled with gravy if you like, or wrap the patties individually if serving as a portable snack.

Tip

  • For best results, use a corn bread recipe that does not include sugar; it is also more authentic to use a recipe for corn bread baked in a cast-iron skillet.

Ratings

4

out of 5

58

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

JRj

I haven't used this recipe, but it is close to the one I learned from my mother and two grandmothers in Kentucky. Except for the shiitake, which sound like a good addition. My soul aches for such dressing. But put them in a sandwich bag if you're going to carry them in your pocket. A better use would be in a turkey sandwich, with cranberry sauce.

Louisa

Also a Kentuckian whose family has had this at every Thanksgiving, but without the thumbprint, which is a genius gravy holder. Thank you!

Maggie T

I love this recipe. It tastes very much like my mom’s who makes hers from memory. I’m glad I found these written directions! My wife and I can enjoy them with our Thanksgiving meal and freeze the leftovers. Whenever I get a “hankerin’” for dressing, I just pop one of these in the microwave. The extra broth keeps them from drying out. I can’t wait to make this year’s batch!

Michele

Wow, these are delicious! I added a cup of shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese, and had to replace the chestnuts with roasted pumpkin seeds. Next time I will decrease the stock, as these were so moist that many fell apart.

robinf

Can I freeze these?

Gaston

I like that the recipe doesn't depend on sausage or bacon as those overwhelm stuffing (IMO). But how many people does this recipe serve? It seems like a lot.

Louisa

Also a Kentuckian whose family has had this at every Thanksgiving, but without the thumbprint, which is a genius gravy holder. Thank you!

Kat

I would think sausage would be a great swap for chestnuts for those who are allergic?

JRj

I haven't used this recipe, but it is close to the one I learned from my mother and two grandmothers in Kentucky. Except for the shiitake, which sound like a good addition. My soul aches for such dressing. But put them in a sandwich bag if you're going to carry them in your pocket. A better use would be in a turkey sandwich, with cranberry sauce.

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Pocket Dressing Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to know if dressing is done? ›

Pour dressing into two 9×13 baking dishes and bake until lightly browned, about 30 – 45 minutes. To test doneness, shake casserole dish lightly. If the center of the dressing moves, then the dressing is not cooked through in the center.

What is the basic formula for salad dressing? ›

Here's my master salad dressing that I use as a base for every salad! You just need 1 tbsp vinegar, 3 tbsp oil and 1/2 tsp mustard. Finish with salt and pepper, or choose from any number of flavourings – garlic, fresh or dried herbs, pinch of spice, touch of honey.

How wet should stuffing be before baking? ›

The stuffing should be moist but not wet. If there is a puddle of broth at the bottom of the bowl, you've added too much. Add more bread to soak up the excess moisture. If the mix is still dry and crumbly, add more liquid and toss gently until it starts to clump together.

How long do you leave dressing on? ›

The original dressing should be left in place for up to two days (or as advised by the nurse or doctor), provided it is not oozing. The wound must be kept dry for two days. If the dressing becomes wet from blood or any other liquid, it must be changed.

What happens if you leave a dressing on too long? ›

If the bandage is left on for too long, the healing process will be disrupted, and the propensity for infections dramatically increases. Improper wound care can result in the skin coming into contact with moisture for too long, ultimately resulting in macerated skin.

What is the best vinegar for salad dressing? ›

White wine vinegar

This vinegar has a much mellower flavor than red wine vinegar and lacks the sharp tang of its sister vinegar. White wine vinegar is best used with more delicate salads and any situation where you want to add a hint of vinegar, but do not want that flavor to overwhelm the dish.

What kind of vinegar is used in salad dressing? ›

In addition to white wine vinegar, red wine, sherry, balsamic and cider vinegars can all be used in the same quantities as above. It's really down to personal taste and it's great to have a selection of vinegars in your cupboard to give variety to even the simplest salads.

What are the three basic types of dressing? ›

In Western culture, there are three basic types of salad dressing: Vinaigrette; Creamy dressings, usually based on mayonnaise or fermented milk products, such as yogurt, sour cream (crème fraîche, smetana), buttermilk; Cooked dressings, which resemble creamy dressings, but are usually thickened by adding egg yolks and ...

Why is my dressing gummy? ›

If your dressing doesn't turn out right, don't fret. You can usually fix it. If you find your stuffing is too dry, add additional warmed broth to it, stir well, and return to the oven, checking periodically. If the stuffing is overly wet and too gummy, cook it uncovered for a bit longer, checking periodically.

Why put eggs in stuffing? ›

Broth: Chicken broth keeps the stuffing moist without making it soggy. Eggs: Two lightly beaten eggs help hold the dressing together and add moisture. Water: You can add a few tablespoons of water, if you'd like, to achieve your desired consistency.

What temperature should dressing be cooked at? ›

Cook until the center of the dressing reaches 165 degrees. When checked with a food thermometer. Never place frozen dressing or other frozen food in a slow cooker, it will not reach proper safe temperature fast enough.

Why is my dressing still wet after cooking? ›

If the stuffing came out too wet and soggy (aka bread soup!) try not to over mix it, otherwise it'll turn into mush. Curtis Stone says to pour it on a large sheet tray and spread it out. Bake it on high heat to crisp it up, but make sure it doesn't burn.

How wet should uncooked dressing be? ›

Stuffing should be moist, not dry, because heat destroys bacteria more rapidly in a moist environment.

How do you know when to stop dressing a wound? ›

Once the wound has formed a scab, there is no longer the need to cover it with a bandage as the scab now acts as a protective barrier. Keep the area clean, but be gentle so that you do not accidentally remove the scab.

What are the stages of dressing a wound? ›

The correct dressing for wound management depends not only on the type of wound but also on the stage of the healing process. The principal stages of healing are: cleansing, removal of debris; granulation, vascularisation; epithelialisation.

When should you stop dressing a cut? ›

Change wound dressings often – how long you keep a wound covered depends on the injury, but five days is a good start. “There's a misconception that wounds need to be left open to air out, but it's best to keep wounds covered,” Alyssa said.

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