Squid can be stuffed with vegetables and grilled to perfection.
Stuffing generally refers to a side dish that's cooked inside a chicken or turkey, but it is also a centuries-old cooking technique used with pork loin, chicken breasts, bell peppers, cabbage leaves and a number of other dishes. Almost any food can work as a stuffing ingredient if it is finely chopped, seasoned with other flavors, and served or prepared in another ingredient. The best stuffing ingredients tend to have potent flavors, sturdy textures and the ability to compliment a variety of seasonings. Food safety is important when serving stuffed meat. Check out the the USDA website for helpful guidelines.
Breads and Starches
Poultry stuffings almost always include crumbled bread, bread crumbs or croutons. Cornbread is perhaps the most classic ingredient, but rustic loaves and flavorful ryes or pumpernickels also work well. As a general rule of thumb, add bread to your stuffing mixture just before cooking. Day-old or stale bread works best, since it is drier and can absorb more liquid. If you have fresh, moist bread, toast it first. Rice and grains, such as barley and quinoa, are often used to stuff vegetables.
Meat, Cheese and Seafood
Meats, especially finely chopped sausage, bacon, pancetta and other kinds of pork, add tremendous flavor and interest to stuffing. Make sure that any meat you plan to stuff is fully cooked beforehand. Shrimp and smoked oysters are also popular stuffing ingredients for poultry, and pair well with a variety of meats and vegetables. Cooked ground beef, chicken or pork are often used in stuffed vegetable dishes. Many stuffed entrees are finished with melted cheese on top.
Fruits and Vegetables
Nearly all savory stuffing recipes contain finely diced vegetables,such as mushrooms, celery, peppers, leeks and artichoke hearts. In general, stick with vegetables that soften but still retain an appetizing texture after cooking. Fresh tomatoes are not typically used to stuff dishes, whereas sun-dried tomatoes are an excellent stuffing ingredient. Veggies with high moisture contents (like mushrooms) should be sauteed first to release excess water because they can dilute the flavor of your meal. Dried fruits such as raisins or cranberries are also delicious in stuffing mixtures. Fresh chopped apples, which soften but remain intact while cooking, can also provide wonderful flavor and texture, especially paired with pork.
Nuts
Nuts such as pecans, almonds, walnuts and pine nuts are very common stuffing ingredients. They add wonderful texture to a stuffing because they don't soften or turn to mush in the heat. They also add superb flavor and richness, as well as a nutritional boost with extra protein and healthy fats. To ramp up their flavor, toast them in a dry skillet before adding them to your stuffing mixture.
Herbs and Aromatics
Garlic and onions always add flavor and complexity to stuffed dishes, and they are standard for most savory recipes. Poultry and fish are delicious when stuffed with lemons because acidic lemon juices tenderize the meat. A classic Italian recipe calls for stuffing a chicken with four lemon halves--a simple preparation that yields extraordinary flavor. Fresh herbs such as sage, rosemary and basil similarly add tremendous flavor. Try stuffing pork chops with a sprig of rosemary, or add a generous handful of thyme or a few bay leaves to a poultry stuffing.
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