Apple and Fennel Challah Stuffing (Pareve) Recipe

By
Miri Rotkovitz
Miri Rotkovitz
Miri Rotkovitz
Registered dietician, teacher, and award-winning cookbook author who has been exploring Jewish cuisine for almost 20 years.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 11/17/22
Apple and fennel challah stuffing pareve recipe

The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 80 mins
Total: 100 mins
Servings: 8 to 10 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
199 Calories
8g Fat
28g Carbs
5g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 to 10
Amount per serving
Calories 199
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g 10%
Saturated Fat 1g 7%
Cholesterol 20mg 7%
Sodium 302mg 13%
Total Carbohydrate 28g 10%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 6mg 30%
Calcium 59mg 5%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 215mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

For vegetarians and those with allergies, Thanksgiving stuffing is often a source of frustration. What could be a satisfying side is often cooked in the bird or else made with chicken stock, eggs, or dairy. Not this apple and fennel challah stuffing. The recipe relies on vegetable broth, and is baked on its own—a move that not only makes reheating easier, but that's also much safer than cooking it in the turkey. Want to make a stuffing that fits with just about everyone's diet? Start with an egg-free water challah.

Ingredients

  • 1 large loaf challah, cut into 3/4-inch cubes, about 10 cups

  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling

  • 1 large onion, chopped

  • 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

  • 2 medium bulbs fennel, thinly sliced

  • 2 large stalks celery, sliced

  • 2 medium apples, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces

  • 2 tablespoons fresh sage, finely chopped

  • 1 lemon, zested

  • 2 cups vegetable broth

  • Sea or kosher salt, optional

  • Freshly ground black pepper, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 F.

    Ingredients for apple and fennel challah stuffing
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  2. Oil a 9 x 13 2-inch baking dish or a similarly-sized (3 to 4-quart) casserole dish.

    Butter pan
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  3. Line 2 large, rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Divide the challah cubes between the baking sheets.

    Line baking sheet
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  4. Drizzle the bread with a little olive oil, toss with clean hands, and spread evenly into a single layer. Bake, turning once or twice while cooking, until dry and toasted, about 15 to 20 minutes. Set aside to cool, but leave the oven on.

    Drizzle challah
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  5. In a large skillet or pan set over medium-high heat, warm the oil. Add the onion, garlic, fennel, and celery, and saute until the onion is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.

    Warm oil
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  6. Add apple and continue to saute until warmed through, about 5 minutes more. Stir in the sage and lemon zest and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat. 

    Add apple
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  7. Place the toasted challah cubes in a large bowl. Add the sauteed vegetables and toss to coat.

    Place in bowl
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  8. Pour the vegetable broth evenly over the mixture and stir well. Season to taste with salt and pepper, if desired.

    Pour vegetable broth over mixture
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  9. Pour the stuffing mixture into the prepared baking dish and smooth the top. Drizzle with a little olive oil.

    Pour stuffing in pan
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  10. Cover with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.

    Cover with foil
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  11. Carefully remove the foil and bake for 10 to 20 minutes more, or until the top is golden, and the stuffing reaches your preferred consistency. 

    Bake
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  12. Serve and enjoy!

    Serve
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Tips

  • Choose firm, sweet-tart apple varieties for the best flavor. Gala, Pink Lady, Mutsu, or Fuji are all good choices. 
  •  Who says stuffing is a once-a-year dish? If you've got leftover challah on your hands, use it in this recipe (it's easily halved if you're not serving a crowd—just bake in a 9 x 9-inch or 2 quart baking dish). Serve with a Thanksgiving-inspired menu featuring Persian Roast Chicken, this easy homemade Cranberry Orange Chutney, and a side of scrumptious Green Beans with Pecans and Date Syrup.