Best Thanksgiving stuffing recipe starts with this one essential

Think you know the trick to the best Thanksgiving stuffing recipe? The unlikely secret to this recipe isn’t in the ingredients.

The best Thanksgiving stuffing recipe can be a hotly debated topic. Putting aside the controversy about putting the stuffing in the turkey or cooking it separate, stuffing can divide the Thanksgiving table. There a myriad of different recipes and everyone has a favorite.

Thinking about stuffing recipes, there are a few universal ingredients. There is normally a starch, seasonings, a fat and sometimes a textural element. Unfortunately, these ingredient categories are quite broad and leave a lot of room for interpretation.

Still, one essential is needed to create the best Thanksgiving stuffing recipe and it isn’t necessarily found at the grocery store. That amazing recipe all starts with a great chef’s knife. Without that key kitchen essential, the recipe will never come together correctly.

When creating any recipe, kitchen prep starts the dish on the right path. Carefully chopped, diced or julienned ingredients make a textural and a flavor difference to a dish. Uniform cuts allow for even cooking as well as enhance the dish’s appearance. Without the right knife, the basics of the recipe are flawed.

WÜSTHOF CLASSIC Cook’s Knife 8-inch

While everyone has a preferred knife, the chef’s knife is the workhorse of the kitchen. This knife can do almost anything that is needed during kitchen prep. It is definitely a kitchen essential.

Although choosing a knife can be quite personal, one of the best knives for novice, intermediate and even professional chefs is the WÜSTHOF CLASSIC Cook’s Knife 8-inch. Whether you slice, dice or chop, this knife handles it all.

One of the reasons why so many people gravitate to this knife is because of the weight and balance. Both of these characteristics are vital in a good knife. The weight needs to be sturdy yet not overly heavy in your hand. Since it is such a workhorse, no chef wants to feel fatigue after all the chopping and dicing.

Balance is also key in a knife. A knife needs to feel secure in your grip. As the blade swiftly works through kitchen prep, the knife should constantly feel stable.

With the biggest essential needed for the Best Thanksgiving stuffing recipe covered, now it is time to move onto the recipes themselves. Of course, there are numerous fun stuffing recipes, a basic stuffing can work in a variety of dishes. From the classic Thanksgiving meal to even a stuffed pork chop, having a basic stuffing recipe in your repertoire is key.

WÜSTHOF’s Chef Mike has shared his favorite stuffing recipe that every chef can master. Check it out.

"Basic StuffingIngredients:10 cups English muffin toasting bread2 eggs2 tsp. water1 lb. sausage (choose your favorite, I like hot Italian)3 Tbsp. butter1 onion, diced3 stalks celery, diced2 cups chicken stock2 tsp. poultry seasoning2 tsp. fresh parsley, minced½ tsp. black pepper¼ tsp. granulated garlicInstructions:1. Cut bread into cubes and place in a large bowl. Beat eggs and water together. Pour over bread cubes and mix to coat evenly.2. Brown the sausage in a frying pan or skillet and add butter, onion, and celery, cooking until the onion is transparent. Add chicken stock and remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, turn down and simmer 5 minutes.3. Add sausage mixture to bread cubes, mixing evenly. Do not over mix."

What type of stuffing recipe is your favorite? Do you have the best Thanksgiving stuffing recipe? Show us your dish by tagging #FoodSided on social media.