Sage & Onion stuffing- alternative to onion?

[Brian Reay]

I always serve sage and onion stuffing at Xmas, bread, onion, sage,
seasoning, egg to bind. My ‘secret’ recipe is very well received in the
family.

This year, we are having a second Xmas Lunch as not everyone is available
today (one daughter is a Dr on duty, 3rd daughter’s boyfriend is with his
family etc) and one of the guests can’t eat Onions (he has a Crones type
problem). We always take care to serve food he can eat or at least
alternatives. I’d like to cook some special sage / bread based stuffing but
without onions.

I’ve had a few ideas but, so far, on checking, things like leeks are also
out. The problem is the fibre. I’ve not checked apple yet, I plan to ask
about that, sage, apple, bread, would work I think.

Does anyone have any other ideas, please? Meal is on Sunday.

I also plan to serve pears poached in red wine but it seems they also cause
a problem. Anyone know of other fruits I could poach with pears as an
alternative, please? (We can’t normally eat Xmas pudding after a big lunch
and have a light pudding.)

[graham]

Post by Brian Reay
I always serve sage and onion stuffing at Xmas, bread, onion, sage,
seasoning, egg to bind. My ‘secret’ recipe is very well received in the
family.
This year, we are having a second Xmas Lunch as not everyone is available
today (one daughter is a Dr on duty, 3rd daughter’s boyfriend is with his
family etc) and one of the guests can’t eat Onions (he has a Crones type
problem). We always take care to serve food he can eat or at least
alternatives. I’d like to cook some special sage / bread based stuffing but
without onions.
I’ve had a few ideas but, so far, on checking, things like leeks are also
out. The problem is the fibre. I’ve not checked apple yet, I plan to ask
about that, sage, apple, bread, would work I think.
Does anyone have any other ideas, please? Meal is on Sunday.
I also plan to serve pears poached in red wine but it seems they also cause
a problem. Anyone know of other fruits I could poach with pears as an
alternative, please? (We can’t normally eat Xmas pudding after a big lunch
and have a light pudding.)

I attended a xmas eve turkey dinner last night and instead of bread, the
hostess used a rice/wild rice mix for the stuffing as 2 of her daughters
and some grandchildren are cœliacs. That's a radically different
stuffing so you don't have to use onions. As for a recipe, I'm afraid
you'll have to google.
I know they are out of season but perhaps you can find some peaches or
nectarines to poach instead of the pears.
Incidentally, my d-i-l is a Crohns sufferer and sensitive to milk and
cream. However, for xmas night I always make a seafood lasagne, laden
with cream *at her request*!!! She suffers once a year but the dish is
so delicious, she even snacks on the leftovers until it's all gone:-)
Graham

[Brian Reay]

Post by graham

Post by Brian Reay
I always serve sage and onion stuffing at Xmas, bread, onion, sage,
seasoning, egg to bind. My ‘secret’ recipe is very well received in the
family.
This year, we are having a second Xmas Lunch as not everyone is available
today (one daughter is a Dr on duty, 3rd daughter’s boyfriend is with his
family etc) and one of the guests can’t eat Onions (he has a Crones type
problem). We always take care to serve food he can eat or at least
alternatives. I’d like to cook some special sage / bread based stuffing but
without onions.
I’ve had a few ideas but, so far, on checking, things like leeks are also
out. The problem is the fibre. I’ve not checked apple yet, I plan to ask
about that, sage, apple, bread, would work I think.
Does anyone have any other ideas, please? Meal is on Sunday.
I also plan to serve pears poached in red wine but it seems they also cause
a problem. Anyone know of other fruits I could poach with pears as an
alternative, please? (We can’t normally eat Xmas pudding after a big lunch
and have a light pudding.)

I attended a xmas eve turkey dinner last night and instead of bread, the
hostess used a rice/wild rice mix for the stuffing as 2 of her daughters
and some grandchildren are cœliacs. That's a radically different
stuffing so you don't have to use onions. As for a recipe, I'm afraid
you'll have to google.
I know they are out of season but perhaps you can find some peaches or
nectarines to poach instead of the pears.
Incidentally, my d-i-l is a Crohns sufferer and sensitive to milk and
cream. However, for xmas night I always make a seafood lasagne, laden
with cream *at her request*!!! She suffers once a year but the dish is
so delicious, she even snacks on the leftovers until it's all gone:-)
Graham

Thank you for the response.

I was hoping to keep the stuffing base close to the original- changing to
rice would step away from that.

Peaches or nectarines are a good idea, I’ve had peaches poached in red wine
and can recommend it. I’ve not cooked it but it can’t be that different to
poaching pears. I was thinking of using our slow cooker to do the poaching-
rings on the hob will be tied up and it can be set going and left to get on
with the job.

Eldest Xmas lunch today was excellent- including her version of my ‘secret’
stuffing recipe.

[Brian Reay]

Post by Brian Reay
I always serve sage and onion stuffing at Xmas, bread, onion, sage,
seasoning, egg to bind. My ‘secret’ recipe is very well received in the
family.
This year, we are having a second Xmas Lunch as not everyone is available
today (one daughter is a Dr on duty, 3rd daughter’s boyfriend is with his
family etc) and one of the guests can’t eat Onions (he has a Crones type
problem). We always take care to serve food he can eat or at least
alternatives. I’d like to cook some special sage / bread based stuffing but
without onions.
I’ve had a few ideas but, so far, on checking, things like leeks are also
out. The problem is the fibre. I’ve not checked apple yet, I plan to ask
about that, sage, apple, bread, would work I think.
Does anyone have any other ideas, please? Meal is on Sunday.
I also plan to serve pears poached in red wine but it seems they also cause
a problem. Anyone know of other fruits I could poach with pears as an
alternative, please? (We can’t normally eat Xmas pudding after a big lunch
and have a light pudding.)

I thought I’d report on the results.

In the end, having not been able to find an acceptable alternative for
onions to substitute, I simply left them out. I made a small portion, with
just bread and sage, bound with eggs.

Other than coming out a bit hard- I probably should have reduced the
cooking time, it looked much the same as the main dishes of stuffing. Our
guest seemed to approve, he normally has to forego traditional sage and
onion stuffing (at least since his condition developed/ was identified) but
confirmed the onion free version tasted much as he remembered the real
thing.

[graham]

Post by Brian Reay

Post by Brian Reay
I always serve sage and onion stuffing at Xmas, bread, onion, sage,
seasoning, egg to bind. My ‘secret’ recipe is very well received in the
family.
This year, we are having a second Xmas Lunch as not everyone is available
today (one daughter is a Dr on duty, 3rd daughter’s boyfriend is with his
family etc) and one of the guests can’t eat Onions (he has a Crones type
problem). We always take care to serve food he can eat or at least
alternatives. I’d like to cook some special sage / bread based stuffing but
without onions.
I’ve had a few ideas but, so far, on checking, things like leeks are also
out. The problem is the fibre. I’ve not checked apple yet, I plan to ask
about that, sage, apple, bread, would work I think.
Does anyone have any other ideas, please? Meal is on Sunday.
I also plan to serve pears poached in red wine but it seems they also cause
a problem. Anyone know of other fruits I could poach with pears as an
alternative, please? (We can’t normally eat Xmas pudding after a big lunch
and have a light pudding.)

I thought I’d report on the results.
In the end, having not been able to find an acceptable alternative for
onions to substitute, I simply left them out. I made a small portion, with
just bread and sage, bound with eggs.
Other than coming out a bit hard- I probably should have reduced the
cooking time, it looked much the same as the main dishes of stuffing. Our
guest seemed to approve, he normally has to forego traditional sage and
onion stuffing (at least since his condition developed/ was identified) but
confirmed the onion free version tasted much as he remembered the real
thing.

Is he sensitive to all the aliums?

[Brian Reay]

Post by graham

Post by Brian Reay

Post by Brian Reay
I always serve sage and onion stuffing at Xmas, bread, onion, sage,
seasoning, egg to bind. My ‘secret’ recipe is very well received in the
family.
This year, we are having a second Xmas Lunch as not everyone is available
today (one daughter is a Dr on duty, 3rd daughter’s boyfriend is with his
family etc) and one of the guests can’t eat Onions (he has a Crones type
problem). We always take care to serve food he can eat or at least
alternatives. I’d like to cook some special sage / bread based stuffing but
without onions.
I’ve had a few ideas but, so far, on checking, things like leeks are also
out. The problem is the fibre. I’ve not checked apple yet, I plan to ask
about that, sage, apple, bread, would work I think.
Does anyone have any other ideas, please? Meal is on Sunday.
I also plan to serve pears poached in red wine but it seems they also cause
a problem. Anyone know of other fruits I could poach with pears as an
alternative, please? (We can’t normally eat Xmas pudding after a big lunch
and have a light pudding.)

I thought I’d report on the results.
In the end, having not been able to find an acceptable alternative for
onions to substitute, I simply left them out. I made a  small portion,
with
just bread and sage, bound with eggs.
Other than coming out a bit hard- I probably should have reduced the
cooking time, it looked much the same as the main dishes of stuffing. Our
guest seemed to approve, he normally has to forego traditional sage and
onion stuffing (at least since his condition developed/ was
identified) but
confirmed the onion free version tasted much as he remembered the real
thing.

Is he sensitive to all the aliums?

So it seems, at least the ones I normally cook with- onions, leeks,
garlic, shallots, even spring onions.


I was probably over cautions- different even utensils when stirring the
portion of beef in Guinness I made (I normally include shallots, as even
the chemicals can cause a problem (the sulphur I think)- killing off a
future son-in-law isn't good for family harmony ;-) He has assured me
such lengths are not required. He did ask for my beef in Guinness
recipe, so it couldn't have been too bad. Ditto the pork in cider-
although that normally has apple with it and, even cooked, that is a no-no.

He brought some Scottish Potato cakes which we are having with breakfast
tomorrow. I've to tried those before.

[graham]

Post by Brian Reay
I was probably over cautions- different even utensils when stirring the
portion of beef in Guinness I made (I normally include shallots, as even
the chemicals can cause a problem (the sulphur I think)- killing off a
future son-in-law isn't good for family harmony ;-)  He has assured me
such lengths are not required. He did ask for my beef in Guinness
recipe, so it couldn't have been too bad. Ditto the pork in cider-
although that normally has apple with it and, even cooked, that is a no-no.
He brought some Scottish Potato cakes which we are having with breakfast
tomorrow. I've to tried those before.

Genuine allergies are not to be taken lightly. My D-I-L's family houses
the coeliac gene and 2 sisters, 1 nephew and 1 or 2 nieces are on the
severe end of the spectrum. In fact, the nephew has recently been
diagnosed (at the Children's Hospital) and as little as one part per
million has an effect. His mother even had to discard chipped and
scratched cooking utensils, pots and pans as the damage could house the
odd molecule.
I'm hoping it remains very recessive in my grandchildren!

[Fruitiest of Fruitcakes]

Post by Brian Reay

Post by graham

Post by Brian Reay

Post by Brian Reay
I always serve sage and onion stuffing at Xmas, bread, onion, sage,
seasoning, egg to bind. My ‘secret’ recipe is very well received in the
family.
This year, we are having a second Xmas Lunch as not everyone is available
today (one daughter is a Dr on duty, 3rd daughter’s boyfriend is with his
family etc) and one of the guests can’t eat Onions (he has a Crones type
problem). We always take care to serve food he can eat or at least
alternatives. I’d like to cook some special sage / bread based stuffing but
without onions.
I’ve had a few ideas but, so far, on checking, things like leeks are also
out. The problem is the fibre. I’ve not checked apple yet, I plan to ask
about that, sage, apple, bread, would work I think.
Does anyone have any other ideas, please? Meal is on Sunday.
I also plan to serve pears poached in red wine but it seems they also cause
a problem. Anyone know of other fruits I could poach with pears as an
alternative, please? (We can’t normally eat Xmas pudding after a big lunch
and have a light pudding.)

I thought I’d report on the results.
In the end, having not been able to find an acceptable alternative for
onions to substitute, I simply left them out. I made a small portion,
with
just bread and sage, bound with eggs.
Other than coming out a bit hard- I probably should have reduced the
cooking time, it looked much the same as the main dishes of stuffing. Our
guest seemed to approve, he normally has to forego traditional sage and
onion stuffing (at least since his condition developed/ was identified) but
confirmed the onion free version tasted much as he remembered the real
thing.

Is he sensitive to all the aliums?

So it seems, at least the ones I normally cook with- onions, leeks,
garlic, shallots, even spring onions.
I was probably over cautions- different even utensils when stirring the
portion of beef in Guinness I made (I normally include shallots, as even
the chemicals can cause a problem (the sulphur I think)- killing off a
future son-in-law isn't good for family harmony ;-) He has assured me
such lengths are not required. He did ask for my beef in Guinness
recipe, so it couldn't have been too bad. Ditto the pork in cider-
although that normally has apple with it and, even cooked, that is a no-no.
He brought some Scottish Potato cakes which we are having with breakfast
tomorrow. I've to tried those before.

I was just wondering, and I know the result would be a very off-putting
grey colour, but could you substitute mushrooms for the onions in the
stuffing?