Chestnut & bacon cake

Contains pork – recipe is for non-Muslims only
Festive, flavoursome and filling, this chestnut and bacon stuffing is a winner

Prep:20 mins
Cook:1 hrs

Easy

Nutrition per serving

kcal 329
fat 19g
saturates 6g
carbs 28g
sugars 5g
fibre 2g
protein 13g
salt 1.49g

Ingredients

3 tbsp sunflower oil
3 onion, finely chopped
8 smoked, dry-cured streaky bacon rashers, chopped
200g vacuum-packed chestnut, most roughly chopped, plus 100g more for the top, halved, if you like
450g pack good-quality pork sausage, meat squeezed out
140g breadcrumb
2 thyme sprigs, leave picked
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp butter, melted

Tip

Prepare ahead
The stuffing can be made up to 48hrs ahead and chilled immediately. Remove from fridge just before cooking. Alternatively, freeze for up to a month - defrost completely in the fridge before cooking. Once cooked, it will keep in a low oven, or can be reheated, covered with foil, for 20 mins, while the turkey is resting.

Method

Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Heat the oil in a large frying pan, then fry the onions and two-thirds of the bacon, covered, for 10 mins until the onions are very soft. Once cool enough to handle, mix with the chopped chestnuts, sausagemeat, breadcrumbs, thyme leaves and egg, and season really well. Take out 250g for stuffing the turkey.
Butter a 23cm round tin, scoop in the remaining stuffing, press down a little, then top with the remaining bacon. Put onto a baking sheet, cover with foil and bake for 15 mins.
Uncover, grind over some fresh black pepper, then cook for 35 mins more until the bacon is turning golden. With 5 mins to go, top with the chestnut halves, if you like, brushing them with a little butter. Cut into wedges to serve.