Tortilla–Corn Bread Dressing

• Recipe by Dean Fearing

Chef Dean Fearing's sister Amy Reisner "will not come over for Thanksgiving unless I serve my tortilla dressing," he says. His delicious twist on corn bread stuffing is a kind of Thanksgiving chilaquiles, combining crispy fried tortilla strips with crumbled corn bread, jalapeño and cilantro. "If I didn’t serve it, it would be like a birthday party without the cake," says Fearing.

Ingredients

1. Vegetable oil, for frying fourteen 6-inch corn tortillas, halved and cut into 1/4-inch strips
2. 6 cups crumbled Skillet Corn Bread or store-bought corn bread
3. 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for the baking dish
4. 1 large onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice
5. 2 celery ribs, cut into 1/4-inch dice
6. 2 garlic cloves, minced
7. 1 large jalapeño, seeded and minced
8. 1 tablespoon minced cilantro
9. 2 teaspoons finely chopped sage
10. 2 teaspoons finely chopped thyme
11. 2 teaspoons chili powder
12. 1 quart Tortilla Broth
13. Kosher salt

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, heat 2 inches of vegetable oil to 350°. Working in batches, fry the tortilla strips over moderately high heat, stirring a few times, until golden and crisp, 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, trans­fer the strips to paper towels to drain, then put them in a bowl; add the corn bread.
2. In a large, deep skillet, heat the 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the onion and celery and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic and jalapeño and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the cilantro, sage, thyme and chili powder and cook until the chili powder is fragrant, about 1 minute.
3. Add the Tortilla Broth to the skillet and bring to a simmer over moderate heat. Pour the mixture over the tortilla strips and corn bread, season with salt and toss gently to coat. Let stand until the broth has been absorbed, about 30 minutes.
4. Preheat the oven to 350°. Lightly oil a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Transfer the dressing to the prepared dish and cover with foil. Bake for about 20 minutes, until heated through. Uncover and bake for about 15 minutes longer, until the top begins to brown. Serve at once.

Make Ahead

The unbaked dressing can be refrigerated for up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature before baking.