Masa Cornbread Stuffing With Chilies

From Bon Appetit, November 2010. Recipe by Rochelle Palermo.

• Ready In: 2 hrs
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 1  cup unsalted butter
• 3  cups  chopped  white onions
• 5  garlic cloves, minced
• 6  large anaheim chilies, seeded, chopped (scant 4 cups)
• 18  ounces  fresh poblano chilies, seeded, chopped (about 3 cups)
• 4  large fresh jalapeno chilies, seeded (optional)
• 1 1⁄2 tablespoons  new mexico chilies, ground
• 1  tablespoon  coarse kosher salt
• 3⁄4 teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
• 3⁄4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 3⁄4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1  cup  chopped fresh cilantro
• 1  masa  cornbread, 13x9-inch loaf, cut into 1-inch cubes (preferably day-old)
• 6  ounces monterey jack cheese, cut into 1/3-inch cubes (optional)
• 4  large eggs
• 1  cup  low-salt chicken broth

Directions

1. Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic; sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add all chilies; sauté until beginning to soften, 12 to 14 minutes. Stir in ground chiles and next 4 ingredients. Transfer vegetable mixture to bowl. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool, then cover and chill.
2. Preheat oven to 375°F Butter 15x10x2-inch glass baking dish. Stir cilantro into vegetable mixture. Place cornbread cubes in very large bowl; add vegetable mixture and toss gently. Toss in cheese, if using. Whisk eggs and broth in medium bowl, then pour over stuffing and toss gently to moisten. Transfer stuffing to prepared dish. Cover dish with buttered foil, buttered side down.
3. Bake stuffing until heated through, about 30 minutes. Remove foil; bake until top is golden, about 30 minutes longer.