Bake at 350F/176.6C until puffed and golden and center does not move when shaken.
Strata Breakfast (with great fillings)
The essence of a strat breakfast is eggs, milk, cheese and bread. Personality comes from great fillers – choose the ones you like best. Riding the night before. Pop the casserole in the oven the next day for a great comfort food dish.
Fillings (choose 2-3), Note 1
- PREPARE PANS: Butter or spray one 9×13-inch (3-quart) dish or two 8×8 (2-quart) pans with oil.
- PREPARE FILLINGS: Choose 2-3 options. For vegetarian strata, I use spinach, onions, mushrooms. For meat-based ones, I use sausage, onions, and spinach. Spinach: Defrost and squeeze out the water with your hands or paper towels. Drain as much water as possible. Onions: Dice a medium onion or chop it in a food processor. Sauté in a large skillet in 2 teaspoons olive oil over medium heat until translucent (or cook 25 to 30 minutes, stirring, to caramelize, adding 1/2 teaspoon sugar to speed caramelization). Sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Mushrooms: Sauté in butter or olive oil for 5-7 minutes over medium-high heat. Sprinkle with salt and garlic powder. Sausage: Fry or grill until no longer pink over medium-high heat. Cut into small pieces. Or, remove it from the casing and sauté the ground sausage until cooked. Bacon: Fry or microwave. Or bake at 400F for 18-20 minutes. Crumble. Green Onions or Ham: Chop. No cooking necessary.
- PREPARE MAIN INGREDIENTS: Cut bread (with or without crust) into 1-inch cubes. Measure 8 packed cups. Place it in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the eggs, milk, and all seasonings. Grate cheeses.
- ASSEMBLE AND REFRIGERATE: To a large bowl with bread, add: the egg mixture; the vegetable filling; and cheeses (reserving 1/2 cup cheese to sprinkle on top). Mix lightly to combine well. Pour into a prepared saucepan or casserole. Sprinkle over the remaining cheese. Cover with cling film and refrigerate or foil for at least 30 minutes (1 hour is best) or overnight.
- BAKE AND SERVE: Heat oven to 350F/176.7C. Remove the strata from the refrigerator. Uncover and bake for 40-50 minutes until puffed and golden on top, and until center doesn’t shift when pan is shaken. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean. If using a slightly larger pan, bake 5-10 minutes less as the layers will be thinner. Do not overbake as the layers will dry out. Serve hot. Garnish with sour cream if desired.
- Fillings: Other filling options include bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, cooked ham, and asparagus. All the fillings should be cooked except the asparagus (which will have plenty of time to cook in the oven if it’s not too thick) and green onions. Crumbled goat cheese (about 1/2 cup) can also be added.
- Make Ahead: Baked Breakfast Strata can be kept in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Strata can be frozen, covered, for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter before baking the next day or overnight in the fridge.
