Looking for a hearty breakfast for hungry crowd of relatives?
Try a breakfast casserole, or as the italians call it, a strata.
It's a big breakfast that takes little time.
Just assemble ingredients in a pan the night before, refrigerate it,
and bake it the next morning.
Strata is made with things you usually have on hand.
Eggs, milk, and bread.
This early morning dish can swing sweet like a bread pudding,
or savory like an omelet.
Strata starts with eggs, milk, and bread and can include
any mix of the following ingredients, depending on your recipe.
Meat, such as sausage or bacon.
Veggies, such as sweet onion or red bell pepper.
Cheese, such as cheddar or mozzarella.
And potatoes.
Although strata is typically made with bread,
some recipes call for fresh grated potatoes,
or thawed frozen hash browns in place of bread.
Here's how you make a strata in 4 steps.
Step One: Prep a casserole dish.
Grease the bottoms and sides of a 9 by 3 glass or ceramic casserole dish.
Step Two: Start your layers.
Like lasagna, you build strata in a series of layers.
Your recipe will call for specific components,
but in general, layer like this:
Bread. Your first layer is white bread. Crusts removed.
Use pieces of sliced bread, or you can cube it.
Veggies. Add cooked vegetables such as sauteed onions, or peppers.
Meat. Add cooked meat such as seasoned pork sausage, chorizo, or pieces of bacon.
Drain the cooked vegetables and meat before adding to the casserole so that
excess liquid doesn’t make your strata runny.
Cheese. Cover the meat and veggie layer with one, two, or three kinds of cheese.
Use grated cheese because it's easy to handle, and melts well.
Egg, milk mixture.
Whisk eggs and milk, or half-and-half, together. Milk is lower in fat,
but half-and-half makes a more creamy, custard like casserole.
As a general rule, use 3 eggs for every cup of milk, or half-and-half.
Then add any herbs or seasonings, such as fresh lemon,
thyme, rosemary or red pepper flakes.
Pour the egg mixture slowly over the top of the entire casserole
in a back and forth pattern so the liquid seeps through every layer.
Step Three: Wrap and refrigerate.
Cover the casserole with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
This allows the bread to absorb the egg mixture.
If you want to make and bake the same day,
simply refrigerate the casserole for as long as possible before baking.
Step Four: Bake the strata.
Preheat the oven to 350.
Remove the strata from the refrigerator, and let it sit for 20 minutes.
Take off the plastic wrap cover, and place it in the oven.
Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or as long as your recipe indicates
Your strata is done when the top turns golden brown, and when you
can insert a knife in the center, and it comes out clean.
Take the strata out of the oven, and allow it to sit for 10 minutes before serving.
Serve your warm breakfast casserole on plates with
sliced tomato and warm fruit compote.
Add a bubbly Mimosa, and you have an elegant breakfast or brunch.
