Strata
One of my favorite breakfast dishes is strata. Great for occasions when you want to serve something homemade, but also want to spend as little time as possible in the kitchen, and focus on guests/family. Strata is an easy, one-dish meal that you prep the night before, refrigerate and pop in the oven the next morning. There are endless combinations, but the base of strata is generally: bread, eggs, milk, herbs, butter, cheese and some sort of meat. I make a different version every year on Christmas Eve, for Christmas morning. It's the perfect pairing when having mimosas around the Christmas tree. This year I made a prosciutto strata with goat cheese, fresh basil and provolone. We were down in Florida visiting my folks, so we were able to have brunch outside by the pool. A nice break from the Northeast cold :)
18 slices firm, white bread (like sourdough, or English muffins), with crusts removed
- 6 oz. prosciutto, thinly sliced (Vegetarian substitute: Portobello mushrooms)
- 8 oz. goat cheese, crumbled
- 4 oz. provolone, grated (1 1/2 cups)
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
- 6 tablespoons sliced, fresh basil
- 5 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
Start by coating the bottom and sides of a 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish with nonstick butter spray. Line the dish completely with 1 layer of bread, cutting slices to fit. Arrange half the prosciutto evenly over the bread. Sprinkle half of the goat cheese and half of the provolone over the top. Sprinkle half of the green onions and half of the basil on next. Top with a second layer of bread. Layer the remaining prosciutto, goat cheese, provolone, green onions and basil over the bread. Cut the remaining bread into 1/4-inch cubes. Sprinkle over the top.
Now whisk the eggs, milk, mustard, and salt in bowl. Add some pepper. Pour this egg mixture over the strata; press down on the bread with a spatula. Drizzle melted butter over the top. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
In the morning:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Uncover the strata and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Bake until center is set, about 1 hour. Cut into large squares and serve.
