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Vegetable & Cheese Strata

Vegetable & Cheese Strata recipe image
This Vegetable & Cheese Strata is the ultimate comfort food for brunch or a hearty dinner. It features tender cubes of Italian bread soaked in a rich egg and milk custard, layered with sauted onions, mushrooms, scallions, and bell peppers. The savory mixture is bound together with sharp Cheddar and Parmesan cheese, creating a golden, puffed casserole with a creamy interior and crispy edges. Perfect for make-ahead meals, it can be assembled the night before and baked fresh in the morning. Serve it alongside fresh fruit or a light salad for a balanced meal that feels indulgent yet wholesome.
Cooking Method:
Cuisine:
Courses:
Difficulty: Advanced
Servings: 8
Calories: 680
Dietary: Gluten-free, Vegetarian
Description
This Vegetable & Cheese Strata is the ultimate comfort food for brunch or a hearty dinner. It features tender cubes of Italian bread soaked in a rich egg and milk custard, layered with sauted onions, mushrooms, scallions, and bell peppers. The savory mixture is bound together with sharp Cheddar and Parmesan cheese, creating a golden, puffed casserole with a creamy interior and crispy edges. Perfect for make-ahead meals, it can be assembled the night before and baked fresh in the morning. Serve it alongside fresh fruit or a light salad for a balanced meal that feels indulgent yet wholesome.
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cup Onion -- finely chopped
  • 1 cup Scallion -- finely chopped
  • 3/4 pound Mushroom -- sliced thin
  • 3 tablespoon Olive oil
  • 2 Red Bell pepper -- thinly
  • 9 cups Italian bread -- cut into 1-inch cubes (about 1 1/2 loaves)
  • 2 1/2 cups Extra sharp Cheddar -- coarsely grated
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese -- freshly grated
  • 12 large Eggs
  • 3 1/2 cups Milk
  • 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • to taste Tabasco sauce
  • to taste Salt and pepper
  • for greasing Butter
Directions
  1. 1
    Preheat the oven to 350F (175C).
  2. 2
    In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over moderately low heat.
  3. 3
    Add the chopped onion, scallions, and sliced mushrooms to the skillet.
  4. 4
    Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened and translucent.
  5. 5
    Add the thinly sliced bell peppers and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  6. 6
    Continue cooking over moderate heat, stirring frequently, for 10 to 15 minutes.
  7. 7
    Cook until the liquid released by the mushrooms has evaporated and the peppers are tender.
  8. 8
    Remove the vegetable mixture from heat and let it cool slightly.
  9. 9
    Butter a large shallow 4.5-quart baking dish.
  10. 10
    Arrange half of the bread cubes in an even layer in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
  11. 11
    Spread half of the cooked vegetable mixture evenly over the bread cubes.
  12. 12
    Sprinkle half of the Cheddar cheese and half of the Parmesan cheese over the vegetables.
  13. 13
    Arrange the remaining bread cubes over the cheese layer.
  14. 14
    Top with the remaining vegetable mixture.
  15. 15
    Sprinkle the remaining Cheddar and Parmesan cheese over the top layer.
  16. 16
    In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, Dijon mustard, Tabasco sauce, salt, and pepper until well combined.
  17. 17
    Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread and vegetable layers in the baking dish.
  18. 18
    Press down gently to ensure the bread absorbs some of the custard.
  19. 19
    Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate overnight.
  20. 20
    When ready to bake, let the strata stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.
  21. 21
    Bake in the preheated oven for 50 minutes to 1 hour.
  22. 22
    Bake until the strata is puffed, golden brown on top, and set in the center.
  23. 23
    Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 8

Amount Per Serving
Calories 680kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 47g73%
Saturated Fat 24g120%
Cholesterol 480mg160%
Sodium 950mg40%
Total Carbohydrate 59g20%
Dietary Fiber 2g8%
Sugars 12g
Protein 38g76%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Keywords: strata, breakfast casserole, bread pudding, vegetable bake, cheese casserole, brunch recipe, mushroom onion, cheddar parmesan, egg custard, italian bread, make ahead, comfort food, savory baking, vegetarian brunch, crowd pleaser, leftover bread, holiday breakfast, comforting meal, oven baked, layered casserole
Read it online: https://www.chefs-mate.com/recipe/vegetable-cheese-strata/