The holidays are rapidly approaching, and that means plenty of parties, get-togethers and entertaining with family and friends which is why this is my favorite time of year! I always love to get together with friends and family and have a holiday brunch where we all bring a lovely dish, and sit around the table eating, drinking and talking for hours as we catch up on each other’s lives and laugh a little. That’s what the holidays are all about in my opinion. Sharing, laughing, loving, eating and drinking.
One of my favorite things to make for brunch is this Spinach, Ham and Cheese Strata, a delicious breakfast casserole, made with bread, milk, cheese, eggs, ham or bacon, and some fresh sautéed veggies all baked in to a big pot of goodness. It’s rich, creamy, hearty and incredibly delicious, a savory bread pudding, if you will – and a great way to use some of your leftover holiday ham, veggies and cheese! It goes great with a green salad, some fresh fruit and mimosas (and of course lots of coffee, tea and holiday pastries on the side!)
This recipe is really easy to make, especially with my amazing KitchenAid® Artisan® Series Stand Mixer. The best part about making a Strata is that you just throw all the wet ingredients and spices in the bowl of your stand mixer and whisk it all together on low speed for a few minutes to beat the eggs, milk and cheese together. Then you layer all the ingredients in the casserole dish the night before, allowing the bread to soak up all the luscious custard and flavors overnight, and then you just pop it in the oven and bake it in the morning. (And maybe even get to sleep in a little or go back to bed while it’s cooking!)
I used a French Bread Round Loaf, but you could also use whole wheat bread or croissants or Challah bread for a touch of sweetness. You can also substitute crumbled sausage, bacon or pancetta for the ham, and experiment with using some different cheeses if you like (I used shredded mozzarella, but any cheese that melts well like a Gruyere, Swiss or Cheddar will work great). You can also substitute broccoli or zucchini instead of spinach, or throw in some colorful peppers to add some extra color – the possibilities are endless, and all tasty using the same base recipe I created.
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium sweet onion, diced
- 6 cups fresh baby spinach
- 3/4 lb. thinly sliced Virginia or Black Forest Ham
- loaf of french bread, torn or cut into 1-inch cubes (about 7 cups)
- 3 cups cheese, shredded (Gruyère, Mozzarella, Cheddar)
- 9 large eggs
- 3 cups whole milk or cream
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- Kosher salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Dash of cayenne
- Spray a 9-by-13-inch glass or ceramic baking dish with cooking spray.
- Heat the butter and olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onion and season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add ham and cook for a few minutes, then add spinach until wilted.
- Arrange 1/2 of the bread in the bottom of the baking dish, top with half of the cooked onion, spinach and ham mixture.Next sprinkle 1/2 of the shredded cheese on top. Repeat the layering one more time without cheese on top.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, mustard, garlic powder, salt and pepper, cayenne.
- Pour the custard evenly over the dish, pressing the bread down with a spatula to absorb the egg and milk mixture.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and cover with a sheet of buttered parchment paper or foil. Refrigerate for 6-8 hours up to overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Bake the covered strata in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the strata is cooked through and is brown around the edges.
- To crisp and brown the top, remove the parchment or foil and turn on the broiler. Broil for about 3 minutes, just until the top is golden brown and cheese is bubbly.
- Let rest for 10-15 minutes, then cut the strata into squares and serve hot.
- Great with a green salad, fresh fruit and mimosas!
Other Brunch Casserole and Strata recipes you might enjoy:
Martha Stewart’s Fontina, Speck and Onion Strata
House Beautiful’s Strata Recipe
Southern Living’s Brie and Veggie Breakfast Strata
Taste of Home’s Brunch Strata Recipe
Williams-Sonoma Bagel Strata with Sausage and Spring Vegetables