Breakfast Baking: Sweet and Savory— Ham and Cheese Strata

ham

🥗Healthier: turkey

💰Cheaper: bologna

Turkey is leaner, while bologna is often less expensive.

cheese

🥗Healthier: low-fat cheese

💰Cheaper: processed cheese

Low-fat cheese reduces calories, while processed cheese is often cheaper.

milk

🥗Healthier: almond milk

💰Cheaper: evaporated milk

Almond milk is lower in calories, while evaporated milk is often less expensive.

green onions

🥗Healthier: chives

💰Cheaper: onion

Chives are fresh and flavorful, while regular onion is more economical.

Cut the loaf of bread into 3/4 inch slices to make five ham and cheese sandwiches.

Butter all slices of bread with room temperature butter.

Spread a little apricot jam on one slice of bread for sweetness.

Layer a couple of slices of ham on top of the jam.

Add a mix of cheeses, specifically Gruyere and cheddar, to each sandwich.

Cut each sandwich in half after assembling them.

Butter a 2-quart baking dish and stack the sandwiches inside.

In a bowl, whisk together the eggs until there are no stringy pieces of egg white.

Whisk in Dijon mustard, chives, and salt into the egg mixture.

Add heavy cream and whole milk to the egg mixture and whisk until combined.

Pour the custard mixture evenly over the stacked sandwiches in the baking dish.

Let the mixture soak into the bread, using a bench scraper to ensure nothing is wasted.

Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

Place the baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any overflow.

Bake for about 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, checking for doneness.

If the top gets too dark, cover it with foil.

Check that the center is fully cooked through with a knife.

Let the strata cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens