Baked Denver Strata Recipes

DENVER STRATA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Arrange English muffin quarters in a single layer in a greased 3 quart rectangular baking dish. Set aside.
• Whisk eggs, milk, chile peppers, salt, and black pepper until well mixed. Pour egg mixture over muffin quarters. Using tongs or your hands, flip each muffin quarter over several times until all the bread is thoroughly coated with custard and wet.
• Sprinkle with ham, green onions, and olives. Top with roasted sweet peppers and cheeses. If desired, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 24 hours.
• Bake, uncovered, about 35 minutes (45 if chilled) or until knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

GRANDMA'S ANYTHING GOES STRATA

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Grease a 1 1/2 quart baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
• Whisk the eggs, milk, half-and-half, nutmeg, cayenne, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper together in a large bowl. Fold the greens, meat, bread and 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese into the mixture. Pour into the prepared baking dish and top with the remaining cheese.
• Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake until the strata is puffed, golden brown at the edges and set in the center, about 15 minutes more. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

EASY STRATA AND VARIATIONS

Steps:

• Saute mushrooms in 1 tablespoon of oil. Season with salt and set aside.
• Whisk half-and-half, eggs, salt and pepper until smooth. Spray a 9-by-13-inch Pyrex or ceramic baking dish with vegetable cooking spray.
• Line bottom with 6 slices of bread. Scatter half of the ham, and half of the mushrooms over the bread, then sprinkle with half of the scallions and cheese. Pour 1 cup of egg mixture over the top. Repeat layers with remaining bread, ham, mushrooms, cheese and scallions. Slowly pour remaining egg mixture evenly over top. Cover with plastic wrap, then weight down casserole with 3 16-ounce cans for at least 15 minutes to submerge ingredients. (Can be refrigerated overnight, but return to room temperature before baking.)
• Adjust oven rack to middle position. Bake in preheated 325-degree oven until custard is just set, about 50 minutes. Turn on broiler and broil until strata is spotty brown and puffy (watch carefully), about 5 minutes longer. Let stand for 8 to 10 minutes, then serve immediately.

BAKED DENVER STRATA

Steps:

• Arrange muffin quarters in single layer in greased 3 quart rectangular baking dish; set aside
• Preheat oven to 350. In large bowl, beat together eggs, milk, chile peppers, salt and black pepper with rotary beater or whisk til well mixed. Pour egg mixture over muffin quarters; sprinkle with ham, green onions and olives. Top with roasted sweet peppers, provolone cheese and cheddar cheese.
• Bake, uncovered, about 35 minutes til a knife inserted near center comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Makes 10 to 12 servings
• To make ahead, prepare as directed except do not preheat oven; cover with plastic wrap and chill for up to 24 hours. Uncover dish; discard plastic wrap. Cover dish with foil. Bake, uncovered in 350 oven about 45 minutes.