Chicken Leek Strata Recipes

DO-AHEAD CHICKEN-LEEK STRATA

Steps:

• In 2-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add leeks; cook about 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until softened. Remove from heat.
• Line bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with half of the bread slices. Sprinkle with chicken and dill weed; layer with leeks. Sprinkle 2 cups of the cheese over leeks. Top with remaining bread slices; sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese.
• In medium bowl, mix remaining ingredients; pour over bread mixture. Cover tightly; refrigerate at least 4 hours but no longer than 24 hours.
• About 1 hour 15 minutes before serving, heat oven to 325°F. Uncover dish; bake 1 hour to 1 hour 5 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

CHICKEN CHEESE STRATA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a 10-in. ovenproof skillet, saute chicken in 2 tablespoons butter until no longer pink. Add broccoli, onion salt, thyme, rosemary and pepper; heat through. Remove from skillet and keep warm., In same skillet, toast bread cubes in remaining butter until lightly browned. In a small bowl, combine eggs, milk and soup; pour over bread cubes. Stir in chicken mixture. Sprinkle with cheese., Bake, uncovered, 15-20 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.

CHICKEN-LEEK STRATA

Steps:

• Melt butter in 1-quart saucepan over medium heat. Cook leeks in butter about 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until softened; remove from heat.
• Cut enough bread into 1-inch cubes to measure 5 cups. Mix bread cubes, leeks, chicken and dill weed. Spread bread mixture in ungreased square baking dish, 8x8x2 inches. Sprinkle with cheese. Mix remaining ingredients; pour over cheese. Cover tightly and refrigerate at least 4 hours but no longer than 24 hours.
• Heat oven to 325°F. Uncover and bake 50 to 55 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

PAN-ROASTED CHICKEN WITH LEEKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Put the bacon in a large heavy-bottomed ovenproof skillet and cook over medium-high heat until some of the fat renders, about 5 minutes. Push the bacon to the side of the pan. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then add it to the pan and cook, turning, until it starts to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and leeks, then arrange the chicken on top of the bacon-leek mixture. Transfer to the oven and roast until the chicken is golden and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 160 degrees F, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a platter.
• Carefully return the skillet to the stovetop over medium-high heat. Sprinkle in the flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the broth and half-and-half and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Bring to a boil and cook until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Stir in the parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice. Spoon the leek mixture over the chicken. Serve with the remaining lemon wedges.
• Per serving: Calories 418; Fat 24 g (Saturated 8 g); Cholesterol 147 mg; Sodium 322 mg; Carbohydrate 14 g; Fiber 1 g; Protein 34 g

DO-AHEAD CHICKEN LEEK STRATA

Steps:

• Prepare a greased 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan, over medium heat.
• Cook the leeks in butter about 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until softened; remove from heat.
• Line the bottom of the baking dish with half of the bread slices.
• Sprinkle with cooked chicken and the dillweed; top with the cooked leeks.
• Sprinkle 2 cups of cheese over the leeks.
• Sprinkle the cooked bacon over the cheese.
• Sprinkle with grated Parmeasn cheese over the bacon.
• Top with the remaining bread slices; sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup cheese.
• In a bowl, mix together the 8 beaten eggs, 4 cups milk, salt and pepper.
• Pour the mixture evenly over the bread and cheese in the baking dish.
• Cover tighty with plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least 4 hours, but no longer than 24 hours.
• When ready to bake, remove from the fridge and uncover, let sit out at room temperature 1-1/4 hours before baking.
• Set the oven to 325 degrees.
• Bake for 1 hour, or until a knife inserted in the middle, comes out clean.
• Let sit for 10 minutes before serving-- delicious!

HEARTY CHICKEN STRATA

Steps:

• Arrange bread cubes in a single layer on several ungreased large baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 20-30 minutes until golden brown and crisp. , Transfer to a large bowl. Stir in the chicken, potatoes, celery, carrots and parsley. In another large bowl, combine the milk, broth, eggs, butter, salt and pepper. Pour over bread mixture; toss to coat. , Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 45 minutes; stir. Bake 45 minutes longer or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve with gravy if desired.

SAVORY STRATA

Steps:

• Whisk together milk, eggs, 1/4 teaspoon salt, Tabasco and nutmeg. Strain through a fine mesh sieve.
• Heat oil in a medium skillet. Add leeks, and toss to coat with oil. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, 4 to 5 minutes or until leeks are soft. Season with 3/4 teaspoon salt. Cool.
• Mix together ricotta, Parmesan, pepper and herbs. Stir in the cooled leeks.
• Grease a roasting pan 9 by 12 by 2 1/2 inches with 1 teaspoon butter. Lay 6 slices of bread in the bottom of the pan. Top with half of the ricotta-leek mixture. Repeat with a second layer. Place the last layer of bread in the pan, and spread the top with the softened butter.
• Pour the custard over the bread, gently pressing top slices into the mixture. Place on a cookie sheet, wrap in plastic and refrigerate overnight.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Remove plastic, and sprinkle the top with the cheese. Place in a larger pan, and put on the middle rack of oven. Fill the larger pan with boiling water to come up about halfway on the smaller pan. Bake for 1 to 1 1/4 hours, or until puffy and brown. Allow to cool slightly before serving.