Denver Strata Recipes

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.

DENVER OMELET FRITTATA

Steps:

• Layer two 24-in. pieces of aluminum foil; starting with a long side, fold foil to create a 1-in.-wide strip. Shape strip into a coil to make a rack for bottom of a 6-qt. oval slow cooker. Add water to slow cooker; set foil rack in water., In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add potato and onion; cook and stir 4-6 minutes or until potato is lightly browned. Transfer to a greased 1-1/2-qt. baking dish (dish must fit in slow cooker)., In a large bowl, whisk eggs, pepper sauce, salt and pepper; stir in ham, green pepper and 1/2 cup cheese. Pour over potato mixture. Top with remaining cheese. Place dish on foil rack., Cook, covered, on low 3-4 hours or until eggs are set and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

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.

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.

VEGGIE DINNER STRATA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Add the garlic, bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat the eggs with the milk, the remaining 1 teaspoon salt and 2/3 cup of the cheese. Add the bread cubes and the vegetables and toss to combine. Transfer to the prepared baking dish, pressing down gently to soak the bread.
• Sprinkle the strata with the remaining 1/3 cup cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake until the top is golden brown and the strata is cooked through, about 20 minutes.

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.