Spring Potato Strata Recipes

SPICY STRATA

Steps:

• Butter 8-by-8-inch baking dish and set aside. Heat butter over medium heat. When it foams, add scallions, and cook until just softened, about 1 minute. Add asparagus and cook until bright green and beginning to soften, about 2 minutes; remove from heat.
• Whisk eggs, half-and-half, salt, cumin, and pepper in a large bowl until evenly combined. Arrange half of the bread in bottom of prepared dish. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the cheese and half each of jalapenos, cilantro, and asparagus mixture. Pour over half of egg mixture. Repeat layering with remaining bread, another 1/2 cup of the cheese, and remaining chilies, cilantro and asparagus mixture. Pour remaining egg mixture over top.
• Sprinkle strata with another 1/4 cup of the cheese and push to ensure bread is submerged in egg custard. Cover with plastic wrap, put a plate and a 1-pound weight on top (a large can of tomatoes or rice in a re-sealable plastic bag works well), place in refrigerator for 1 to 12 hours.
• When ready to bake, heat oven to 325 degrees F and arrange rack in the middle. Let strata sit at room temperature while oven heats, at least 20 minutes.
• Sprinkle strata with remaining 1/4 cup of the cheese and bake until puffed and edges pull away slightly, about 40 to 45 minutes. Cool for at least 5 minutes before serving. Serve with some cilantro, sour cream, and avocado, as desired.

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.

SPRING BREAKFAST STRATA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat eggs; add milk, mustard, basil and salt. Gently stir in remaining ingredients until well mixed. Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. , Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 1 hour or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes.

FARMER'S STRATA

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp; add ham and onion. Cook and stir until onion is tender; drain. , In a greased 13x9-in. baking dish, layer half the bread cubes, potatoes and cheese. Top with all of the bacon mixture. Repeat layers of bread, potatoes and cheese. , In a large bowl, beat the eggs; add the milk, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt and pepper. Pour over all. Cover and chill overnight. , Preheat oven to 325°. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake, uncovered, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 65-70 minutes.

SKINNY SPRING BRUNCH STRATA

Steps:

• In a greased 2-quart square baking dish, spread half of the muffin pieces. Top with ham, asparagus, and cheese. Top with remaining muffin pieces.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together egg product, sour cream, and mustard. Stir in milk, onion, and pepper. Pour over layers in dish. Press top layer into liquid with the back of a wooden spoon. Cover and chill for 2 to 24 hours.
• Preheat oven to 325° F. Bake, uncovered, for 55 to 60 minutes or until internal temperature registers 160°F on an instant-read thermometer. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

SPRING POTATO STRATA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 F degrees.
• Lightly spray 13 x 9-inch baking dish with no-stick cooking spray; set aside.
• In large skillet, heat butter over medium-high heat until melted.
• Cook and stir leeks and garlic 1 to 2 minutes or until leeks are tender.
• Add bell peppers and mushrooms; cook 4 to 6 minutes or until peppers are crisp-tender.
• Remove from heat; set aside.
• Layer 1/2 of the potatoes onto bottom of prepared dish; sprinkle with 1 1/2 cups of the cheese.
• Spoon vegetable mixture over cheese.
• Layer remaining potatoes over vegetables.
• In medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper and thyme (if desired); pour evenly over potatoes.
• Cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake 1 hour or until potatoes are almost tender.
• Remove foil; top with remaining 1 cup cheese.
• Bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes or until top is golden and potatoes are tender.
• Let stand 5 to 10 minutes; cut into 8 servings.

POTATO-VEGETABLE STRATA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Layer potatoes, spinach and roasted peppers in bottom of 9-inch square baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.
• Whisk milk and flour in medium bowl until blended. Stir in egg product, 1/2 cup cheese, basil and seasonings. Pour over vegetables in dish.
• Bake 40 to 45 min. or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Let stand 5 min.