Christmas Morning Strata

December 8, 2022
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Created by Chef Tyler Crook
60 min
Serves 10
INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 loaf Harmons artisan bread cut into 1- inch cubes
  • 1 lbs Harmons spicy Italian sausage ground
  • 1 can roasted bell peppers drained and diced
  • 5 large curly kale leaves stemmed and chopped
  • 12 large eggs
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves finely chopped
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper fresh ground
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg freshly grated
  • unsalted butter for greasing baking dish
  • 1 Tbsp avocado oil optional
  • 8 oz gruyere cheese shredded
  • kosher salt
DIRECTIONS:

Directions:

⦁ Preheat oven to 275° Spread bread in an even layer on a baking sheet, and bake until completely dried, about 35 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool to room temperature
⦁ In a large heavy bottom sauté pan or cast-iron skillet, cook sausage over medium heat, stirring frequently, until golden and crisp, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon or similar, transfer and reserve sausage. If skillet is dry add about 1 Tbsp of avocado oil.
⦁ Add kale, season lightly with salt, and cook until kale is wilted but still has a nice green color, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and reserve
⦁ In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, Dijon, thyme, 2 tsp salt, pepper, and nutmeg until well combined. Add the dried bread and fold together gently. Let soak until bread is softened and slightly puffed. At least 15 minutes, no more than 30.
⦁ Grease a large 12 in round ceramic baking dish with butter. Using a slotted spoon, add half of the soaked bread to the prepared baking dish, spreading in an even layer. Top with half of the kale, half the sausage, half the roasted bell peppers and half of the cheese. Repeat will the remaining layers and top with cheese/remaining peppers. Pour any remaining liquid egg mixture over the casserole and press down gently so that all the layers are submerged. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and allow to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes if baking right away. Rest in refrigerator overnight to bake in the morning.
⦁ When ready to bake, preheat oven to 325° and bake with the foil for about 30 minutes. Remove foil and return baking dish to oven and continue to bake until strata are puffed, and the center is not jiggling. About 30 minutes. Remove from oven.
⦁ Adjust oven rack to 6 inches below broiler element and preheat boiler on high. Broil until strata is lightly browned in spots, about 2 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes. Cut into portions and serve!