Here’s a comforting and elegant recipe for a Spinach-Mushroom Strata—a savory, make-ahead baked dish perfect for brunch, holidays, or even a cozy dinner. 🥬🍄🍞✨
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion (chopped)
- 8 oz mushrooms (sliced; cremini or button work well)
- 4 cups fresh spinach (or 10 oz frozen, thawed and drained)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (or 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced)
- Salt and black pepper (to taste)
- 6 cups day-old bread, cubed (such as sourdough, French bread, or a baguette)
- 1 ½ cups grated cheese (Gruyère, sharp cheddar, or Swiss work beautifully)
- 8 large eggs
- 2 ½ cups milk (or half-and-half for richness)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg (optional, but adds warmth)
Instructions:
- Prepare the veggies:
- In a large skillet, melt the butter and olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the onion and cook until soft and translucent (about 3-4 minutes).
- Add the mushrooms, cooking until browned and tender, about 6-8 minutes.
- Stir in the fresh spinach and cook until just wilted. (If using frozen spinach, make sure it’s fully drained.)
- Season with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Set aside.
- Assemble the strata:
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Spread half the bread cubes evenly across the bottom of the dish.
- Top with half of the spinach-mushroom mixture and half of the grated cheese.
- Repeat with the remaining bread, veggies, and cheese.
- Make the custard:
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, Dijon mustard, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the custard evenly over the bread and veggie layers, pressing down gently to help the bread absorb the liquid.
- Let it rest:
- Cover the dish with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight for best results.
- Bake:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Remove the strata from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes.
- Bake uncovered for 45-55 minutes, or until the top is golden brown, the custard is set, and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Serve:
- Let the strata cool slightly before slicing. Serve warm and garnish with fresh herbs (like parsley or chives) if desired.
