Asparagus Breakfast Strata Recipes

ASPARAGUS, EGG, AND CHEESE STRATA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350˚F (176˚C). Butter a smallish, 4-cup ovenproof baking dish.
• Trim the crusts from the bread and toss them to the birds or in the compost. Place the slices of bread in the baking dish, overlapping the slices slightly and, if necessary, allowing the edges to hang over the side of the dish just a little.
• Whisk together the eggs and milk. Stir in half of the cheese and season with salt and pepper. Pour 3/4 of the egg mixture over the bread and set the rest of the egg mixture aside.
• Break off the stem ends of the asparagus where each one snaps naturally. Cut the spears into 1 1/2-inch lengths.
• Layer the prosciutto or mortadella, if using, on the bread. Place the asparagus spears on top and pour the remaining egg mixture over the asparagus. Sprinkle with the rest of the cheese. At this point, if you have the time, we strongly encourage you to cover the strata with plastic wrap and refrigerate it overnight to allow the bread to soak up the egg mixture and so the flavors can meld.
• Bake the strata until set, 30 to 35 minutes. (If you refrigerated the strata overnight and are baking it straight from the fridge, you may need to allow a few extra minutes baking time.)
• Let the strata cool slightly. Grind a little pepper over the top, if you please, and sprinkle with chives, if using. Plonk the baking dish on the table and scoop the strata straight from it onto plates. Originally published March 26, 2012.

OVERNIGHT ASPARAGUS MUSHROOM STRATA

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat, and cook and stir the mushrooms until their liquid has mostly evaporated and the mushrooms are beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Set the mushrooms aside.
• Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish, and arrange 8 muffin halves, cut sides up, in the bottom of the dish. Stuff pieces of remaining muffins into the spaces between the halves. Spread 1 cup of Colby-Monterey Jack cheese over the muffins in a layer, and distribute the asparagus pieces, mushrooms, red pepper, and onion over the cheese.
• Whisk together eggs, milk, salt, dry mustard, and black pepper in a bowl, and pour the egg mixture over the muffins and vegetables. Cover the dish, and refrigerate overnight.
• The next day, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Remove the casserole from the refrigerator and let stand for 30 minutes. Spread 1 cup of Colby-Monterey Jack cheese in a layer over the casserole.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a knife inserted near the edge comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before cutting into squares.

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.

ASPARAGUS, BACON AND CHEESE STRATA

Steps:

• 1. Heat oil in a large ovenproof Cast Iron skillet over medium heat.
• 2. Add bacon and cook, stirring, until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Add onion and asparagus; sauté until vegetable are soft, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove vegetables from pan and set aside.
• 3. Preheat broiler. Off heat, coat same skillet with cooking spray. Arrange bread slices tightly in bottom of skillet. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, egg whites, milk, mustard, salt and pepper; pour over bread and allow milk mixture to soak in entirely (like when you make French toast). Sprinkle bread with 1 tablespoon of Parmesan cheese. Place skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Cook, shaking pan frequently to promote even cooking, until almost cooked through to the top, about 4 or 5 minutes.
• 4. Place skillet under broiler to set eggs, about 2 minutes. Remove skillet from broiler; top with bacon-vegetable mixture, cheddar cheese and remaining tablespoon of Parmesan cheese. Place skillet under broiler again until cheese melts, about 1 to 2 minutes. Slice into 6 pieces and serve. Yields 1 piece per serving.

ASPARAGUS STRATA

Steps:

• Grease the bottom of a large casserole dish (13X9 works well).
• Place a single layer of bread in the pan, using 1/2 the bread.
• Cover with 1/2 asparagus, cheese, tomatoes, chives and pine nuts.
• Repeat layers, starting with bread.
• In a large bowl, combine eggs, milk, garlic, salt and pepper.
• Pour evenly over layers.
• Cover and Refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Remove cover and bake for 1 hour until puffy and brown or internal temperature reaches 145 degrees.
• Remove from oven and serve immediately.

ASPARAGUS BREAKFAST STRATA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat the milk, egg substitute, mustard and basil. Gently stir in remaining ingredients. , Pour into a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. 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 before cutting.

ASPARAGUS STRATA

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add asparagus; boil, uncovered, for 3 minutes. Drain and immediately place asparagus in ice water. Drain and pat dry., In a large bowl, combine the asparagus, milk, bread cubes, eggs, cheese and salt. Transfer to a greased 2-qt. baking dish. Cover and refrigerate for 5 hours or overnight., Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 45-55 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

ASPARAGUS AND TOMATO STRATA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F Butter a 13x9 baking dish.
• Cook Asparagus in salted, boiling water just until crisp-tender. Drain.
• Whisk together first 7 ingredients, then sprinkle generously with pepper.
• Butter both sides of each slice of bread. Arrange half of the slices in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Pour half of the egg mixture over slices.
• Top with half the fontina cheese, half the asparagus and sliced tomatoes.
• Repeat layering. Sprinkle tomatoes on top with a bit more oregano and pepper. Let sstand at least 20 minutes before baking, occasionally pressing bread down to submerge. * can sit overnight in fridge, covered.
• Bake until peffed and brown, about one hour. Cool slightly before cutting.