Sausage Strata with Cheddar Cheese and Pimentos
Sausage Strata with Cheddar Cheese and Pimentos
Christmas morning, my mom always makes a delicious breakfast casserole that fuels us straight to Christmas dinner. It has all the goodies like eggs, cheese, sausage and pimentos for a delicious sweetness and pop of color. The best part, is that you can swap out cheese and meat to your preference, or even omit the meat all together to make it vegetarian. Regardless, it’s packed with flavor and a true family favorite.
Yield: 6 servings
Oven: 350ºF
Preparation time: 15 minutes + 1 – 24 hour refrigeration
Cook Time: 35 minutes
4-ounces ground pork sausage
1/2 yellow onion roughly chopped, approximately 1 cup
1, 4-ounce container (1/2 cup) diced pimento, drain
4 eggs, lightly whisked to break yolks
1 cup low-fat or whole milk
1 teaspoon kosher salt
as desired, freshly ground black pepper
1 cup (3-ounces) grated sharp cheddar cheese
8 slices soft white sandwich bread, crust removed
as desired, sour cream (optional garnish)
as desired, sliced scallions (optional garnish)
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. Lightly butter or spray a 8x8-inch square baking dish and set to the side.
3. In a medium size fry pan over medium – high heat, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and allow to heat, approximately 1 minute. Add pork sausage and using a wooden spoon, break into bite size pieces. Cook while occasionally stirring until golden brown and cooked through, approximately 4 – 6 minutes.
4. Transfer meat to a paper towel lined plate leaving excess fat in the pan.
5. Return pan to medium heat and add onion. Allow to cook until lightly browned and translucent, approximately 3 – 4 minutes. Remove from heat and add pimentos. Stir to combine.
6. In a medium size bowl, add eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Whisk until just combined.
7. To the prepared baking dish, add 4 slices of bread side by side. In this order, evenly cover with half the meat, onion and pimento mixture, and cheese to finish. Cover with four more slices of bread and repeat the previous order by topping with the remaining meat, onion mixture and then cheese.
8. Pour milk mixture to cover and using clean dry hands, gently press down to submerge bread under milk mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or preferred, overnight.
9. After 1 hour, uncover and place in preheated 350ºF oven until puffed and lightly golden in color, approximately 35 minutes.
10 Remove from oven and allow to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
11. Best served with sour cream and freshly sliced scallions.
Kitchen Note: Breakfast strata is not only delicious for breakfast, but excellent for dinner! Play around with the types of cheese and sausage for a little variety.