How to Make Bell Pepper and Ham Strata

In a strata, layers of savory ingredients are baked with cubes of bread soaked in beaten egg. Stratas are great brunch choices because they can be made in advance and are very forgiving: As long as you have eggs and bread, you can toss in whatever else you like. This recipe serves 6-8.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1/2 onions - chopped in 1/2-inch pieces
• 6 eggs
• 2-3 tbsps butter
• 1/2 cup cream
• cutting boards
• wire whisks
• cheese graters
• 3 cups grated cheddar cheese
• baking dishes
• mixing bowls
• wooden spoons
• chef's knives
• bread knives
• 2-4 tbsps fresh parsley - chopped
• 1 tbsp minced fresh thyme
• 1 red bell peppers - chopped in 1/2-inch pieces
• sauté pans
• 1 loaf French bread (dry or semi-dry)
• 1 green bell peppers - chopped in 1/2-inch pieces
• salt and pepper
• 1 cup hams - cubed
• Salt And Pepper
• Chef's Knives
• Baking Dishes
• Bread Knives
• Cheese Graters
• Chef's Knives
• Cutting Boards
• Mixing Bowls
• Wire Whisks
• Wooden Spoons
• Mixing bowls
• 1/2 onions - chopped in 1/2-inch pieces
• 3 cups grated cheddar cheese
• 2-3 tbsps butter
• 1 tbsp minced fresh thyme
• sauté pans
• 6 eggs
• 1 green bell peppers - chopped in 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 red bell peppers - chopped in 1/2-inch pieces
• 2-4 tbsps fresh parsley - chopped
• 1/2 cup cream
• 1 cup hams - cubed
• 1 loaf French bread (dry or semi-dry)

1. Heat a sauté pan over medium heat.

2. Add the butter; when it is half melted, add the bell peppers and onion and cook, stirring constantly, until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Season generously with pepper during cooking but lightly with salt because the ham is salty enough.

3. Add the ham and the herbs and stir together. Cook another minute and set aside.

4. Meanwhile, cut the bread in 1-inch cubes and layer the bottom of a buttered or nonstick 9-by-13-inch baking dish.

5. Whisk together the eggs, cream, and a pinch or so of salt and pepper in a bowl until well blended.

6. Drizzle about a third of it over the first layer of bread.

7. Arrange the cooked vegetables and ham over the bread, top with half the cheese, then arrange a second layer of bread on top. Drizzle the remaining egg mixture over the top, then cover and refrigerate two hours or overnight.

8. When ready to cook, heat the oven to 350º and cook the strata uncovered or loosely covered with foil for one hour. It will rise slightly and turn golden on top.

9. At the end of cooking time, arrange the remaining cheese on top, heat the broiler, and melt the cheese under the broiler until it bubbles and turns brown in spots.

Tips & Warnings

• Stratas are great ways to use the few tidbits of leftovers that every fridge seems to have. For example, while the cheddar cheese in this recipe goes best with ham, you can augment it with any leftovers you may have, like Parmesan, jack, or mozzarella.
• Vegetables, too, can be added to the bell pepper and onion. Just make sure they're fully cooked before you layer them in the strata.
• Have leftover fresh herbs from another recipe? Marjoram, sage, oregano, basil would work well here; you might stay away from rosemary, cilantro and tarragon, though.

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