Prosciutto, Gorgonzola, and Rosemary Strata: An easy, flavorful hubby-approved breakfast or brunch casserole. According to him, “real” men still don’t eat quiche, but they will eat strata!

This Breakfast Casserole is perfect for any weekend company, holiday brunch, or breakfast for dinner!

Prosciutto, Gorgonzola and Rosemary Strata in a round casserole dish with a sprig of rosemary to garnish

Why You’ll Love this Strata Recipe

  • You can eat strata any time of day. It’s not just for breakfast and brunch.
  • Stratas are very adaptable. Use Pancetta instead of Prosciutto or Thyme instead of Rosemary. Or try Brie instead of St. Andre.
  • If you prep all the ingredients the night before, it will make short work of getting your breakfast strata recipe in the oven the next morning.

When I broached the subject of breakfast for dinner, Bill was all for it. He suggested waffles with sausage, pancakes with bacon, or even steak and eggs. Well, sure, those would certainly work. But I had something a little more gourmet in mind like a frittata, strata, or quiche.

And, yes, I had to define all these for Bill before he agreed. He was familiar with quiche, as he knew real men didn’t eat them. And when I found an irresistible basic strata recipe in The New Basics Cookbook (affiliate link), I knew I had a winner.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Strata?

In Geology, the word strata refers to layers of rock. In culinary terms, a strata is a layered casserole dish often served for brunch. They most typically contain bread, cheese, and eggs.

What's the Difference Between a Strata and a Frittata?

A frittata is an Italian omelet has all ingredients mixed in with the eggs, is cooked slowly, then flipped or finished in the oven to cook the top. A strata is a layered casserole topped with an eggy custard, then baked.

What Do You Serve with a Strata?

Since this strata already contains bread, cheese, eggs, and meat, a vibrant fresh fruit salad or green salad would be a nice addition to the menu.

Breakfast strata on a white plate with a sprig of rosemary

Tips on How to Make a Strata

  • Use stale or toasted bread.
  • Use the correct-sized baking dish. I first made this in a 1 1/2 quart souffle dish and had a Mt. Vesuvius episode in my oven!
  • Use fresh not dried rosemary for the best flavor. 
  • Give the cream and egg mixture ample time to soak into the bread before baking. 30 minutes is perfect.
  • Bake until bubbling and golden.
  • Let it rest for 10-15 minutes before serving. This will allow the casserole to firm up a bit.

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Prosciutto, Gorgonzola and Rosemary Strata - a man approved breakfast entree

Prosciutto and Gorgonzola Strata

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Yield 6 servings

An Italian inspired Breakfast Casserole!

Ingredients

Adapted from The New Basics Cookbook:

  • 6 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto (originally 8 ounces)
  • 8 ounces challah
  • 1 1/4 cups heavy cream
  • 1 1/4 cups milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt (originally 1 teaspoon)
  • Dash of Tabasco
  • 5 eggs
  • 6 ounces sweet Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled (originally 8 ounces)
  • 8 ounces St. André cheese, crumbled
  • 3 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves, finely chopped

Instructions

  1. Butter the bottom and sides of a 2½-quart soufflé dish, and set it aside.
  2. Chop the prosciutto into ½ inch pieces. Sauté over medium-low heat until just crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain well on paper towels, and set aside.
  3. Slice the challah into 1-inch-thick slices. Lightly toast in toaster; set aside.
  4. Whisk together the cream, milk, salt, Tabasco, and eggs in bowl or large Pryex measuring cup. Set aside.
  5. Place one layer of bread to cover bottom of soufflé dish. Sprinkle with half of the Gorgonzola, half the Saint André, half the rosemary and then half of the reserved prosciutto. Repeat to use up the rest of the bread, cheese and rosemary.
  6. Pour the egg mixture over the layers, cover, and let rest for 30 minutes.
  7. Preheat the oven to 350º.
  8. Uncover the dish, and bake until is bubbling and golden, 40 minutes or till completely cooked through.
  9. Remove the dish from the oven and let it rest 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

May use pannetone instead of challah and/or pancetta instead of prosciutto.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 672Total Fat: 48gSaturated Fat: 27gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 313mgSodium: 1668mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 35g

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