Prosciutto, Gorgonzola and Rosemary Strata
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!
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.
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.
You May Also Like:
- Mexican Sausage and Cornbread Strata from Snappy Gourmet
- Bacon and Egg Strata
- Gruyere Spinach Strata
- More of the Best Breakfast Recipes
Prosciutto and Gorgonzola Strata
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
- Butter the bottom and sides of a 2½-quart soufflé dish, and set it aside.
- 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.
- Slice the challah into 1-inch-thick slices. Lightly toast in toaster; set aside.
- Whisk together the cream, milk, salt, Tabasco, and eggs in bowl or large Pryex measuring cup. Set aside.
- 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.
- Pour the egg mixture over the layers, cover, and let rest for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350º.
- Uncover the dish, and bake until is bubbling and golden, 40 minutes or till completely cooked through.
- 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:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 672Total Fat: 48gSaturated Fat: 27gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 313mgSodium: 1668mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 35g
51 Comments on “Prosciutto, Gorgonzola and Rosemary Strata”
That looks and sounds amazing! Don’t feel bad about any gaffes–lately I’ve been forgetting entire ingredients, even after double- and triple-checking the ingredient list, there’s always something missing from the dish. I don’t even know how that happens lol
Lizzy,
I can’t resist prosciutto. It certainly looks hearty enough for dinner.
Annamaria
Yes… I’m definitely drooling!! This looks amazing. 🙂
We often have a big brunch around midday if I forget to take something out the night before. I make eggs, bacon, sausage, cream-cheese filled crepes with blueberry or strawberry sauce, sometimes fruit salad and fried tomatoes. I’ll also make low-carb English muffins. It’s quite a feast!
Oh yum… prosciutto and gorgonzola sound like such a great combination of flavors in this strata! It looks delicious!
I love, love, stratas for a special Sunday brunch. Yours Lizzy, looks and sounds divine! Love the Gorgonzola cheese addition! Truly, a special and delicious treat for Sunday! xo
Drooling? Check!
Well dang…does this not look heavenly?!?! I must have it in my life. Well done – and gorgeous photos too!
I love breakfast for dinner 🙂 This strata sounds fabulous with all that cheese and rosemary. Just lovely!
Totally drooling, Liz! Anything savory with blue cheese and rosemary has my vote for best breakfast for dinner. Add in pancetta and I will be your best friend. Delicious and beautiful!
You know I’m not a huge fan of stratas but I do believe this one could convert me. The flavors must just dance! Actually, I hopped on to look at your SRC post but after seeing this photo on FB and now on your blog I had to explore… Hugs, Kate