Description
A strata is a savory bread pudding, and this ham and cheese version is the ultimate make-ahead meal — cubed bread soaked in a seasoned egg custard with diced ham, Swiss cheese, and Dijon mustard, then baked until puffed and golden. It is breakfast for dinner at its finest, and the fact that it tastes better when assembled the night before makes it the perfect busy-weeknight solution.
Ingredients
Units
- 8 cups crusty bread (such as French or sourdough), cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 cups diced ham steak
- 2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
- 8 large eggs
- 2 1/2 cups whole milk
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 3 green onions, sliced
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, for greasing
Instructions
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter. Spread half the bread cubes in the bottom. Layer half the ham and half the Swiss cheese over the bread. Repeat with remaining bread, ham, and cheese.
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and nutmeg until smooth. Pour evenly over the bread layers, pressing down gently so the bread absorbs the custard.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
- When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F. Remove the strata from the fridge and let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes.
- Bake uncovered 45 to 50 minutes until puffed, golden, and set in the center. A knife inserted in the middle should come out clean.
- Let rest 10 minutes before cutting. Garnish with sliced green onions.
Notes
- The overnight soak is not a suggestion — it is what transforms this from bread with eggs into a cohesive, custard-like casserole with a silky interior.
- Day-old bread works better than fresh because it absorbs the custard without turning to paste.
- Gruyère can replace Swiss for a more complex, nutty flavor that takes this from casual to dinner-party worthy.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 860
- Fat: 22
- Carbohydrates: 26
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 28
- Cholesterol: 260