Best Chef Johns Simple Spinach Toasts Recipes

BACON, CHEDDAR AND SPINACH STRATA

Steps:

• Oil bottom and sides of a 9x13-inch baking dish with about a tablespoon of bacon fat.
• Place bread cubes in a large mixing bowl.
• Crack eggs into a separate mixing bowl. Season with salt, pepper, cayenne, and nutmeg. Add cream and whisk mixture thoroughly.
• Pour egg/cream mixture over the bread cubes and mix to distribute ingredients evenly. Allow bread mixture to sit about 15 minutes to absorb the liquid.
• Transfer half of the bread mixture to the baking pan; spread evenly over the bottom and press mixture down a bit. Top with half of the grated Cheddar cheese. Add cooked bacon pieces in an even layer over the cheese. Place the cooked spinach over the bacon; top with half of the remaining cheese. Finish with the rest of the soaked bread cubes, spread evenly and pressed down slightly. Sprinkle with the rest of the grated cheese. Cover and let strata sit at room temperature for 1 hour before baking.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake strata in preheated oven until set, about 45 minutes. Optionally, you can broil the strata for a minute or two to brown the top.

BAKED SPINACH AND ARTICHOKE TOASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat (such as Silpat®).
• Cut bread into 1/2-inch slices. Transfer onto the prepared sheet and brush very generously with melted butter until well soaked.
• Bake in the preheated oven until light golden brown, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool before topping. Increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Add cream cheese, Gruyere, provolone, 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, garlic, green onion, pepper, salt, cayenne, nutmeg, spinach, and artichokes to a mixing bowl and mix until thoroughly combined.
• Use a spoon to top each piece of toast with at least a 1/2-inch thick layer of the cheese, artichoke, and spinach mixture. Grate some extra Parmigiano-Reggiano on top of each toast if desired.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the tops and bottoms are nicely browned, about 25 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

CHEF JOHN'S FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Whisk eggs, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, allspice, and salt together in a large bowl. Place bread slices in egg mixture and soak, turning to coat, until bread is completely saturated.
• Melt butter in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, cook bread in hot butter until golden, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer toasted bread to a baking sheet.
• Bake toast in the oven until outside is crisp and slightly puffed, 12 to 15 minutes.