HAM, SPINACH AND CHEESE STRATA

Ham, Spinach and Cheese Strata image

Brunch for a crowd? Layer it all in the baking dish the day before serving. Just pop it in the oven for a fuss-free, easy-on-the-host brunch.

Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens

Time 5h50m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 box (9 oz) frozen spinach, thawed, squeezed to drain
2 medium red bell peppers, cut into strips
1 cup sliced leeks
3 cups diced cooked ham
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (8 oz)
1 loaf (9 oz) ciabatta or French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (6 cups)
7 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cups shredded Italian cheese blend (8 oz)

Steps:

Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. In 10-inch skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add spinach, bell peppers and leeks; cook 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until crisp-tender. Remove from heat.
In baking dish, layer ham, spinach mixture, 1 cup of the Cheddar cheese and the bread. In large bowl, beat eggs, milk, mustard and pepper with wire whisk until blended; pour over bread. Sprinkle with remaining Cheddar cheese and the Italian cheese blend. Cover with foil; refrigerate at least 4 hours but no longer than 24 hours.
Heat oven to 325°F. Bake loosely covered 40 minutes. Uncover; bake about 30 minutes longer or until top is golden brown and knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 410, Carbohydrate 16 g, Cholesterol 200 mg, Fat 2, Fiber 1 g, Protein 29 g, SaturatedFat 12 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 1080 mg, Sugar 5 g, TransFat 0 g