MUSHROOM AND SPINACH BREAD-ZAGNA

Mushroom and Spinach Bread-zagna image

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Time 1h35m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

1/4 cup EVOO
1 pound cremini or mixed mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 shallot, finely chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 to 1/3 cup marsala or dry white wine
1/4 to 1/3 cup chicken stock
1 pound spinach, stemmed and chopped
1 pint half-and-half
6 large eggs
A few grates fresh nutmeg
Eight 1-inch-thick slices peasant-style white bread
2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces, plus softened butter, for greasing
12 ounces Fontina Val d'Aosta or Gruyere cheese, shredded or thinly sliced
1 1/2 to 2 cups freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Heat the EVOO in a large saute pan over medium-high heat and brown the mushrooms until tender and dark. Stir in the thyme, garlic, shallots, some salt and pepper, cook 1 to 2 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the marsala and stir until almost completely evaporated. Pour in the stock, wilt in the spinach and turn off the heat. Whisk the half-and-half with the eggs, nutmeg and some salt and pepper in a large shallow bowl. Soak the bread, turning occasionally, until the liquid is absorbed. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Lay 4 slices of the bread on the bottom and top with the mushrooms and spinach and half of the cheeses, followed by the remaining bread and cheeses. Dot the top with the butter and bake until golden, 45 minutes to 1 hour.