Gruyère White Cheddar and Kale Strata {aka: the best eggy cheesy bread-y thing ever}

If you're looking for the ideal make-ahead breakfast for Christmas morning, look no further. Seriously, just stop your search and make this. You can thank me for it after. Or pop by on Christmas morn just as I'm pulling it out of the oven. I'll pour you a coffee with some Bailey's and dish up a plate of bread, cheese and eggs all cooked together so they become one.

It's amazing how that happens, isn't it? How you can put a bunch of good things together in a casserole and when they come out of the oven they become one ultra amazing thing. Seconds, please!

This strata recipe comes from my good friend, John, who makes it every year for our Pride brunch. I told you a little about our super special brunch in this post. It's my second favorite day of the year next to Christmas, and in no small part because of this strata.

In our group of friends, it's affectionately called John's Eggy Cheesy Bread-y Thing. At the first mention of Pride each year someone always says, “John better be making his eggy cheesy bread-y thing.” Or, “John, you're going to make your eggy cheesy bread-y thing, right?”

This is a little like the Christmas morning lifesaver that people used to make, only it's about 1.487 million times better.

On Christmas Eve, you'll want to get some good French bread, cut or torn into largish cubes. You'll layer that with lots of caramelized onions and garlic and some kale (which is really just like spinach but so 2014). Next comes the cheese. Yes cheeeeeeese please! Gruyère AND white cheddar, just cause there's no such thing as too much cheese.

Then you're going to pour over some eggs beaten with some milk so everything starts to stick together and become one.

Then here's the best part: you cover it up and put it in your fridge. When morning comes and you need to refuel quickly after presents all you have to do is take it out of the fridge and put it in the oven. How easy is that?

Merry (almost) Christmas morning!

If you make this Gruyère White Cheddar and Kale Strata Recipe, make sure to snap a pic and tag @theendlessmeal on Instagram so I can like and comment on your photos. I love seeing TEM recipes you create.

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Gruyère White Cheddar and Kale Strata {aka: the best eggy cheesy bread-y thing ever}

Gruyère White Cheddar and Kale Strata

  • Author: Kristen Stevens
  • Prep Time: 30 mins
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: North American

★★★★★

4.8 from 5 reviews
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Description

This is my favourite strata recipe. Strata is one of the best make-ahead breakfasts. It's cheesy, bread-y and eggy and can be made the night before.

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large red onion, minced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • Frozen kale, 284 gram (10 ounce) package, or 3 cups fresh kale, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon chili flakes
  • 1 teaspoon butter
  • 8 cups french bread, cubed
  • 2 cups finely grated gruyere
  • 2 cups finely grated aged white cheddar
  • 1 cup finely grated parmesan
  • 8 large eggs
  • 2 cups milk (any neutral flavoured milk will work, I like almond or cashew)
  • 3 tablespoon dijon mustard

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes, or until the onion is soft. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds more. Add the kale and let it cook until it has wilted. Add the salt, pepper and chili flakes, stir to combine, then remove the pan from the heat.
  2. Butter the bottom of a 12″x9″ baking dish. Add ⅓ of the bread cubes then top with ⅓ of the kale and ⅓ of each of the cheeses. Repeat 3 times, reserving a small handful of cheeses.
  3. Whisk together the eggs, milk and dijon mustard in a medium sized bowl. Slowly and carefully pour the mixture over the bread. The pan will be very full so you will need to go slow enough to give the eggs and milk time to soak into the bread. Top the strata with the remaining handful of cheese then cover tightly with aluminum foil. Either bake right away, or refrigerate the strata for up to 1 day.
  4. If you have refrigerated the strata remove it from the fridge. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the strata for 45-55 minutes, or until it is puffed, browned and set in the centre.
  5. Let it stand for 10 minutes before serving.