Vegetarian Cheese Strata

This kale and gruyère cheese strata is our go-to make-ahead breakfast for special occasions – think Mother's Day, Christmas, or birthdays. It's exactly what we want to eat with a cup of coffee and a mimosa.

This comforting casserole is basically crusty bread layered with kale and cheese and then soaked in an egg custard and baked until it's golden. You can think of it as a savory bread pudding.

To make it, just sauté the vegetables until they're soft and wilted. Cut or tear a loaf of crusty bread into cubes and then layer it into a baking dish with the cheese and cooked vegetables.

Whisk the eggs, milk, and dijon mustard and slowly pour this over the bread as it soaks into every nook and cranny. You can bake it right away, or place it in the fridge until you're ready to bake it the next day.

It's a great breakfast to make if you're hosting because you can make it the day before, and it's easily doubled for a larger crowd. It's hearty and nourishing and everyone always raves about it!

Cheese and kale strata ingredients

Here's everything you need to make this vegetarian cheese strata recipe:

• Red onion + garlic sauteed in olive oil – the flavor of onion and garlic pairs so well with cheese and bread.
• Kale – curly kale is what we use in the pictures, but any kale variety will work. You can also use spinach.
• Sea salt, black pepper, and chili flakes – the chili flakes give a very mild heat, but if you prefer it not spicy, you can omit it.
• Butter – for buttering the baking dish to esure it doesn't stick.
• French bread – we like to use crusty French bread cubes but you can use sourdough, multigrain, or any other bread you love.
• Cheese – we use a mix of gruyère, cheddar, and parmesan for lots of bold cheesy flavor.
• Eggs – whisked eggs and milk make a custard that soaks into the bread and bakes up beautifully.
• Milk – we like the creaminess of whole milk or 2%.
• Dijon mustard – just a bit of dijon mustard for its tangy, sharp taste.

How to make cheese strata

This make-ahead vegetarian strata is a cheesy and satisfying breakfast casserole that comes together quickly and easily. Here's how we make it in a few simple steps:

1. Start by sautéing the veggies until the onion is soft and the kale has wilted.
2. Butter a baking dish and layer in a third of the bread, followed by a third of the veggies, and a third of the cheese. Reserve a handful of cheese, and repeat two more times until all the ingredients are used.
3. Whisk the eggs, milk, and dijon and then slowly pour the egg mixture over the layers of bread (making sure to spread it evenly over all the pieces of bread). Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and either bake it right away or cover it and store it in the fridge overnight.
4. Preheat your oven to 350 Fahrenheit and bake the strata until it's puffed in the center and browning around the edges. Make sure to let it stand for a few minutes before serving. There's no need to slice it, just scoop it onto plates or into bowls!

Full recipe instructions are in the recipe card below.

FAQS

What to serve with strata for brunch

This kale strata is a delicious make-ahead dish that's perfect for hosting, special occasions, or even slow mornings. With ingredients like eggs, bread, cheese, and vegetables, it's basically a complete meal so you don't need to serve it with anything.

If you're serving a crowd, serve it family-style with other breakfast or brunch foods like fresh fruit or fruit salad, bacon (or veggie bacon), breakfast sausages, smoky roast potatoes, and something sweet like healthy carrot muffins.