Crab And Mushroom Strata Recipes

STRATA WITH MUSHROOMS AND CHARD

Steps:

• If the bread is soft, toast it lightly and rub each slice front and back with the cut clove of garlic. Cut in 1-inch dice. If the bread is stale, just rub the slices with garlic and cut them into 1-inch dice. Place in a very large bowl, and toss with 2/3 cup of the milk. Set aside.
• Place the dried mushrooms in a bowl or a Pyrex measuring cup, and cover with 1 1/2 cups boiling water. Allow to sit for 30 minutes. Set a strainer over a bowl, line with cheesecloth, a coffee filter or paper towels, and drain the mushrooms. Squeeze the mushrooms over the strainer to extract all of the broth. Rinse, away from the strainer, in several changes of water to wash off sand. Squeeze out excess water. Chop coarsely. Measure out 1 cup of the mushroom broth, and combine with the remaining milk.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil or butter a 2-quart baking dish or gratin. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, and add the chard. Stir until the leaves begin to wilt in the liquid left on them after washing. Cover the pan, and let the chard steam until it has completely collapsed, about two minutes. Uncover and stir. When all of the chard has wilted, remove from the pan and rinse briefly with cold water. Press or squeeze out excess liquid. Chop coarsely and set aside.
• Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to the pan, turn the heat down to medium and add the minced garlic. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds, and stir in the reconstituted mushrooms, the rosemary and the chard. Stir together for a couple of minutes, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat, and transfer to the bowl with the bread cubes. Add the cheeses, and toss together. Arrange in the baking dish.
• Beat together the eggs in a medium bowl. Add salt to taste (I use 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon), the remaining milk and the mushroom broth. Add a few twists of the peppermill and pour over the bread. Press the bread down into the custard mixture. Sprinkle a little Parmesan over the top, and drizzle on the remaining olive oil. Place in the oven, and bake 40 to 50 minutes, until puffed and browned. Remove from the oven, and serve hot or warm.

SLOW-ROASTED PORK AND MUSHROOM STRATA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and spray a 9-inch square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Whisk together the milk, heavy cream, thyme, cayenne, eggs, 1 teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper in a large bowl until smooth. Fold in the bread, pork, mushrooms and 1/2 cup of the fontina until the bread softens and everything is well combined. Pour into the prepared baking dish and top with the remaining 1/4 cup fontina.
• Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake until the edges are lightly golden, 35 minutes. Remove the foil, then continue to bake until the strata is puffed, set in the center and golden brown all over, about 30 minutes more. Let rest 10 minutes, then sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve.

CRAB AND ROASTED RED PEPPER STRATA

Steps:

• Butter 10-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides. Whisk eggs and half and half in medium bowl to blend. Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and celery; sauté until soft, about 5 minutes. Add peppers and garlic; sauté 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in green onions, parsley and thyme. Transfer mixture to large bowl. Add crab and bread cubes and toss to combine. Add egg mixture, salt, and pepper; mix until well combined. Transfer to prepared baking dish. Let stand 30 minutes or cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Sprinkle strata with cheese. Bake until brown and puffed, about 1 hour. Cool on rack 30 minutes (center will fall). Using sharp knife, cut around edge to loosen. Cut into wedges and serve.

MUSHROOM AND THREE-CHEESE STRATA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Melt butter in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and sauté until tender, about 8 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cool.
• Combine bread and milk in large bowl. Let stand until milk is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
• Whisk half and half and next 6 ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Stir in goat cheese.
• Place half of bread mixture in single layer in prepared glass baking dish (bread will not cover bottom of baking dish). Top with half each of mushrooms, Parmesan cheese, Fontina cheese, and half and half mixture. Repeat layering with remaining bread, mushrooms, Parmesan and Fontina cheeses, and half and half mixture. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Bake strata uncovered until firm in center, puffed and golden, about 1 hour.

MUSHROOM AND CHEESE STRATA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• In a large skillet cook onion and garlic in hot margarine or butter over medium heat for 2 minutes.
• Add mushrooms and cook about 3 minutes more or until tender, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat.
• In a small mixing bowl combine the mozzarella, fontina, and herbs; toss to mix.
• In a greased 2-quart square baking dish place half of the bread cubes.
• Top with the mushroom mixture, cheese mixture, and prosciutto or Canadian-style bacon.
• Top with the remaining bread cubes.
• In a mixing bowl combine beaten eggs or egg product, milk, sour cream, mustard, and pepper.
• Pour over layers in dish.
• Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 2 to 24 hours.
• Bake, uncovered, for 55 to 60 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
• Let stand 10 minutes.
• To serve, cut into squares; garnish with fresh thyme sprigs.

MUSHROOM SAUSAGE STRATA

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Place bread cubes in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with the sausage, mushrooms and cheeses. , In a large bowl, whisk the remaining ingredients; pour over the cheese. Cover and refrigerate overnight., Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake, uncovered, for 35-45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. , Freeze option: After assembling, cover and freeze strata. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake strata as directed, increasing time as necessary for a knife inserted in the center to come out clean.