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Beecher's Breakfast Strata

Kurt Beecher Dammeier
This strata has everything a strata should: a crusty brown top, a creamy center, and savory, full flavors. Stratas are perfect uses for dinner and cheese board leftovers. Feel free to use any meat, salsa or other acidic sauce, and cheese. Serve with fresh fruit.

Ingredients
  

  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 ½ cups milk
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 cups of cubed bread can be a few days old 12 ounces Beecher’s Flagship cheese, grated (2¾ cups), divided
  • 4 ounces Beecher’s Just Jack cheese grated (1 cup)
  • 6 ounces cooked meat; can be any leftover meat fish, or bacon
  • ½ bunch rough-chopped cilantro
  • One 12-ounce jar salsa

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oven to 350°F.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Fold in bread, 2 cups of Flagship cheese, and the Just Jack cheese, and set aside.
  • If using leftover meat, chop it into approximately ½-inch chunks. If using bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces, and fry over medium heat until fully browned and all fat is rendered.
  • Add the cooked meat, cilantro, and salsa to the bread mixture. Gently fold ingredients until they are evenly distributed. Spoon the mixture into the baking dish, and pat it down (the bread should form a bumpy surface). Top with remaining Flagship cheese.
  • Bake for 35 minutes, rotating the pan after 20 minutes. Bake until the top of the dish is very brown and the middle is springy. Let strata cool for 10 minutes before serving.