Recipe: Strata with Asparagus, Sausage and Fontina

Strata with Asparagus, Sausage and Fontina
From Williams-Sonoma

A comforting breakfast casserole made from bread, eggs and milk, a strata is enriched with savory ingredients like sausage, cheese and vegetables. The strata is assembled in advance and refrigerated before baking, making it ideal for entertaining.

10 to 12 slices French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
10 oz. breakfast sausage
16 eggs
6 cups milk
1 bunch green onions, light green portion only, finely chopped
4 roasted red bell peppers, peeled, seeded and thinly sliced
1 lb. asparagus, ends trimmed, stalks cut into 1-inch pieces and cooked until tender
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
4 cups grated fontina cheese

Butter a large buffet pan or baking dish.

Place the bread cubes in a large bowl.

In a large saut pan over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the sausage and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on both sides, 3 to 5 minutes total. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage to a plate. Let cool, then cut into thin slices and transfer to the bowl with the bread.

In another large bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk. Pour the egg mixture over the bread and sausage mixture. Add the green onions, bell peppers, asparagus, salt, pepper and 3 cups of the cheese and stir until well blended. Transfer to the prepared baking dish, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.

Preheat an oven to 350 F.

Sprinkle the top of the strata with the remaining 1 cup cheese. Bake until the strata is golden brown and cooked through, about 1 hour. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Serves 12.