Recipe: Brie & Mushroom Breakfast Strata (2024)

  • Recipes
  • Breakfast
  • Breakfast Casseroles

Nealey Dozier

Nealey Dozier

Nealey Dozier is a former wedding planner turned chef, culinary instructor, recipe developer, and food writer. She is based in Atlanta. You can find more of her Southern adventures in eating and entertaining at www.dixiecaviar.com.

updated Jan 29, 2020

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Recipe: Brie & Mushroom Breakfast Strata (1)

Serves8

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Recipe: Brie & Mushroom Breakfast Strata (2)

It doesn’t take much, I’ve discovered, to make a memorable breakfast casserole, but it does require a small investment in a few quality ingredients — like good bread and decadent cheese — and perhaps a willingness to overlook an obscene amount of eggs and cream. I’ve experimented over the years with cheddar, gouda, Parmesan, and gruyere, but I must say that brie has yielded the best recipe yet. A generous handful is sprinkled throughout in this recipe, and when melted, it creates a rich and gooey “sauce” for sautéed mushrooms and custard-soaked bread.

I am forever enamored and obsessed with the idea of breakfast casseroles. Their very existence represent happy times, bustling kitchens, and fond memories shared around the table. Of course their ease of preparation and ability to be made in advance are what make them so popular for entertaining, but I am more interested in exploring their infinite flavor combinations in my quest for brunch nirvana.

While this particular recipe is perfect for a crowd, I found it quite ideal for my family of two. We first enjoyed it warm from the oven, a hearty way to start our morning. I left the baking dish lingering on the island so we could nibble throughout the afternoon. We were headed to the mountains the following day so I warmed the leftovers before we hit the road and packed it up to enjoy in the car. (A heck of a lot better than fast food, I might add.)

Call it what you will — whether it’s breakfast casserole, strata, or bread pudding where you’re from — this perfect pairing will be a family favorite from here on out.

Comments

Serves 8

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons

    olive oil

  • 1

    large shallot, minced

  • 1 to 2

    large cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 pound

    mixed mushrooms, such as bella, cremini, or shiitake, sliced

  • 3 to 4 sprigs

    fresh thyme

  • 1/2 cup

    dry white wine, such as Sauvignon blanc

  • 9

    large eggs, lightly beaten

  • 2 cups

    whole milk

  • 1 cup

    heavy cream

  • 2 tablespoons

    Dijon mustard

  • 2 teaspoons

    kosher salt

  • Freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 pound

    (16 ounces) cubed French bread, day old or toasted

  • 1

    (8-ounce) round of Brie, rind removed and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

  • 1/4 cup

    freshly grated Parmesan

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Generously butter an 11x7-inch (1 1/2-quart) baking dish and set aside.

  2. In a large skillet or braiser, heat the olive oil over medium to medium-high heat. Add the shallot and cook until tender, about 3 minutes, followed by the garlic, sautéing for another 30 seconds or so. Add the mushrooms, the leaves from the thyme sprigs, and a pinch of salt. Cook until mushrooms are golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Pour in the wine and increase heat to high. Cook, letting the wine bubbling vigorously, until all the liquid cooks out.

  3. Meanwhile, whisk together the eggs, cream, milk, Dijon, salt, and a pinch of black pepper in a large mixing bowl. Arrange half of the bread cubes to the bottom of the prepared baking dish, followed by half the mushrooms and half the cubed brie. Pour half of the egg mixture over the top. Arrange the remaining bread, followed by the mushrooms and brie, over the top. Pour the remaining egg mixture evenly over the bread and push down gently to make sure that every piece gets saturated. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.

  4. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and place on a baking sheet. Bake the strata for 60 minutes. Remove aluminum foil, add grated Parmesan and continue baking, uncovered, until puffed and golden, 15 to 25 minutes. Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

  5. To freeze: Wrap baking dish tightly with plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil. Label with date and cooking instructions and freeze for later use. Remove from the freezer and thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Bring to room temperature 30 minutes before cooking; bake according to instructions.

Recipe Notes

If not using stale bread, toast the cubes in a 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring partway through, until dry and slightly toasted.

Filed in:

Baking

Breakfast

Casserole

dinner

Eggs

Freezer Friendly

Recipe: Brie & Mushroom Breakfast Strata (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between a breakfast casserole and a strata? ›

Strata is otherwise known as “the breakfast casserole that your overnight guests will think you toiled away on all morning when in reality, you simply whipped it up the night before and just popped in the oven.” “Strata” is much shorter. Stratas are egg casseroles made with bread—lots of it.

Do you take the rind off brie before baking? ›

Do you take the rind off before baking? Keep the rind on, as it will help the cheese hold its shape so it doesn't all melt out. The rind is also edible, so you can enjoy it with the melted cheese, or simply remove the top layer after baking and dunk in crusty bread like a fondue.

What meat goes with baked brie? ›

Salumi (Fancy Word or Umbrella Term for the Vast Realm of Prepared Italian Meats)
  • Salami.
  • Salami Calabrese.
  • Soppressata.
  • Prosciutto.
  • Coppa.
  • Bresaola.
  • Pepperoni.

Why is my strata soggy? ›

(Just don't skip the sautéing. It's crucial because it cooks out excess liquid, which prevents the strata from becoming soggy.)

What are the three types of strata? ›

Strata properties fall into one of three main categories: residential, commercial or mixed use. Each has its own rules and considerations.

What jelly goes best with brie? ›

Brie cheese is the perfect partner to jam! It pairs beautifully with jam varieties, such as: fig, apricot, blackberry, boysenberry or cherry jam.

Why is my baked brie rubbery? ›

To avoid the rubbery texture, remove the rind of the cheese and make sure to not overbake the brie in the oven. How do you know when brie is done baking? Once the baked brie begins to ooze out but not melt, your baked brie is ready to take out of the oven.

What is the white stuff around brie cheese? ›

That marshmallowy white stuff on the outside of your brie is called a bloomy rind. These cheeses are coated with edible molds, such as Penicillium candidum. The cheeses ripen from the outside-inwards. Sometimes, a seductive gooey layer called the “creamline” forms around the fudgy interior.

What should I serve on top of brie cheese? ›

What does brie cheese go well with? Seriously so much. You can pair it with something sweet like honey, jam, or berries, or you can go more savory with nuts, veggies, or red pepper jelly.

Is the rind on brie good for you? ›

Not only can you eat the rind, you should eat the rind. Technically, the rind is mold, usually Penicillium candidum, but it's good mold! The rind protects the cheese on the inside and helps to give the cheese its flavor. You're missing out on a big part of the flavor and textural experience if you do not eat the rind.

What snacks go with brie? ›

Pairing Brie with something acidic will bring out its velvety texture – try fruits like apples, grapes, or pears, or sweet and zippy sides like fig jam or honey.

What food compliments brie? ›

Brie loves being paired with sweet fruit, particularly stone fruits like peaches, figs, apricots and plums. The sweetness and juiciness of stone fruit is a lovely combination with the Brie's creamy texture, making for an easy yet indulgent treat. If stone fruit is out of season, pair Brie with grapes and berries.

What does "strata" mean? ›

The word "strata" refers to apartments being on different levels. Strata title was first introduced in 1961 in the state of New South Wales, Australia, to better cope with the legal ownership of apartment blocks.

What's the difference between strata and quiche? ›

A quiche is baked in a flaky pie crust-style pastry shell. An egg custard prepared without this crust is also known as a frittata. A strata, on the other hand, is an egg custard that's baked with layers of bread inside.

What is a food strata? ›

A strata is a layered casserole made with bread, eggs, cheese, and sometimes vegetables or meat (strata means layers). Think of it as a savory bread pudding or breakfast casserole. This spinach version is richly flavored with Gruyère, Parmesan, and Dijon mustard. It's the perfect vegetarian brunch dish to feed a crowd.

What does the word "strata" mean in culinary? ›

Strata is a family of layered casserole dishes in American cuisine. Breakfast strata. The most common modern variant is a brunch dish, made from a mixture which mainly consists of bread, eggs and cheese. It may also include meat or vegetables.

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