Emeril's Breakfast Spinach and Soy Sausage Strata

YIELD 8 to 10 servings

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons olive oil
8 ounces soy breakfast sausage links, cut into bite size pieces
1 small onion, chopped
10 ounces baby spinach
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
8 cups cubed Italian bread, from a 1-pound loaf
2 cups grated Gruyere cheese
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan
3 cups whole milk
10 large eggs

PREPARATION:

  1. Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausages and saut? until crisp and golden, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausages to a plate. Add the onion to the pan drippings in the same skillet and saut? until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the spinach and garlic. Saut? over medium-low heat until the garlic is tender, about 2 minutes. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, nutmeg, and the cooked sausages.
  2. Place half of the bread cubes in a buttered 3-quart baking dish. Sprinkle half of the cheese over the bread, then top with half of the spinach mixture. Repeat layering.
  3. Whisk the milk, eggs, remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper in a large bowl and pour evenly over the strata. Chill the strata, covered with plastic wrap, at least 2 hours and up to 12 hours.
  4. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  5. Bake strata uncovered until puffed, golden brown, and cooked through, about 25 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Serve hot.

    This recipe was featured on the Vegetarian Paradise episode of Emeril Green.

This recipe appears in: Casseroles & Dishes