Description
This Cheese & Bacon Breakfast Strata Cake is a savory breakfast casserole featuring diced bacon, eggs, milk, shredded cheese, and cubes of bread soaked overnight for a flavorful and hearty dish perfect for a morning meal or brunch.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Meat
- 300g bacon, diced
Egg Mixture
- 6 large eggs
- 1 1/4 cups milk (full cream or low fat)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- Black pepper to taste
Base
- 7 cups (packed) plain bread, cut into 2 cm / 1 inch cubes (preferably slightly stale)
Cheese
- 2 cups shredded cheese
Garnish (Optional)
- Parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
- Cook bacon: Heat a large non-stick frying pan over high heat. Add all but 2 tbsp of the diced bacon. Cook until lightly browned, then remove and drain on paper towels.
- Whisk eggs and milk: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and black pepper until fully combined.
- Soak bread: Add bread cubes, 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheese, and cooked bacon to the egg mixture. Mix well, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight to allow the bread to soak up the egg mixture.
- Preheat oven and prepare pan: Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease a 20cm (8 inch) springform cake tin generously with butter.
- Assemble strata: Pour the soaked bread mixture into the prepared cake tin and press down to compress. Sprinkle reserved uncooked bacon and the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese on top. Cover loosely with foil.
- Bake: Bake covered for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake uncovered for an additional 20 minutes until the top is golden and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Rest and serve: Allow the strata to rest for 5 minutes before removing from the pan. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired, slice, and serve warm.
Notes
- Use slightly stale bread for better absorption of the egg mixture.
- Choose your preferred cheese such as cheddar or a mild melting cheese.
- If using a pan without loose sides, ensure it is well greased to prevent leakage.
- Prepare the strata the night before to save time in the morning and enhance flavor.
- This dish can be eaten with a fork or by hand for a casual breakfast experience.
