Leek, Ham and Mimolette Cheese Strata
In collaboration with Les Fromages d’Europe, this strata is served in the skillet used to cook it, for a charming look that’s both chic and rustic. Serve a generous portion of this dish full of tender leek, moist pieces of bread, ham with perfectly crispy edges and mild mimolette cheese. The cheese stays gooey in […]
Ingredients
- 8 cups (400 g) bread, torn into 1 ½-inch (4 cm) pieces (such as white or sourdough bread)
- 1 large leek, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 tbsp thyme leaves
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) white wine
- 3 tbsp flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped, plus more for serving
- 5 eggs
- 1 cup (250 ml) milk
- 1/2 cup (125 ml) 35% cream
- 6 oz (170 g) sliced white ham
- 1 1/2 cups (150 g) mimolette cheese, grated
- Olive oil, for drizzling
Instructions
- With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).
- Spread the bread out in a baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes to dry out the bread. Remove from the oven and set aside. Increase the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C).
- Meanwhile, in a 9-inch (23 cm) cast iron skillet over medium heat, cook the leeks in the butter until soft, about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the garlic and thyme. Cook for 1 minute while stirring. Deglaze with the wine and let reduce by half. Add the parsley and mix well. Set aside in a bowl.
- In a large measuring cup, whisk together the eggs, milk and cream. Season with salt and pepper.
- In the same skillet off the heat, spread out half of the bread. Nestle half of the ham slices into the bread, folding the ham over itself slightly. Top with half of the leek mixture and half of the cheese. Repeat layering in the remaining bread, ham, and leek mixture, finishing with the cheese.
- Pour the egg mixture into the skillet, pressing down lightly on the bread without crushing it. Drizzle with oil and season generously with pepper. Cover with foil.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil from the skillet. Increase the oven temperature to 425°F (220°C). Bake for another 15 minutes or until the strata is golden. Garnish with more parsley. Serve with green salad, if desired.
In collaboration with Les Fromages d’Europe, this strata is served in the skillet used to cook it, for a charming look that’s both chic and rustic. Serve a generous portion of this dish full of tender leek, moist pieces of bread, ham with perfectly crispy edges and mild mimolette cheese. The cheese stays gooey in the centre of the strata with a golden-brown crust on top. Serve for brunch or even for a weeknight dinner.