Spicy Sausage Vegetable Strata Food

SOUTHWESTERN CORNBREAD STRATA WITH CREAMY SPICY TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• For the Southwestern cornbread strata: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 10-by-12-inch baking dish and place on a baking sheet. Set aside.
• Whisk together the eggs, milk, cream and salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the cornbread, press to submerge, and let stand, stirring once or twice to soak the cornbread evenly and thoroughly.
• Heat the oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, add the sausage, and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Add the onion, bell pepper and poblano to the drippings in the skillet, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned in spots and soft, about 5 minutes.
• Stir the sausage and onion mixture into the cornbread mixture. Stir in the chopped cilantro, 3/4 cup of the Cheddar and 3/4 cup of the Monterey Jack. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer the mixture to the prepared dish, dot with the goat cheese and sprinkle on the cotija and remaining 1/4 cups Cheddar and Monterey Jack. Bake until the edges are puffed and lightly golden brown and the center still jiggles slightly, about 40 minutes.
• For the tomato sauce: While the strata bakes, heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
• Stir in the tomatoes and chipotle and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is reduced by half and thickened, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a blender and puree until creamy, venting the top of the blender to allow steam to escape. Return the sauce to the saucepan over low heat, and whisk in the crema and salt and pepper to taste; let the sauce heat through and then remove from the heat. Stir in the lime juice and cover to keep warm.
• Let the strata rest for about 10 minutes, then serve with the creamy spicy tomato sauce, garnishing each serving with some of the whole cilantro leaves.

SPICY STRATA

Steps:

• Butter 8-by-8-inch baking dish and set aside. Heat butter over medium heat. When it foams, add scallions, and cook until just softened, about 1 minute. Add asparagus and cook until bright green and beginning to soften, about 2 minutes; remove from heat.
• Whisk eggs, half-and-half, salt, cumin, and pepper in a large bowl until evenly combined. Arrange half of the bread in bottom of prepared dish. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the cheese and half each of jalapenos, cilantro, and asparagus mixture. Pour over half of egg mixture. Repeat layering with remaining bread, another 1/2 cup of the cheese, and remaining chilies, cilantro and asparagus mixture. Pour remaining egg mixture over top.
• Sprinkle strata with another 1/4 cup of the cheese and push to ensure bread is submerged in egg custard. Cover with plastic wrap, put a plate and a 1-pound weight on top (a large can of tomatoes or rice in a re-sealable plastic bag works well), place in refrigerator for 1 to 12 hours.
• When ready to bake, heat oven to 325 degrees F and arrange rack in the middle. Let strata sit at room temperature while oven heats, at least 20 minutes.
• Sprinkle strata with remaining 1/4 cup of the cheese and bake until puffed and edges pull away slightly, about 40 to 45 minutes. Cool for at least 5 minutes before serving. Serve with some cilantro, sour cream, and avocado, as desired.

EASY SAUSAGE STRATA

Steps:

• Place sausage in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain, and set aside.
• Layer bread cubes, sausage, and Cheddar cheese in a lightly greased 7x11 inch baking dish. In a bowl, beat together the eggs, milk, salt, and mustard. Pour the egg mixture over the bread cube mixture. Cover, and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Remove the casserole from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake 50 to 60 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

HOLIDAY BREAKFAST STRATA WITH SAUSAGE (OR NOT)

Steps:

• In a medium saute pan, heat the olive oil and saute the onion, green pepper, and mushrooms until soft, about 7-8 minutes. Set aside.
• If using sausage, brown it in a medium saute pan and drain.
• If using veggie sausage, heat it in the microwave for a minute or so and crumble.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, half and half, salt, and pepper.
• Spray two approximately 4" x 8'' baking pans/casserole dishes with non-stick cooking spray.
• Layer two slices of the bread in the bottom of each pan.
• Sprinkle 1/4 of the veggies over the bread in each pan.
• Spread half the crumbled sausage over the sausage version.
• Sprinkle on 1/4 of the cheese over each.
• Pour about 1/2 cup of the egg mixture over the top.
• Add a layer of the remaining bread, two more slices each, then veggies, then sausage over the sausage side, then cheese.
• Pour the rest of the egg mixture evenly over the top of each.
• Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight, or for at least three hours.
• In the morning, uncover and bake at 325 degrees for about 40 - 50 minutes, until set.

CHEDDAR, VEGETABLE AND SAUSAGE STRATA

Steps:

• Butter 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Fit 8 bread slices in prepared dish. Cut remaining bread slice into 1-inch cubes; fit cubes into any empty spaces. Whisk eggs, mustard, basil and salt in medium bowl to blend; whisk in half and half. Ladle custard over bread. Cover; chill at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Sprinkle mixture in dish with black pepper. Top with half of cheese, then bell pepper, tomatoes, sausage, onion and remaining cheese. Cover loosely with foil. Bake 20 minutes. Remove foil. Bake until strata is set and springy to touch, about 20 minutes longer. Cool 5 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley.

VEGGIE SAUSAGE STRATA

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook the sausage, green peppers and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, salt, pepper and mustard. Stir in the sausage mixture, bread, spinach, cheeses and zucchini. , Transfer mixture to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight., Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Cover and bake at 350° for 40 minutes. Uncover; bake 40-45 minutes longer or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

SPICY SAUSAGE AND VEGETABLE STRATA

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook sausage, onion and bell pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink.
• Carefully drain off extra grease.
• In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and mustard.
• Stir in remaining ingredients.
• Transfer to a greased 9x13 inch pan.
• Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight.
• Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking; keeping the foil on.
• Bake at 350 degrees 40 minutes.
• Uncover and bake 40 to 45 minutes longer or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

VEGETABLE STRATA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, heat 1 teaspoon oil over medium-high heat. Add asparagus; cook and stir until crisp-tender. Transfer to a large bowl., Repeat with an additional 1 teaspoon oil and zucchini; add to asparagus. In same pan, cook and stir corn, shallots and garlic in remaining oil until shallots are tender; stir in herbs, salt and pepper. Add to asparagus mixture; stir in bread cubes., Place half of mixture in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with 1-1/2 cups cheese. Repeat layers. In another bowl, whisk eggs and milk; pour over casserole. Sprinkle with pecans. Refrigerate, covered, at least 1 hour., Bake, uncovered, 40-50 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Freeze option: After assembling, cover and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake strata, covered, 45 minutes. Uncover; bake 10-15 minutes longer or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

SPICY SAUSAGE-VEGETABLE STRATA

Steps:

• Cook sausage and onion in 10-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sausage is no longer pink; drain well.
• Arrange bread slices in ungreased rectangular baking dish, 11x7x1 1/2 inches, cutting to fit if necessary. Spread sausage mixture over bread. Top with bell peppers and zucchini.
• Beat eggs and ricotta cheese in medium bowl, using fork, until blended. Stir in milk. Pour over mixture in baking dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cover tightly and refrigerate at least 2 hours but no longer than 24 hours.
• About 1 hour before serving, heat oven to 350°F. Uncover and bake 45 to 55 minutes or until top is puffed and center is set. Serve immediately.

SPICY SAUSAGE AND VEGETABLE SKILLET PASTA

Steps:

• Heat oil in your largest saute pan or a stock pan until shimmering. Add zucchini and onions, saute over medium-high until softened.
• Add garlic and sausage. Cook until slightly curled, about 3-4 minutes being careful not to overcook it.
• Turn heat up to high and add Rotel, 3 C chicken broth, half & half, and pepper flakes. Bring to a boil and add pasta, add additional cup of chicken broth if needed. Stir to combine and place lid on pot.
• Simmer for 10 minutes or until pasta is al dente, stirring a couple of times. Add spinach, nutritional yeast, and cheese, stir to combine and cook for 1-2 minutes.
• Serve immediately with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.