How to Make Italian Strata Recipe
Step #1: Heat a large, heavy skillet over medium heat and sauté pancetta until crisp. Remove and set aside. Add the olive oil to the pan and heat for 30 seconds. Add the onions and garlic, then sauté for five minutes. Turn off the heat and set aside. Now, it’s all about the Italian Strata recipe. This is just pure brilliance. Essentially, you throw your leftover cut-up bread into a baking dish along with some goodies (pancetta and cheese, anyone?), then soak it in eggs and milk overnight. Throw it in the oven the next morning, and you’re in carb-egg-cheese Italian breakfast strata heaven. Step #2: Spread one-third of the bread cubes in a well-buttered 3-quart baking dish. Top with one-third of the pancetta, one-third of the onion mixture, and one-third of each cheese. Repeat layering twice with the remaining bread, pancetta, onions, and cheese. Step #3: Whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Pour evenly over the strata, then cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 8 hours or up to one day. Step #4: The next day, let it stand at room temperature while preheating the oven to 350°F (177°C). Bake uncovered for 45 to 55 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight if frozen, then bake in the oven at 350°F (177°C) until heated through, which typically takes about 20 minutes.
