Breakfast Strata with capers, red onions, and smoked salmon

A strata is an egg and bread custard dish, usually served at brunch. The bread soaks up the egg and cheese mixture, so crusty or stale bread is great to use. It can even be prepared the night before and baked in the morning.
The egg and bread mixture is the base, but you can change the seasonings and toppings to suit your taste. Make it sweet by changing the seasoning to nutmeg or cinnamon and top it with fruit, instead of salmon.
This recipe is a take on “Lox and Bagels.”

2.50 cups Bread, torn in 1 inch pieces Bagels, sandwich bread, English muffins, etc

6 Eggs

1.50 cups Half and half

8 oz creme fraicheYou can substitute goat cheese, cream cheese, ricotta or cottage cheese

1 cup MilkBroth or water can be substituted, to make this “less calories”

¼ cup CapersMore for garnish, olives can be substituted

¼ cup Red onion, thinly slicedIf your not a fan of onions, you can omit, and just use as a topping later, for those that do

1 tsp DillArugula or spinach can be substituted, a flavorful green adds a unique element

Smoked salmon, optionalBacon or some other type of smoked breakfast meat can be substituted

Salt and pepper and oil

Heat oven to 425 degrees. On a large baking sheet place bread pieces, drizzle with oil and toast in oven for 10-15 minutes. Until crispy and golden.
Allow to cool.

Meanwhile in a large bowl, mix together; eggs, milk, half and half, creme fraiche. Once combined, add dill and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Fold in bread, onions, and capers.

In a 9x11 dish, coated with cooking oil, add egg and bread mixture.
Cover with foil and allow to sit for an hour or overnight.

Before baking, allow strata to come to room temp, or at least get some of the refrigerator chill out of the eggs, this will allow for a more even cooking.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Bake strata with foil cover for 30-40 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking until top is brown and puffy

Allow strata to completely cool and serve with pieces of salmon, extra capers and onions.

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Breakfast Strata with capers, red onions, and smoked salmon