Vegetable Strata
April 13, 2022
: 12
: 20 min
: Easy
This vegetable strata is like a savory bread pudding meets a soufflé casserole. It's not heavy but packed with colorful vegetables perfect for a spring or summer brunch! I make this for Easter. It's delicious warm or room temperature.

Ingredients
- 6 cups of bread cut into bite size pieces - I like to use Challah
- 2 small zucchini - thinly sliced
- 2 yellow squash - thinly sliced
- 1 red/purple onion - diced
- 2 belle peppers - I use red, yellow, or orange for their bright colors
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 - 3 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 8oz package of cream cheese
- 6 eggs
- 1/3 cup half and half
- 1 cup mild cheddar cheese
- 1 cup gruyere cheese
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Directions
- Step 1 Cut bread into bite size pieces and place into a large bowl so the air can dry it out. (This will help to absorb other ingredients later)
- Step 2 Saute onion, zucchini, yellow squash, and peppers in olive oil on medium heat until soft and translucent.
- Step 3 Add garlic and onion powder. Mix and cook for anther 2 to 3 minutes.
- Step 4 Remove from heat.
- Step 5 In a mixing bowl beat softened cream cheese.
- Step 6 Add half and half, salt and pepper. Scrape the sides of the bowl.
- Step 7 Add 6 cracked eggs to mixture and beat until it’s all incorporated. Scrape the sides of the bowl.
- Step 8 Add vegetables to the bowl of Challah bread. Mix.
- Step 9 Pour custard mixture over bread and vegetables. Mix, making sure all bread is coated with liquid.
- Step 10 Add 1 cup of mild cheddar cheese and 1 cup gruyere cheese and stir together.
- Step 11 Grease a springform pan and place on baking sheet.
- Step 12 Pour Challah, vegetable, custard mixture into pan.
- Step 13 Cover with plastic wrap for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Step 14 Remove plastic wrap and bake in a 350 degree oven for 1 and 20 minutes. Everyone’s oven is different so check after 1 hour.
- Step 15 Let stand on a cooling rack for 15 minutes after it comes out of the oven.
- Step 16 Run an offset spatula around the edge and release the spring. Remove the sides and place on a pretty dish.