Leek Breakfast Strata

Need the perfect Easter brunch recipe? This leek breakfast strata recipe is the perfect brunch recipe with its added leeks, red peppers, and Swiss cheese topping. The taste of this easy strata recipe is buttery, soft, and uses a flavor combination that yells complex yet is very easy to make.

Having brunch recipes on hand keeps our family sane during the holidays or a busy season of life. Right after Thanksgiving, we love using leftovers to create this tasty Thanksgiving leftover breakfast casserole dish. During Christmas, this non-alcoholic eggnog casserole breakfast recipe is a must make! One of our Sunday favorites is our slow cooker breakfast casserole recipe, which we love to make before heading off to church; by the time we arrive home, the house is smelling amazing and brunch is ready to serve!

One of the most underused vegetables in my opinion is leeks. Lately, it has been becoming more mainstream, but the next time you’re out at the market, be sure to grab a bundle of these amazing green leafy stems. They add so much depth and are perfect to add to your casseroles and soups!

Leeks pair amazingly well with red peppers. Once they are sauteed together and the flavors have infused, it creates a complexity that is to die for! This leek and pepper breakfast strata recipe uses Italian bread that is cut into large bite size chunks, but you’re welcome to use sourdough bread, or choose your favorite whole bread.

What is Strata?

Is strata a breakfast casserole? The name strata may have you questioning if this is indeed an easy breakfast recipe -it is! Strata is a breakfast casserole dish that includes whisked eggs, chopped or sliced bread, and cheese. Then you can add whatever toppings or ingredients you desire to make the strata recipe your own.

What do you add to a breakfast strata?

Outside of the eggs, bread, and cheese, you can be creative with a breakfast strata recipe. For a savory strata recipe, you can use garden flavors such as mushrooms, tomatoes, and spinach. You can make a Mexican breakfast strata recipe with chorizo, peppers, and a Mexican cheese blend. Or you can even go sweet by making it with cream cheese and berries!

How do you cook a breakfast strata?

For this leek and pepper breakfast strata recipe, we are going to bake it -which is the traditional and most commonly used method; but you are welcomed to cook it in a slow cooker too!

Can breakfast strata be frozen?

Yes! Just make a batch and skip the cooking process, and hold off on the shredded cheese (if desired) until it is time to bake. Make sure to double wrap the casserole in heavy duty aluminum foil and freeze up to 3 months. When it is time to bake, remove the frozen breakfast strata and allow it to thaw for at least half an hour before topping with cheese and baking for at least an hour, or until warmed through.

How To Make A Leek Breakfast Strata Recipe

The first step to making your breakfast strata recipe is mixing eggs, spices, and milk in a bowl. Set it to the side.

Next you’re going to saute your leeks and red peppers in a pan. Remember to season the layers, so here you’ll also add a little bit of salt and pepper to taste.

Finally, you will assemble your leek and pepper breakfast strata recipe. Grease a 9×13 casserole dish and add in your chunks of bread, top with your cooked leeks and red peppers, generously sprinkle over your shredded Parmesan and cheddar cheese, then seal it with your egg mixture. Cover your leek and pepper breakfast strata with aluminum foil -loosely. Bake for 40 minutes, remove the foil and allow to cook a few more minutes to give a beautiful golden color on top.

What is a leek?

You may be wondering what is “leek”, what does a leek taste like,  what does a leek look like, do I use the whole leek, and when are leeks in season?

What does a leek look like?

Leeks are firm long green vegetables. The tops of leeks are a dark green that transitions into an almost white color at the bulb. Leeks are usually sold in sets of three at the market.

What does a leek taste like?

Many people use leek in place of onions, since leeks are related to onions. But leeks are milder in taste. Also, to some people, leeks have a slight anise flavor when cooked which is why leeks are the perfect addition to savory dishes -especially soups, like this potato leek soup.

What part of a leek do I use?

For cooking you’ll use the lighter end and bulb of a leek. Cut out the dark green stems and use them if desired in your next batch of homemade vegetable stock.

Once you cut out the dark leafy part of the leek, you’ll cut the leek in half and rinse it thoroughly. Leeks are dirty vegetables so separate the layers to rid the leeks of all of the dirt and debris.

How do you chop a leek?

Once you have discarded the dark green part of the the leek and rinsed the bulb and lighter part clean, it is time to chop the leek. To chop a leek you chop it like you would a cucumber. Since it’s already sliced in half from cleaning, once you chop the leek, it will resemble a half moon. This is what you want.

What to serve with this leek breakfast strata recipe:

• This tasty creamy mango fruit salad will bring the sweet aspect to brunch!
• Go nutty with this sugared walnut fruit salad recipe.
• Wash it down with this fruity sparkling fruit punch drink.

Leek Breakfast Strata

5 from 5 votes

Need the perfect Easter brunch recipe? This leek breakfast strata recipe is the perfect brunch recipe with it's added leeks, red peppers, and Swiss cheese topping. The taste of this easy strata recipe is buttery, soft, and uses a flavor combination that yells complex yet is very easy to make.

Servings 12

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

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Ingredients

 

US Customary - Metric

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 2 small leeks (green leaves removed, white stems rinsed and chopped into half moons)
• 1 red bell pepper )chopped)
• salt and pepper to taste
• 8 large eggs
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon marjoram
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 loaf of Italian bread cut into large chunks
• 1 ½ cups shredded Swiss cheese
• 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• In a pan over medium high heat add oil and melt butter. Once butter begins melting, add in leeks and red peppers. Cook until vegetables have softened. Remove from heat and set to the side.
• In a medium mixing bowl, mix eggs, milk, and seasonings together. Mix well.
• Grease a 9x13 pan and add in half of your bread cubes.
• Top with half of the vegetable mixture, and with half of the cheese mixture. Repeat with the remaining, bread, vegetables, and cheese.
•  Seal the bread by pouring the egg mixture over everything evenly.
• Cover pan loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes. 
• After 40 minutes, remove the foil and bake an additional 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the egg whites have set.
• Serve warm.

Notes

The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 12, with 1 serving being 1 slice. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information.**

Nutrition

Calories: 483kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 176mg | Sodium: 573mg | Potassium: 283mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 1140IU | Vitamin C: 14.4mg | Calcium: 284mg | Iron: 2.1mg

Author Julie Clark

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Calories 483

Keyword cheesy egg casserole, easy breakfast casserole, strata recipe

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