Best 3 Grand Central Strata Recipes

Indulge in a culinary journey with Grand Central Strata, a delectable breakfast casserole that promises to tantalize your taste buds. This classic dish, originating from the bustling Grand Central Terminal in New York City, is a harmonious blend of savory and sweet flavors, featuring layers of bread, eggs, cheese, and a surprise ingredient that adds a touch of unexpected delight. Served with a side of fresh fruit or a crisp green salad, this strata is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed for breakfast, brunch, or even lunch. Discover the secrets behind this iconic recipe and explore variations that cater to different dietary preferences, including a vegetarian option. Bon appétit!

Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!

GRANDMA'S ANYTHING GOES STRATA

Grandma's Anything Goes Strata image

Grandma knew how to make a hearty meal out of leftover bits of bread and cheese. This recipe is meant for riffing, so use any type of cheese, leafy greens, meat or bread you happen to have on hand.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories main-dish

Time 1h10m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

Butter or nonstick cooking spray, for greasing pan
6 large eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup half-and-half
Pinch of ground nutmeg
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 handfuls dark, leafy greens such as spinach, arugula or baby kale, chopped (about 1 cup packed)
1 cup diced salty deli meat, such as Canadian bacon, ham, or cooked bacon
8 ounces (about 2 1/2 packed cups) leftover bread torn into 1-inch pieces, such as English muffins, bagels or sourdough bread
3/4 cup shredded mild melting cheese such as Gruyere, provolone or Gouda

Steps:

Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Grease a 1 1/2 quart baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
Whisk the eggs, milk, half-and-half, nutmeg, cayenne, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper together in a large bowl. Fold the greens, meat, bread and 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese into the mixture. Pour into the prepared baking dish and top with the remaining cheese.
Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake until the strata is puffed, golden brown at the edges and set in the center, about 15 minutes more. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

GRAND CENTRAL STRATA

Grand Central Strata image

Make and share this Grand Central Strata recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Irmgard

Categories Breakfast

Time 1h30m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

6 -7 slices Italian bread, leftover (You can use 6-7 slices sourdough bread instead)
2 cups spinach or 2 cups zucchini, prepared
4 -5 sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup onion, diced
1 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped (1 tsp dried)
5 eggs
1 quart half-and-half cream (substitute part or all milk if preferred)
6 tablespoons butter

Steps:

To Prepare Vegetables: Broccoli: Cut into thin slices.
Peel woody stems.
Blanche in boiling water for 2- 3 minutes depending on the size of your pieces.
Plunge into cold water.
Drain and reserve.
Spinach or Chard: Use frozen chopped spinach or chop fresh greens and blanch about 1 minute in boiling water.
Drain thoroughly in colander.
Zucchini: Slice or dice and sauté with onions and mushrooms.
To Assemble: Sauté the onions, mushrooms and zucchini (if selected) and mix with prepared vegetable of choice.
Mix in fresh basil.
Set aside.
With a wire whisk beat the eggs, add the milk and/or cream and season carefully with salt and pepper.
Remove the crusts from the bread.
Butter the bottom and sides of an 8 ½" x 11" ovenproof pan and cut enough bread to cover the bottom.
(cut pieces to fit snuggly) Spread vegetables over bread and top with grated cheeses.
Pour egg mixture over all.
Top with remaining bread.
Pressing it slightly into egg mixture.
Dot with butter, Cover and refrigerate overnight or for a minimum of 2 hours.
Bake at 350 degrees until custard is set and dish is browned on top.
(50- 60 minutes).

EASY STRATA AND VARIATIONS

Easy Strata and Variations image

Make one recipe and then give variations in notes.

Provided by Ben S.

Categories 100+ Breakfast and Brunch Recipes Eggs Breakfast Strata Recipes

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

1 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 quart half-and-half
12 eggs
1 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper
12 slices fluffy white bread
1 pound cubed fully cooked ham
12 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, grated
½ cup thinly sliced scallions

Steps:

Saute mushrooms in 1 tablespoon of oil. Season with salt and set aside.
Whisk half-and-half, eggs, salt and pepper until smooth. Spray a 9-by-13-inch Pyrex or ceramic baking dish with vegetable cooking spray.
Line bottom with 6 slices of bread. Scatter half of the ham, and half of the mushrooms over the bread, then sprinkle with half of the scallions and cheese. Pour 1 cup of egg mixture over the top. Repeat layers with remaining bread, ham, mushrooms, cheese and scallions. Slowly pour remaining egg mixture evenly over top. Cover with plastic wrap, then weight down casserole with 3 16-ounce cans for at least 15 minutes to submerge ingredients. (Can be refrigerated overnight, but return to room temperature before baking.)
Adjust oven rack to middle position. Bake in preheated 325-degree oven until custard is just set, about 50 minutes. Turn on broiler and broil until strata is spotty brown and puffy (watch carefully), about 5 minutes longer. Let stand for 8 to 10 minutes, then serve immediately.

Tips:

Use fresh bread for a light and fluffy strata.
Cut the bread into cubes or pieces for even cooking.
Use a deep baking dish to ensure the custard mixture covers the bread.
Whisk the eggs and milk together until well blended.
Season the custard mixture with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
Add your favorite mix-ins to the strata, such as cheese, ham, or vegetables.
Bake the strata at 350°F for 45-60 minutes, or until the custard is set and the top is golden brown.
Cover the strata with aluminum foil during the last 15 minutes of baking to prevent it from over-browning.
Let the strata cool for a few minutes before serving.

Conclusion:

Grand Central Strata is a delicious and versatile dish that is perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It is easy to make and can be customized to your liking. With its creamy custard, fluffy bread, and savory mix-ins, Grand Central Strata is sure to be a hit with everyone at the table.