Indulge in the ultimate comfort food experience with our oven-baked cheese fondue strata, a delightful casserole that combines the richness of melted cheese, the savory flavors of bread, and the hearty goodness of eggs. This delectable dish is perfect for special occasions, potlucks, or a cozy family dinner. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal effort, you can create a culinary masterpiece that will impress your taste buds and warm your soul. In this article, we'll guide you through two irresistible variations of this classic recipe: the classic cheese fondue strata and a tantalizing crab and artichoke strata. Get ready to embark on a cheesy adventure that will leave you craving for more.
Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!
SPINACH & CHEESE STRATA
Layered with spinach, cheese, and bread, and soaked in a savory custard, this make-ahead strata is ideal for entertaining.
Provided by Jennifer Segal, inspired by
Categories Breakfast & Brunch
Time 1h45m
Yield 8 to 10
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until soft and translucent, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and drained spinach and cook 2 minutes more. Set aside.
- Butter a 3-quart or 9x13-inch baking dish. Spread one third of the bread cubes in the dish and top evenly with one third of spinach mixture. (Try to break it up as much as possible so there are no huge clumps of spinach.) Sprinkle with one third of each cheese. Repeat layering twice, ending with cheeses.
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the half-and-half, mustard, salt, pepper, and nutmeg and whisk until well combined. Pour the custard mixture evenly over the strata. Cover the strata with plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour or overnight.
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Bake the strata, uncovered, until puffed, set and golden brown all over top, 70-80 minutes. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes before serving. It will settle a bit as it cools.
- Note: The cook time is based on the strata going immediately from the fridge to the oven. If it sits out at room temperature before baking, the cook time will be about 10 minutes less.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 483, Fat 30g, Carbohydrate 30g, Protein 25g, SaturatedFat 16g, Sugar 4g, Fiber 4g, Sodium 1117mg, Cholesterol 280mg
GRANDMA'S ANYTHING GOES STRATA
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
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.
CHEESE FONDUE
I've been making this fondue since the early 70's. Always so good!
Provided by Sheila
Categories Appetizers and Snacks Dips and Spreads Recipes Cheese Dips and Spreads Recipes
Yield 5
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Simmer wine in fondue pot. Add Swiss cheese, Gruyere cheese, 1/4 pound at a time. Stir after each addition of cheese until melted. Stir in flour. When all the cheese has melted, stir in salt and nutmeg. Serve with cut-up French bread.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 669.8 calories, Carbohydrate 56.9 g, Cholesterol 91.2 mg, Fat 28.9 g, Fiber 2.3 g, Protein 36.5 g, SaturatedFat 17 g, Sodium 939.8 mg, Sugar 3.6 g
CLASSIC CHEESE FONDUE
This traditional Swiss fondue - the sort you might have encountered in an Alpine ski lodge circa 1972 - calls for an equal amount of Gruyère cheese, for its depth of flavor, and Emmenthaler, for its supple texture; a shot of kirsch, for its cherry aroma and alcoholic oomph; and a little garlic, for bite. It takes all of 15 minutes, and will emerge as magnificently creamy, smooth and velvety as custard, but with a funky, deep flavor that dazzlingly enriches anything you dunk in the pot: bread cubes, apple slices, clementine sections, nuggets of salami, pretzels, tofu. It is even marvelous spooned onto a romaine lettuce salad in place of dressing.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories dips and spreads, appetizer, main course
Time 15m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Rub cut side of garlic on inside of large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed saucepan, preferably cast iron, rubbing the bottom and halfway up the sides. Add wine and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, toss cheeses with cornstarch. Add a handful at a time to simmering wine, stirring until first handful melts before adding next. Reduce heat to medium and stir constantly until cheese is completely melted. Add kirsch, if using, and heat until bubbling, about 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg, if desired. Serve with crusty bread and other accompaniments. (See variations below)
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 495, UnsaturatedFat 13 grams, Carbohydrate 4 grams, Fat 36 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 32 grams, SaturatedFat 22 grams, Sodium 861 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram
MOM'S FAVORITE CHEESE STRATA
MDM prepared this often from the Alexandria, VA TWIG cookbook, "A Heritage of Good Tastes"; The recipe was contributed by Marjorie Cook. Good with many main dish meats, such as beef, pork, etc. Preparation time includes refrigerator setting time.
Provided by KateL
Categories Grains
Time P1DT50m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Lightly grease casserole.
- Cut 3 slices of bread into 3 strips each. Fit into casserole. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and 1/3 of the onion.
- Add 1/3 of the cheese. Repeat layers two more times.
- Beat eggs, add milk, Worcestershire sauce and mustard. Pour over bread mixture.
- Allow to set in the refrigerator overnight.
- Take out 2 hours before baking.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit, then bake for 50 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 537.5, Fat 34.1, SaturatedFat 20.1, Cholesterol 220.6, Sodium 778.6, Carbohydrate 27.2, Fiber 1.1, Sugar 2.7, Protein 30.1
CLASSIC CHEESE FONDUE
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Holidays & Events Valentine's Day Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Toss cheeses in a medium bowl with flour, cayenne pepper, and white pepper to coat, and set aside. Heat wine in a fondue pot over medium heat until it starts to bubble, about 6 minutes.
- Stir in cheese mixture, a little at a time. Stir in kirsch. Continue to cook, stirring, until cheese has melted, 6 minutes. Stir in lemon juice. The mixture should be smooth and almost bubbling. Transfer pot to its stand set over a burner for up to 1 hour. Serve immediately with bread.
FIVE-CHEESE FONDUTA
If five cheese fonduta isn't one of the most mouthwatering foods of all time, I don't know what is! Swap out any cheeses you don't like for your favorites. -Cheri Gilmore, Festus, Missouri
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Appetizers
Time 30m
Yield 3 cups.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450°. Brush an 8-in. cast iron or other ovenproof skillet with 1 tablespoon butter; set aside. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, mozzarella, fontina, cheddar and Parmesan cheeses, garlic, rosemary, thyme, pepper and remaining 2 tablespoons butter until combined. Spread into prepared skillet. Bake until bubbly and golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Serve with baguette slices, pita chips or vegetables.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 237 calories, Fat 20g fat (12g saturated fat), Cholesterol 61mg cholesterol, Sodium 402mg sodium, Carbohydrate 4g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 11g protein.
Tips:
- Use a good quality bread as the base of your strata. A sturdy bread, such as a French baguette or sourdough, will hold up better than a softer bread, such as white bread.
- Cut the bread into cubes of uniform size. This will help them cook evenly.
- Don't skimp on the cheese. Cheese is the key ingredient in a cheese fondue strata, so use a good quality cheese that you enjoy the taste of.
- Use a variety of cheeses to create a more complex flavor. A good combination is to use a mix of hard and soft cheeses, such as cheddar, Gruyère, and Brie.
- Season the strata with salt and pepper to taste. You can also add other seasonings, such as garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika.
- Bake the strata until it is golden brown and bubbly. This will usually take about 30 minutes.
- Let the strata cool for a few minutes before serving. This will help it set and make it easier to slice.
Conclusion:
A cheese fondue strata is a delicious and versatile dish that can be served for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It is also a great way to use up leftover bread and cheese. With its cheesy, eggy flavor and hearty texture, a cheese fondue strata is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.
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