Spinach-Gruyere Strata
The America’s Test Kitchen Cookbook
Servings Prep Time
6servings 30minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
90minutes 90minutes
Servings Prep Time
6servings 30minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
90minutes 90minutes
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 225 degrees. Arrange bread in single layer on large baking sheet and bake until dry and crisp, about 40 minutes, turning slices over halfway through drying time. (Alternatively, leave slices out overnight to dry.) When cooled, butter slices on one side with 2 tablespoons butter; set aside.
  2. Heat 2 (4/6) tablespoons butter in medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Saute shallots until fragrant and translucent, about 3 minutes; add spinach and salt and pepper to taste and cook, stirring occasionally, until combined, about 2 minutes. Transfer to medium bowl; set aside. Add wine to skillet, increase heat to medium-high and simmer until reduced to 1/4 cup; set aside.
  3. Butter baking dish with remaining butter; arrange half of buttered bread slices, buttered side up, in single layer in dish. Sprinkle half of spinach mixture, then 1/2 cup of grated cheese evenly over bread slices. Arrange remaining bread slices in single layer over cheese; sprinkle remaining spinach mixture and another 1/2 cup of cheese evenly over bread.
  4. Whisk eggs in medium bowl until combined; whisk in reduced wine, half-and-half, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste. Pour egg mixture evenly over bread layers; cover surface flush with plastic wrap, weigh down, and refrigerate at least one hour or up to overnight. (Weighing down presses the bread into the egg mixture, making sure all the bread gets soaked and stays moist while baking rather than drying out. To do this, place another baking dish on top of the plastic wrap and place several heavy cans on top until the cream mixture comes to the top of the bread).
  5. Remove dish from refrigerator and let stand at room temperature 20 minutes. Meanwhile, adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Uncover strata and sprinkle remaining cheese evenly over the surface; bake until both edges and center are puffed and edges have pulled away slightly from sides of dish, 50 to 55 minutes (or about 60 minutes for doubled recipe).
  6. Cool on wire rack 5 minutes; serve.