Ham, Spinach And Fontina (or Gruyere) Strata

Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 large baguette
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 1 lb ham, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 4 large eggs
• 4 cups milk
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, grated
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 6 cups fresh spinach, coarsely chopped (about 2 bunches)
• 3/4 lb fontina cheese or 3/4 lb gruyere cheese, grated

Recipe

• 1 preheat broiler. cut baguette diagnoally into 3/4" thick slices. brush both sides with butter and toast on baking sheet 3" from heat until golden, about 30 seconds each side.
• 2 heat oil in frying pan over medium-high heat. add onions and stir until golden. add ham and saute until lightly browned. set aside.
• 3 in large bowl whisk together eggs, milk, salt, nutmeg and pepper. add toasted bread and toss gently. transfer saturated bread to shallow 3 quart casserole, slightly overlapping slices. place spinach and ham mixture between slices. pour remaining egg mixture over all.
• 4 sprinkle cheese over strata, slightly lifting baguette slices with a spatula to allow cheese to fall between all slices. preheat oven to 350°f bake strata in middle of oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until puffed and edges of bread are golden and eggs are set.