If I were to tell you one of my weaknesses, freshly baked bread would probably be high up on that list. On occasion, I love to pick up a loaf from the market to incorporate into our meals, one way or another. This past weekend I had some leftover bread from another dish I made, so I decided to make a Savory Vegetable Strata for our Sunday brunch.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, pepper, oregano, onion powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and red chile flakes, then set aside.
Place the bread cubes, mozzarella, red bell peppers, mushrooms, and scallions in a large mixing bowl. Pour in the egg mixture and gently fold it in, making sure each bread cube absorbs the liquid. Transfer the mixture to a 10‑inch casserole dish (or whatever similar dish you have).
Sprinkle the grated Parmesan over the top of the dish. Place the baking dish on the middle rack of your oven and bake until golden brown, around 50 to 60 minutes. (The strata will puff up slightly like a soufflé and then settle a bit once it comes out of the oven, so don’t be alarmed.) Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
If your bread/crust is soft, then it will not need additional soaking time. But if your crust is hard, then you may want to let it sit for 30 to 60 minutes so that the wet mixture can soften your bread. You can also prepare this the night before and refrigerated, just be sure to wrap it up tight.