Goat Cheese Strata with Oven-Dried Tomatoes
Oven-dried tomatoes:
- ¼ cup olive oil, plus additional for greasing baking sheet
- 1 pound plum tomatoes, cored, halved crosswise, seeded
- Fine sea salt or kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 2 cups milk
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 loaf artisanal (country-style) bread, crust removed, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 8 cups)
- 1½ cups whipping cream
- 5 large eggs
- 2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 1 (11-ounce) log soft fresh goat cheese, crumbled
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
- 1½ teaspoons dried mixed Italian herbs (Italian seasoning)
- 3 (6½-ounce) jars marinated artichoke hearts, drained and halved lengthwise
- 1 cup (6 ounces) coarsely grated Edam cheese
- 1½ cups (6 ounces) freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese
Instructions:
Since a good strata requires you make it the night before, you are guaranteed more time with your brunch guests.
- For the tomatoes, preheat the oven to 300°F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Brush the foil with olive oil (about 1 tablespoon). Place the tomatoes, cut side up, on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle ¼ cup of olive oil over the tomatoes, and season with salt and pepper. Bake the tomatoes until they are shriveled but are still soft, about 2 hours. Let the tomatoes cool on the baking sheet.
- For the strata, increase the oven to 350°F. Grease a 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish with butter. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the milk and oil. Add the bread cubes and let them sit to allow the liquids to absorb, about 10 minutes.
- In another large mixing bowl, whisk together the cream, eggs, garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir in the goat cheese. In a separate small bowl, stir together the chopped fresh herbs.
- Arrange half of the bread mixture in the bottom of the buttered baking dish. Arrange half of the tomatoes, cut side up, over the bread. Add half of the artichokes, herbs, and cheeses over the bread. Pour half of the cream-goat cheese mixture over all. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
- Transfer the strata to the oven and bake until the filling sets and browns around the edges and the cheeses are melted.