Egg Strata Basics

• The most basic ingredients of an egg strata are eggs, bread, milk and cheese. To this base, you can add any variety of meats, vegetables and spices. This dish can be baked in a casserole dish of any shape -- rectangular, square or circular -- as long as the dish is oven-proof and deep enough for the strata's layers. An oven is key to properly serve egg strata, because the dish tastes best warm.

Basic Preparation

• There are two main ways to make egg strata. Some recipes will call for layering the bread, meats and vegetables first, then pouring a mixture of egg and milk over the layers. Other recipes call for mixing all of the ingredients together before pouring into the casserole dish, like a savory bread pudding. An important thing to remember regardless of the recipe is that the strata needs substantial time in the refrigerator so the ingredients can blend, as well as over an hour of baking time.

Variations

• A variety of combinations are delicious in egg strata. If you like meat, make a strata with Canadian bacon and sharp cheddar, or sausage with fontina cheese and bell pepper. If you crave seafood, try crab with roasted pepper and green onions. If you'd prefer a vegetarian strata, try portobello mushroom with asparagus, or goat cheese with spinach and tomato.

Nutrition

• Egg strata is a very rich dish. A cup of strata has approximately 400 calories and contains more than 25 g of fat, so strata is best enjoyed in small portions. However, it is also a high-protein dish. A cup of strata provides 20 g of protein, and also contains significant amounts of calcium because of the milk it contains.