cooking

Add a little SPRING to your breakfast

Spring is finally in full swing in Denver!  We love the sweet smells of flowering trees and plants, bright green grass, and warm sunshine.  This time of year, we really like to enjoy breakfast dishes that utilize fresh spring produce – both at home and when we go out to breakfast in Denver!

For a comforting and healthy spring breakfast at home, we love this recipe for asparagus and prosciutto strata which utilizes all the fresh flavors of spring.  Served warm on a lovely spring morning alongside a warm cup of coffee and a bright spring berry salad, you’ll be in heaven!  Read on for the recipe below!

Asparagus and Prosciutto Strata

Ingredients:

2 slices dense multigrain bread

12 large eggs

1/2 cup low-fat milk

1/2 cup dry white wine or low-fat milk

1 tablespoon dry mustard

1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

3 cups halved and very thinly sliced sweet onions

1 cup thinly sliced leek(s), white part only

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 bunch thin asparagus (about 1 pound), trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces

1/4 cup chopped scallions or fresh chives

3 very thin slices prosciutto (about 1 1/2 ounces), torn into strips

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, divided

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint

2 tablespoons lemon zest (optional)

Directions

1. Cut bread into 1/4-inch cubes. Whisk eggs in a large bowl. Whisk in milk, wine (or another 1/2 cup milk), dry mustard, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Stir in the bread. Let stand at room temperature while you prepare the vegetables. (If baking the next day, cover and refrigerate the egg mixture.)
2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions, leek and garlic; cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low and continue cooking very gently, stirring occasionally, until the onions have a little color and appear almost melted, 30 to 45 minutes more.
3. Meanwhile, bring 1 inch of water to a boil in a medium skillet. Add asparagus, cover and cook for 2 minutes. Drain and let cool; pat dry.
4. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish (or similar 3-quart dish) with cooking spray.
5. When the onions are done, stir in scallions (or chives) and cook, stirring for 2 minutes. Transfer to the prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle the asparagus over the onion mixture. (If baking the next day: cover and refrigerate the vegetables in the baking dish.)
6. If the egg mixture and vegetables were refrigerated overnight, remove from the refrigerator, uncover and let stand at room temperature for 1 hour.
7. Preheat oven to 350°F.
8. Scatter strips of prosciutto over the vegetables. Stir 1/4 cup cheese, parsley, mint and lemon zest (if using) into the egg mixture until well combined, then pour the egg mixture over the vegetables. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup cheese over the top.
9. Bake the strata just until firm to the touch in the middle and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers at least 160°F, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from the oven, very carefully cover with foil to keep warm and let rest for 20 to 30 minutes before serving.

Tips

Make Ahead Tip: Prepare egg mixture (through Step 1) and vegetables (Steps 2-5) and refrigerate separately for up to 1 day; remove from the refrigerator about 1 hour before baking (2 hours before serving).

And of course for those days that you’d rather have us cook up a delicious spring breakfast, we have many dishes that will brighten your day including our Seasonal Berry Crepes, Blueberry or Strawberry Waffles, our Garden Benedict, or the Vegetarian Omelet!  Happy Spring Denver!

by OPHD1996