Wild Mushroom Bread Pudding

By ruthg

Ingredients

• Unsalted butter, for greasing
• 12 oz. thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/4" slices
• 1 1/2 lb. mixed mushrooms, such as cremini, oyster, and porcini, sliced 1/4" thick
• 2 1/2 cups whole milk
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan
• &frac13 cup roughly chopped parsley
• 2 tsp. minced thyme
• 6 eggs
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 (1-lb.) loaf country bread, torn into 1" pieces (6 cups), lightly toasted
• 1 cup shredded Gruyère

Details

Servings 6
Adapted from saveur.com

Preparation

Step 1

Heat oven to 350°. Grease a 3-qt. oval baking dish with butter. Heat bacon and 1 tbsp. oil in a 12" skillet over medium-high; cook until bacon is slightly crisp, 6–8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to a bowl. Add leek to skillet and cook until soft, 3–4 minutes; add to bowl with bacon. Working in two batches, cook mushrooms in remaining oil until golden, 6–8 minutes; add to bowl with bacon. Whisk milk, cream, parmesan, ¼ cup parsley, the thyme, eggs, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Stir in bacon mixture and bread; let sit 15 minutes. Transfer to prepared baking dish and sprinkle with Gruyère; bake until golden brown and set, about 45 minutes. Garnish with remaining parsley.