Fontina, Speck and Onion Strata

By contessawannabe

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 large sweet onion, preferably Vidalia (about 1 1/2 pounds), thinly sliced
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
• 10 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 cups whole milk
• 1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
• 10 cups day-old rustic bread (from 13 ounces), cut into 3/4 -inch cubes
• 4 ounces sliced speck or ham, coarsely chopped (1 1/4 cups)
• 3 cups shredded fontina (8 ounces)
• Vegetable oil cooking spray

Details

Servings 8
Adapted from marthastewart.com

Preparation

Step 1

Heat butter in a large high-sided skillet over high heat. Cook onion until lightly caramelized, 10 to 12 minutes (adjust heat if browning too quickly). Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Transfer onion to a plate, and let cool.
Meanwhile, whisk together eggs, milk, Parmigiano-Reggiano, garlic, thyme, and 1 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Season with pepper. Add bread cubes, and toss well to combine. Toss in onion and speck. Refrigerate, covered, for at least 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spread half the bread mixture on the bottom of a 10-by-14-inch oval baking dish. Sprinkle with 2 cups fontina. Top with remaining bread mixture. Coat a large piece of parchment with cooking spray. Cover strata with parchment, then with foil. Bake for 1 hour. Uncover, and sprinkle with remaining cup fontina. Raise oven temperature to 375 degrees. Bake until top is golden brown and crusty, 20 minutes more. Let rest for 15 minutes. Serve warm.