Sausage & Toast Breakfast Strata in Baked Tomatoes
I started exercising. I know you probably all exercise and are like, "That's great." BUT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. I'm 28 years old and have hated almost all physical activity for almost my entire life. So me exercising? It's a big deal. AND I LIKE IT. I feel like I am a stranger to myself.
Anyhow, the other day I had the perfect morning, filled with exercise and then relaxation and lunch. And I blogged about it. And about these tomatoes. Which are mostly unrelated.
But they're delicious! If you love a good breakfast strata (saying "a strata" feels wrong to me -- any grammarians want to chime in?), you’ll love this cute and tasty recipe. Spicy sausage, buttery toast, eggs, and cheese are layered into ripe, juicy tomatoes. The resulting breakfast is hearty, delicious, and so pretty. Since these tomatoes can be prepared the night before and baked in the morning, they’re perfect for company or any mornings where you want a nice breakfast without the fuss.
Sausage & Toast Breakfast Strata in Baked Tomatoes
Recipe by: Willow Bird Baking
Yield: 4 servings
This gorgeous breakfast can be prepared a night ahead and baked in the morning. It's hearty, filling, and tasty. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
4 large beefsteak tomatoes
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 egg
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, plus more for sprinkling
3 slices of bread (2 thick slices and 1 thin; sourdough or Italian would be nice)
about 3 tablespoons butter, melted for toasting
3/4 cup chopped bell peppers and onions (I used a ready-chopped fajita mix from my grocery store)
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon minced jalapeño (or to taste)
about 12 ounces hot sausage
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Toppings: sour cream, diced jalapenos, hot sauce, salsa, chopped green onions, and some fresh cilantro or parsley
Directions:
Note: This is a great make-ahead breakfast! You can prepare the tomatoes and stuff them the night before (leave off the top croutons so they don't get soggy), covering with a piece of plastic wrap in the fridge. When you're ready for breakfast, leave them sitting out while the oven preheats. Top with croutons, bake, and serve.
Brush both sides of each slice of bread and toast them in a skillet over medium-high heat, flipping once, until they're golden brown all over. Set them aside to cool and, when cooled, slice the thick slices into 1/2-inch cubes. Slice the thin slice into smaller cubes (about 1/4-inch maybe?) -- these will be the little "croutons" for the top! Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a small baking dish or pie plate with a sheet of parchment paper. You can also use a cast iron skillet (no parchment necessary. Just spritz with cooking spray.) I got mine mini ones here.
Use a serrated knife to cut the top off of each tomato. Gently remove the innards (seeds and flesh) of each tomato with a spoon without breaking through the outside flesh -- you'll end up leaving a shell that's about 1/4-inch thick all around. Sprinkle tomatoes with salt and pepper and place them in the baking dish.
In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown the sausage until fully cooked through. Spoon it out with a slotted spoon onto a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Discard all but a couple of teaspoons of the sausage grease on the stove (or add a little olive oil if there isn't enough grease). Heat the remaining grease over medium-high heat. Place peppers, jalapeños, and onions into the skillet and toss to coat them with the grease. Sauté them for about 3-4 minutes until they’re soft and the onions are beginning to turn translucent. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until it’s fragrant. Remove this mixture to the paper-towel lined plate with the sausage. After letting the mixture drain for a few minutes, place it in a small bowl and toss it together with the cheddar cheese.
Place a layer of thick bread cubes into each tomato. Spoon a heaping spoonful of the sausage mixture over top. Continue layering bread and sausage, ending with a layer of sausage at the top. Really pack it down! In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, evaporated milk, cayenne pepper, and a little more salt and pepper. Pour this mixture slowly (so it has a chance to soak in) over each tomato, dividing it evenly, until you can't fill anymore without them overflowing. Place your tiny "croutons" on top of each tomato's filling, packing them down. Bake the tomatoes for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the casserole is set and the tomatoes are nicely roasted. You might have to tent with foil after about the first 15 minutes so the little croutons don't get too dark. Top with the remaining cheese and continue baking for 5 minutes or until melted. Serve warm with sour cream, cilantro, and any other fixings you'd like.
To hear me gush about my exercise epiphany, read about my perfect morning, and see more photos of baked tomatoes, please head over to Willow Bird Baking!
x-posted to food_porn, cooking, picturing_food, and bakebakebake
Anyhow, the other day I had the perfect morning, filled with exercise and then relaxation and lunch. And I blogged about it. And about these tomatoes. Which are mostly unrelated.
But they're delicious! If you love a good breakfast strata (saying "a strata" feels wrong to me -- any grammarians want to chime in?), you’ll love this cute and tasty recipe. Spicy sausage, buttery toast, eggs, and cheese are layered into ripe, juicy tomatoes. The resulting breakfast is hearty, delicious, and so pretty. Since these tomatoes can be prepared the night before and baked in the morning, they’re perfect for company or any mornings where you want a nice breakfast without the fuss.
Sausage & Toast Breakfast Strata in Baked Tomatoes
Recipe by: Willow Bird Baking
Yield: 4 servings
This gorgeous breakfast can be prepared a night ahead and baked in the morning. It's hearty, filling, and tasty. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
4 large beefsteak tomatoes
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 egg
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, plus more for sprinkling
3 slices of bread (2 thick slices and 1 thin; sourdough or Italian would be nice)
about 3 tablespoons butter, melted for toasting
3/4 cup chopped bell peppers and onions (I used a ready-chopped fajita mix from my grocery store)
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon minced jalapeño (or to taste)
about 12 ounces hot sausage
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Toppings: sour cream, diced jalapenos, hot sauce, salsa, chopped green onions, and some fresh cilantro or parsley
Directions:
Note: This is a great make-ahead breakfast! You can prepare the tomatoes and stuff them the night before (leave off the top croutons so they don't get soggy), covering with a piece of plastic wrap in the fridge. When you're ready for breakfast, leave them sitting out while the oven preheats. Top with croutons, bake, and serve.
Brush both sides of each slice of bread and toast them in a skillet over medium-high heat, flipping once, until they're golden brown all over. Set them aside to cool and, when cooled, slice the thick slices into 1/2-inch cubes. Slice the thin slice into smaller cubes (about 1/4-inch maybe?) -- these will be the little "croutons" for the top! Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a small baking dish or pie plate with a sheet of parchment paper. You can also use a cast iron skillet (no parchment necessary. Just spritz with cooking spray.) I got mine mini ones here.
Use a serrated knife to cut the top off of each tomato. Gently remove the innards (seeds and flesh) of each tomato with a spoon without breaking through the outside flesh -- you'll end up leaving a shell that's about 1/4-inch thick all around. Sprinkle tomatoes with salt and pepper and place them in the baking dish.
In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown the sausage until fully cooked through. Spoon it out with a slotted spoon onto a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Discard all but a couple of teaspoons of the sausage grease on the stove (or add a little olive oil if there isn't enough grease). Heat the remaining grease over medium-high heat. Place peppers, jalapeños, and onions into the skillet and toss to coat them with the grease. Sauté them for about 3-4 minutes until they’re soft and the onions are beginning to turn translucent. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until it’s fragrant. Remove this mixture to the paper-towel lined plate with the sausage. After letting the mixture drain for a few minutes, place it in a small bowl and toss it together with the cheddar cheese.
Place a layer of thick bread cubes into each tomato. Spoon a heaping spoonful of the sausage mixture over top. Continue layering bread and sausage, ending with a layer of sausage at the top. Really pack it down! In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, evaporated milk, cayenne pepper, and a little more salt and pepper. Pour this mixture slowly (so it has a chance to soak in) over each tomato, dividing it evenly, until you can't fill anymore without them overflowing. Place your tiny "croutons" on top of each tomato's filling, packing them down. Bake the tomatoes for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the casserole is set and the tomatoes are nicely roasted. You might have to tent with foil after about the first 15 minutes so the little croutons don't get too dark. Top with the remaining cheese and continue baking for 5 minutes or until melted. Serve warm with sour cream, cilantro, and any other fixings you'd like.
To hear me gush about my exercise epiphany, read about my perfect morning, and see more photos of baked tomatoes, please head over to Willow Bird Baking!
x-posted to food_porn, cooking, picturing_food, and bakebakebake