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Meat Lite: Cemita Strata

Posted by Joy Manning, September 8, 2009 at 12:00 PM

Editor's note: Philadelphia food writers Joy Manning and Tara Mataraza Desmond drop by each week with Meat Lite, which celebrates meat in moderation. Meat Lite was inspired by their book, Almost Meatless.

[Flickr: jlastras]

Strata, or savory bread pudding, is one of the classic clean-out-your fridge dishes. The basic formula can be adapted to whatever you have lying around, so long as the flavors harmonize reasonably well. This version calls for cemitas, which is easy enough to find if you have access to a Mexican grocery or bakery, but if not, any seeded loaf will do. The chorizo here lends a lot of flavor (of course) but could be omitted for a vegetarian version or replaced with an equal amount of ground beef or pork. I told you the recipe is flexible.

Cemita Strata

- serves 6 to 8 -

Ingredients

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 ounces chorizo, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1 tablespoon cumin
5 scallions, white and light green parts, minced
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
6 large eggs
1 1/2 cups whole milk
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, minced
1 or 2 (1-pound) day-old cemitas (a seeded Mexican bread used to make cemita sandwiches), cut into 1-inch pieces
3/4 cup Manchego cheese
3/4 cup pepper jack cheese

Procedure

1. Butter 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Set aside.

2. Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat and add the chorizo, cumin, scallion, and black beans. Cook, stirring often, until the chorizo has rendered some fat and the scallions have softened, about 5 minutes. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs, milk, cilantro, and a few heavy pinches salt and pepper.

3. To assemble the strata, line the bottom of the baking dish with about one-third of the bread cubes. Top with about 1/3 of the chorizo-black bean mixture and 1/4 of the cheese. (You're reserving a quarter of the cheese to top the strata.) Repeat twice more until you have three layers. Pour the egg-milk mixture over the top, and press the surface firmly with a spatula to help the bread absorb the liquid. Top with remaining cheese, cover, and refrigerate for one hour or up to overnight.

4. To bake the strata, preheat the oven to 350°F and then bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until golden brown and a tooth pick inserted comes out clean. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.

About the author: Joy Manning is the restaurant critic at Philadelphia Magazine. She blogs at whatiweightoday.com.

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Tags: Meat Lite, Mexican, bread pudding, cemitas, chorizo, strata