Loaded with ham, red and green peppers, bread, onion, and cheese, this super tasty and colorful ham strata is pleasing both to the eyes and palate! It’s also make-ahead, so simply pop it in the oven the next day for a delicious hot breakfast.

We had a lot of left-over ham after the 2022 holiday season was over so I needed to think of new recipes I could use all that yummy meat for. I’m not one to waste any leftovers as I learned early on while growing up in the tiny island of Marinduque, Philippines.

Both my grandmother and mother are excellent cooks and they have often been very creative in making almost entirely new dishes from any leftovers! They are both my inspiration to this day!

Since my family loves a hot breakfast on most days, I thought making a ham casserole was a great and delicious option.

I didn’t want just the usual plain breakfast casserole that’s mostly made up of meat and cheese. I wanted it to be something more substantial than that.

I remembered seeing a vibrant and colorful ham strata in one of the cookbooks I purchased last summer from Michigan when we went there for a visit. I decided to give it a try and hoped it would be delicious.

After some minor tweaks here and there, I’m so glad it turned out to be delicious! True to its title – Colorful Ham Strata – it was truly a vibrant and appetizing-looking dish. It was a dish I knew my family would enjoy and they did!

Can you see how lovely and delicious looking this is?

Since this is meant for a crowd (at least 8 servings) and my family is only half that, we had some leftovers which we happily devoured the next day. I’m happy to say – served warm – it still turned out tasty.

Everything was eaten and nothing was wasted!

CAN THIS COLORFUL HAM STRATA BE MADE AHEAD?

Yes, certainly! That’s what I love about this dish – the ease and convenience of its preparation! All you need to do is layer the ingredients and pour in the egg mixture then chill until the next day.

Take out of the fridge to bring the casserole to room temperature (also so you don’t break the glass dish when you place it in the heated oven). Then, just bake as instructed.

You can also use leftover ham for this so it’s the perfect dish to make right after the holidays!

CAN THE LEFTOVERS, IF ANY, BE REHEATED?

Yes, you can reheat it covered in the oven or even an air-fryer. Or, if you’re like my son who doesn’t want to wait when he’s hungry, he simply pops it in the microwave and, voila, hot breakfast!

FOR FULL RECIPE & INSTRUCTIONS and to PRINT, SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW.

NOTES ON INGREDIENTS FOR COLORFUL HAM STRATA

• cooking oil of choice – I like using olive oil or avocado oil for this.
• onion, diced – sweet onions are yummy for this but other varieties work, too
• green and red sweet pepper, julienned or cubed – use yellow or orange peppers, too or a multi-colored combo for a festive look
• sourdough loaf (or French bread), cut into cubes – any day-old crusty savory bread should work
• cooked ham, cubed – they key is to use good quality ham with not too many additives
• cheddar cheese (yellow or white) – use your favorite cheese (I will try gruyere next time!)
• eggs
• milk
• salt – adjust to taste
• freshly ground black pepper

HOW TO MAKE COLORFUL HAM STRATA

1. Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Saute onions and peppers until tender about 5 minutes. Season lightly with just a pinch of salt.
2. Place half the bread cubes in a greased 9×13 baking dish. Sprinkle with half of the following: sauteed onions and peppers, ham, and cheese. Repeat layers.

3. In a bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour over the bread mixture. Cover and refrigerat overnight.

4. Remove the dish from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake, uncovered, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 30-35 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes before cutting into squares and serving.

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Last updated on November 17th, 2023 at 07:50 pm