Is there anything in the world better than a classic ham and cheese sandwich?
Well, if there ever were a contender, it'd be this recipe for Croque Monsieur ...
Well, if there ever were a contender, it'd be this recipe for Croque Monsieur Savory Bread Pudding.
Year after year, this is one of the most popular recipes on the site. And, seeing we have more than 500 recipes on this site, well, that's saying something.
This recipe is a twist on the delicious classic French sandwich known as a Croque monsieur, but it's turned into casserole form. Yes, a savory bread pudding is known as strata for the semantics expert. But we say call it whatever the heck you want to call it because it all translates to delicious.
This bread pudding recipe is a deconstructed Croque Monsieur because it has all those hallmarks, including a mix of smoky ham, gooey cheese, crusty French bread, and all things delicious. While it takes longer to make than the classic sandwich (because the custard needs to soak into the bread), it's arguably easier to make because there's no need to make bechamel sauce as you do for the classic sandwich!
This savory bread pudding recipe is as at home at a weekend brunch as a Mother's Day celebration or even an unexpected take on stuffing for Thanksgiving.
The recipe is made ahead and super easy to put together with caramelized onions, fresh thyme, nutty cheese, and all sorts of toasty, crunchy bits. Translation: this is pretty much perfect for lazy days and long, relaxing brunches.
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plus extra for coating pan
roughly chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
thinly sliced
plus one teaspoon for garnish
plus more for garnish
divided
stale or toasted, cut into 1-inch dice
(about 4.5 ounces)
cut into 1/2-inch dice
(about 1 ounce)
Saute The Onions: Coat a 2-quart (about 11-by-7-inch) baking dish with butter and set aside. Place a large frying pan over medium heat and add butter. When it foams, add onion, season with salt, stir, and cook until just softened about 3 to 4 minutes.
Add garlic, season with salt and pepper, and cook until beginning to soften and fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in thyme.
Make The Bread Pudding Custard: Whisk eggs, half-and-half, mustard, hot sauce, and salt in a large bowl until evenly combined. Arrange half of the bread at the bottom of the prepared dish. Sprinkle with 1 cup of the Gruyere and half each onion mix and ham.
Repeat layering with remaining bread, onion mixture, ham, and Gruyere cheese. Pour egg mixture over the top.
Push to ensure bread is submerged in egg custard, cover with plastic wrap, put a plate and a 1-pound weight on top (a large can of tomatoes or rice in a re-sealable plastic bag works well) place in refrigerator for 3 to 12 hours.
Bake The Bread Pudding: When ready to bake, heat the oven to 325°F and arrange the rack in the middle. Let strata sit at room temperature while the oven heats, at least 20 minutes.
Bake for 20 minutes, then increase the temperature to 375°F. Sprinkle parmesan over the strata and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes until puffed and edges pull away slightly. Remove from oven and sprinkle over remaining thyme.
Cool for at least 5 minutes before serving. Serve with hot sauce on the side.
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