Mexican Chorizo Strata

TOTAL TIME:9 hr 25 min

 

Prep: 20 min

 

Inactive Prep:8 hr

 

Cook:1 hr 5 min

 

YIELD:4 to 6 servings

 

LEVEL:Easy

Ingredients

• EVOO or vegetable oil
• 1 pound fresh Mexican chorizo or other spicy bulk sausage
• 7 to 8 slices (1-inch thick) good-quality stale white or egg-ased bread, cut into large cubes
• 3 roasted green New Mexico chile peppers or 2 poblano or Anaheim peppers, peeled, seeded and chopped, or two 4-ounce cans chopped green chilies, well drained
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter, melted and cooled
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce
• 6 large organic eggs

• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 ripe avocado, pitted and peeled
• Juice of 1 lime
• Diced ripe heirloom tomato, for serving
• Fresh cilantro leaves, torn, for serving

Directions

Cook's Note: To roast the chile peppers, broil, turning occasionally with tongs and leaving the oven door ajar to allow steam to escape, until the skins are blackened all over. Transfer to a bowl, cover and let cool. Peel, seed and chop.

Heat a drizzle of EVOO in a skillet. Add the chorizo and cook, crumbling with a wooden spoon, until browned. Drain off the fat.

Arrange the bread in a casserole dish. Top with the chorizo and then the roasted chiles.

Whisk together the milk, butter, hot sauce and eggs in a bowl and sprinkle with salt and pepper; pour over the chiles. Top with the cheese. Cover and refrigerate at least overnight and up to 2 days.

To serve, bring the strata to room temperature and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Bake the strata for 1 hour.

Meanwhile, whizz together the sour cream, avocado and lime juice in a food processor and season with salt and pepper.

Top the strata with tomatoes, cilantro and dollops of the avocado sour cream.