Name: Egg Bhurji Strata
Yield: 4–6 servings
Ingredients: 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, plus more for pan; 7 large eggs; 1¾ cups whole milk; 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, plus more; Freshly ground black pepper; 2 tsp. vegetable oil; ½ tsp. cumin seeds; 2 large leeks, white and pale green parts only, thinly sliced; 1 medium red bell pepper, cut into ½" pieces; 4 garlic cloves, finely grated; 1 1" piece ginger, peeled, finely grated; 1 tsp. garam masala; 1 tsp. ground coriander; 1 tsp. ground cumin; ½ tsp. ground turmeric; ½ tsp. mild chile powder (such as Kashmiri); ½ medium bunch cilantro, leaves and tender stems coarsely chopped, plus more for serving; ¼ medium red onion, chopped; 9 oz. sourdough bread, preferably day-old, cut or torn into 1" pieces (about 5 cups); 2 cups coarsely grated sharp cheddar (about 5 oz.), divided; Cilantro Chutney (optional; for serving)

Plate of egg strata on a blue velvet backdrop.

Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca

This custardy, fluffy strata is made with stale day-old sourdough bread, eggs, sautéed leeks, and bell peppers. The flavors are inspired by egg bhurji, Indian-style scrambled eggs cooked with garam masala, garlic, ginger, and cumin. You can prepare and refrigerate the unbaked strata up to 12 hours in advance to let the stale bread soak up the egg custard mixture, which makes it a great do-ahead weekend breakfast or brunch dish. Serve the strata with a drizzle of cilantro chutney for extra herbaceousness! —Hetal Vasavada

What you’ll need

8" Baking Pan
$27 $21 At Amazon
Box Grater
$19 At Amazon
Silicone Spatula
$13 At Amazon
Large Skillet
$90 At Amazon
Microplane Grater
$18 At Amazon

Recipe notes

Spicy Eggplant Frittata

Silky Japanese eggplant and fiery serrano chile unite in this no-fuss frittata that’s brunch-ready, dinner-worthy, and wildly good.

Fluffy Omelet Curry

Perfectly cooked eggs dive into a creamy, spiced, tomato-tinged sauce.

Turkish-Style Eggs and Tomatoes

This riff on çılbır marries garlicky yogurt, fried eggs, and spiced butter with summer tomatoes.

Baked Butter Paneer

I should address the awkward truth that I don’t use butter here but cream instead. You could, if you’re a stickler for tradition (and not a heretic like me), add a big slab of butter to the finished curry.

Coffee Cake Scones

Sour cream scones get treated to a cinnamon-sugar swirl and crunchy streusel crown.

Jalapeño Popper Skillet Tacos

Roasted poblanos, jalapeños, and red onion are coated with a melty sauce—warm with the flavors of pepper jack, and stabilized with a block of cream cheese.

Shrimp and Pea Pancake

Inspired by Korean pajeon, this shrimp-studded pancake features fresh snap peas as a spring-y addition.

Quick Butter-Braised Tomatoes and Dumplings

Store-bought dumplings, fresh tomatoes, butter, and soy sauce simmer away for dinner in a flash.