Turkey strata

Stratas are an easy and healthy way to use ingredients on-hand to create delicious casseroles. And since most of the work is done in advance it’s great for work days or entertaining.

This one evolved from another recipe which I morphed to use what was actually in my fridge. Feel free to take liberties with it, it’s only a guideline. Be creative!

I know this looks like a lot of ingredients but after you make this once you’ll see how easily it all comes together…and so delicious!

Assemble:

-4 slices stale bread, Calabrese is good

-¾ lb. cremini mushrooms, sliced

-½ cup chicken broth

-½ cup 5% cream

-1 egg, lightly beaten

-Butter

-olive oil

-¾ cup chopped onion

-¾ cup chopped celery

-2 cloves fresh garlic

-½ cup green peas

-1 cup chopped turkey, cooked

-2 eggs, lightly beaten

-1 ¼ cups 2 % milk

-1 tsp thyme

-1 tsp celery seed

-1 tsp tamari (soy sauce)

-½ cup reduced-fat mayonnaise

-¼ cup crumbled feta

-1 tsp olive oil

-1 cup bread crumbs

-½ cup ground flax

-1 cup grated extra-old white cheddar

Start by greasing a 10” pie plate (you can use a large rectangular baking dish but you’ll need to increase all measurements by 50%, so, 6 slices of bread instead of 4, for example) with olive oil. Cube the bread and lay in the bottom of the dish.

Saute until soft, onion, celery and garlic in butter and olive oil, about 1 tblsp each. Layer that on top of the bread.

Saute the mushrooms and layer half of those on top of the other veggies.

In a blender combine the remaining mushrooms, the chicken broth and the 5% cream. Blend until smooth and then add an egg, blending just a few seconds longer. Reserve in the fridge until later.

Mash the feta into a bowl and mix in the mayo and 1 tsp olive oil. Add the chopped turkey and toss. Layer that on top of the vegetables in the dish.

In another bowl combine two eggs, with the milk. Season with celery seed, tamari and thyme and pour over turkey.

Cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge for 1 to 24 hours. I generally make this up late morning or at lunch and cook 5-6 hours later but to this point it could be assembled the night before for an easy mid-week meal.

Before baking, pour on mushroom mixture. Then combine the bread crumbs and ground flax and spread over all. Top with grated cheese.

Bake at 350F for 35 minutes. Serves 6 with a side salad.

Variations:

Many!

-for the cheddar, substitute swiss, brick or fontina

-for the feta, substitute cottage cheese or ricotta (well-drained)

-for the peas substitute green pepper or broccoli finely chopped

-for the turkey substitute crumbled sausage meat, ground chicken or make it a seafood combo of lobster, crab and shrimp...in that case I would probably try to use some white wine instead of chicken stock

-adjust seasonings to suite your taste

-any type of mushroom available can be used

This is a delicious and versatile meal that works as a healthy dish for brunch or supper.

Return to Healthy recipes from Turkey strata