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Creole Breakfast Bread Pudding

Source of Recipe

From "Emeril's Potluck" by Emeril Lagasse


Recipe Introduction

"This dish is ideal for any breakfast or brunch menu, and equally good at suppertime when served with a nice green salad and a simple soup to start. Lingui�a sausage adds the right savory touch to kick this bread pudding up a notch or two. If you can't find lingui�a where you live, substitute any garlicky smoked pork sausage."

List of Ingredients

◦ � pound lingui�a sausage, removed from casings and chopped
◦ � cup minced yellow onions
◦ � cup minced green bell peppers
◦ ⅓ cup sliced green onions
◦ ⅓ cup dry white wine
◦ 8 cups 1-inch cubes day-old French bread
◦ 2 � cups milk
◦ � cup heavy cream
◦ � cup melted unsalted butter
◦ 8 large eggs, beaten
◦ � pound Pepper Jack cheese, grated
◦ � pound Monterey Jack cheese, grated
◦ � teaspoon salt
◦ ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
◦ ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
◦ � cup sour cream
◦ � cup grated Parmesan cheese


Recipe

Preheat the oven to 325� F.

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook until golden brown and the fat is rendered, about 5 minutes. Add the onions and bell peppers, and saut� until soft, 3 minutes. Add the green onions and stir well. Add the white wine and reduce slightly, stirring, about 1 minute over high heat. Remove from the heat.

Place the bread in a large mixing bowl. Add the milk and cream and stir well. Let sit for 5 minutes.

Pour the melted butter into a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish, and coat the sides and bottom evenly. Pour any extra butter into the bread mixture.

Mix the sausage and bread mixtures. Add the eggs, grated Pepper Jack and Monterey Jack cheeses, salt, black pepper, and cayenne, and quickly fold together. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour. Uncover and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the casserole from the oven and increase the temperature to 375� F. Spread the sour cream evenly over the top and cover with the Parmesan. Bake uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the casserole is lightly browned on top. Serve hot.

Makes 8 to 10 servings







❧ Do Ahead:
Just the ticket for the busy holiday season, because you can assemble the dish a day ahead, refrigerate, and then bake the next morning. Come to think of it, it benefits from a night's rest in the fridge.