Ham, Fontina and Spinach Bread Pudding
1 large baguette (about 3/4 lb)
1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted
2 onions, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 lb cooked ham, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
4 large eggs
1 quart whole milk
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
6 cups spinach leaves (about 1 bunch), coarsely chopped
3/4 lb Fontina cheese, grated
Preheat broiler. Diagonally cut baguette crosswise into 3/4-inch-thick slices
and brush both sides with butter. Toast on a baking sheet under broiler 3 inches
from heat until golden, about 30 seconds on each side. Preheat oven to 350°F.
Sauté onions in oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat,
stirring occasionally, until golden. Add ham and sauté, stirring occasionally,
until ham is lightly browned.
Whisk eggs in a large bowl and whisk in milk, salt, nutmeg, and pepper to taste.
Add toasted bread and toss gently. Transfer bread as saturated to a shallow
3-quart casserole, slightly overlapping slices. Add any remaining egg mixture.
Tuck spinach and ham between slices, reserving a little ham to sprinkle over
top. Sprinkle cheese over pudding, lifting slices with a spatula to allow some
to fall between them. Sprinkle reserved ham over pudding and bake in middle of
oven 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until puffed and edges of bread are golden and
custard is set in middle.
Cooks' note:
• Bread pudding can be assembled 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Increase
baking time to 1 hour and 10 minutes if bread pudding is cold when put in oven,
and cover top with foil after 45 minutes to prevent overbrowning.
Source of Recipe - Gourmet Magazine
