Savory Leek and Bacon Bread Pudding: An Easy Recipe

Ingredients

• 0.5 French baguette, cut into cubes
• 0.5 tablespoon olive oil
• 0.75 cup diced leek
• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs eggs
• 0.25 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 pinch ground nutmeg
• olive oil cooking spray
• 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
• 4 slices bacon, cooked and diced

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread the baguette cubes evenly on a baking sheet.
2. Bake in the preheated oven until the bread cubes are dry, approximately 15 minutes. Remove the bread from the oven and set aside. Leave the oven on.
3. In a skillet, warm the oil over medium heat. Add the leeks and cook until they soften but don't brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Take the skillet off the heat.
4. In a bowl, whisk together the milk and eggs. Season the mixture with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Grease a casserole dish with cooking spray and sprinkle a thin layer of Gruyere cheese on the bottom.
5. Cover the Gruyere cheese with 1/2 of the toasted bread cubes. Spread the leeks evenly over the bread cubes and sprinkle the diced bacon on top. Add another layer of cheese, reserving about half for later. Pour 1/2 of the milk mixture over the bread, leeks, bacon, and cheese. Gently press the bread cubes down into the milk. Layer the remaining bread across the top, and continue layering leeks and bacon. Pour the remaining milk on top. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese over the casserole. Slightly press the bread cubes down into the milk.
6. Allow the casserole to sit for 15 minutes.
7. Cover the casserole loosely with aluminum foil to prevent the cheese from sticking. Place the casserole dish on a baking sheet.
8. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove the aluminum foil and bake until the cheese and bread cubes are nicely browned on top, about 10 to 15 minutes longer.

Nutrition

• Calories: 803 kcal
• Fat Content: 42 g
• Fiber Content: 3 g
• Sugar Content: 10 g
• Sodium Content: 1608 mg
• Protein Content: 47 g
• Cholesterol Content: 288 mg
• Carbohydrate Content: 60 g
• Saturated Fat Content: 19 g
• Unsaturated Fat Content: 0 g