Description
A savory Ham and Cheese Bread Pudding combining day-old sourdough, cooked ham, sharp cheddar, and aromatic spices baked into a rich, custardy dish perfect for brunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread
- 12 oz sourdough bread, day old
Vegetables & Herbs
- 3 shallots, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh chives
Dairy & Eggs
- 10 eggs
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Meat
- 4 oz thick-sliced cooked ham, diced
Oils & Spices
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Pinch white pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
Instructions
- Prepare the bread: Cut the day-old sourdough bread into cubes. If using fresh bread, dry the cubes in the oven at 225˚F for 30 minutes to remove moisture.
- Cook the shallots: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, add the minced shallots, and sauté for 4 minutes until softened. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Mix custard base: In a very large bowl, beat together the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, salt, black pepper, white pepper, garlic powder, and grated nutmeg until fully combined.
- Combine ingredients: Stir the cooled shallots, diced ham, and half of the shredded sharp cheddar cheese into the custard mixture.
- Assemble pudding: Pour the mixture into a greased 9”x13” baking dish. Top evenly with the remaining cheese. Let the pudding sit for 5 minutes to allow the bread to absorb the custard.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 350˚F and bake the pudding for 60-65 minutes. If the top browns too much during baking, cover partway through with foil.
- Finish and serve: Remove from oven, sprinkle with chopped fresh chives for garnish, then slice into squares and serve warm.
Notes
- Using day-old bread is ideal as it absorbs the custard better without becoming mushy.
- If you don’t have shallots, you can substitute with finely chopped onions but expect a stronger flavor.
- Cover the baking dish with foil if the top browns too quickly during baking to prevent burning.
- Sharp cheddar can be substituted with other flavorful cheeses such as Gruyère or Swiss for variation.
- This dish can be prepared a day ahead and reheated before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 230 mg
