Turkey, Spinach and Cheese Bread Pudding
1 large whole-wheat baguette or rustic country-style loaf, preferably herbed
(about 3/4 lb. or enough to make 9-10 cups bread cubes)
2-3 tsp. canola oil
2 medium onions, finely chopped
3/4 lb. cooked turkey, preferably breast
(or other leftover meat), cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 large eggs
2 egg whites
3 1/4 cups reduced-fat milk (2%)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
Canola oil spray
6 cups spinach leaves (about 1 bunch), washed, drained until dry and coarsely
chopped (about 1/2 commercially bagged baby spinach leaves, which may be used)
1/2-3/4 lb. Monterey Jack cheese with chili peppers, grated
Diagonally cut baguette crosswise into slices 1/1-3/4-inch thick. Cut slices
into bread cubes. (There should be 9-10 cups.) Allow bread to thoroughly dry
out at room temperature or, spread on baking sheets, in a preheated 250-degree
oven. Turn bread cubes mid-way through the process so both sides are exposed
to air. If dried in the oven, set bread cubes aside to cool.
Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and
sauté, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden. (Reduce heat if necessary
to prevent browning.) With a slotted spoon, transfer onions to a bowl. Add
turkey to pan and sauté, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Transfer
turkey to bowl of onions and mix in until well blended.
Whisk eggs and egg whites in a large bowl until thoroughly blended. Whisk in
milk, nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste.
Lightly coat a shallow 9x13-inch (3 qt.) baking dish with canola oil spray.
Arrange enough bread cubes in the dish to cover the bottom in a single layer.
Evenly distribute turkey/onion mixture on top of bread. Evenly arrange spinach
on top. Cover with remaining bread cubes so that spinach is not visible from
the top. (If desired, pudding and liquid mixture can be chilled separately at
this point, covered, up to overnight, with liquid added just prior to baking.
Bring chilled pudding and liquid to room temperature before continuing to the
next step. Pudding can also be chilled up to overnight after the liquid mixture
has been added, but with somewhat less satisfactory results.)
Using a large spoon, add liquid mixture to the pan gradually, as to not
disturbed contents, ensuring that bread cubes on top are moistened. Set aside to
allow bread to absorb some of the liquid, about 10 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sprinkle cheese evenly over top of pudding. Bake
pudding in the middle of the oven. Bake pudding 45 minutes to 1 hour, or
until puffed, the surface is golden/crusty and pudding seems to be set in middle.
(Pudding will set slightly more after it is removed from the oven.) If top of
pudding begins to be dry out during baking, over lightly with foil and lower
oven temperature 25-50 degrees. Or, small amounts of water or additional milk
can be added to top to slightly moisten bread cubes. (Towards the end of the
baking period, oven temperature can be raised 50 degrees if pudding seems nearly
done but the surface has not become golden and crusty in order to hasten this
last step.)
Remove pudding from oven, place on a wire rack and let cool about 10 minutes
before serving.
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