Basic Pie Dough For Spinach And Gruyere Quiches Food

SPINACH AND GRUYERE QUICHES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with racks set in upper and lower thirds. In a large skillet, heat butter over medium. Add shallots, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add as much spinach to skillet as will fit; season with salt and pepper, and toss, adding more spinach as room becomes available, until wilted, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Transfer spinach mixture to a colander. Press firmly with the back of a spoon to squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Divide spinach mixture and cheese between prepared crusts. Place each crust on a separate rimmed baking sheet.
• In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, half-and-half, nutmeg, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Dividing evenly, pour egg mixture into crusts.
• Arrange baking sheets on racks, and bake until center of each quiche is just set, 55 to 60 minutes, rotating sheets from top to bottom halfway through. Let quiches stand 15 minutes before serving.

HAM AND GRUYERE QUICHE

Steps:

• Set a baking sheet on the middle oven rack; preheat to 425 degrees F. Scatter the ham and cheese in the pie crust. Whisk the eggs, half-and-half, chives, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl; pour into the crust. Transfer to the hot baking sheet and bake until the eggs are set and the top is lightly browned, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk the vinegar and mustard in a large bowl. Gradually whisk in the olive oil until smooth. Add the greens and mushrooms; toss well to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Cut the quiche into wedges and serve with the salad.

QUICK SPINACH QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Line two 9-inch pie plates with crusts. Cover crusts with a double layer of aluminum foil and a layer of pie weights or dried beans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until edge of crust is golden, about 10 minutes. Carefully remove the foil and weights; continue baking until the crust sets, about 5 minutes more. Let crusts cool briefly. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Sprinkle cheese, spinach, and onion evenly onto the crusts. Whisk eggs, milk, salt, and pepper together and divide evenly between the crusts.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven until golden brown and firm in the centers, about 45 minutes.

CRUSTLESS SPINACH QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9 inch pie pan.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft. Stir in spinach and continue cooking until excess moisture has evaporated.
• In a large bowl, combine eggs, cheese, salt and pepper. Add spinach mixture and stir to blend. Scoop into prepared pie pan.
• Bake in preheated oven until eggs have set, about 30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

BASIC PIE DOUGH FOR SPINACH AND GRUYERE QUICHES

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine flour, salt, and sugar; pulse to combine. Add butter; pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal, with a few pea-size pieces of butter remaining.
• Sprinkle with 1/4 cup ice water. Pulse until dough is crumbly but holds together when squeezed (if necessary, add up to cup more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time). Do not overmix.
• Transfer half of dough (still crumbly) onto a piece of plastic wrap. Form dough into a disk 3/4 inch thick; wrap tightly in plastic. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour (and up to 3 days). Repeat with remaining dough.
• Place one disk of dough on a lightly floured piece of waxed paper. Rolling from center outward, form into a 14-inch round. Using paper, lift and wrap dough around a floured rolling pin; carefully unroll (discarding paper) over a 9-inch pie plate.
• Gently fit dough into bottom and sides of plate. Avoid stretching or tearing dough. Using kitchen shears, trim overhang to 1 inch; fold under to form a rim. Crimp with fingertips and knuckle. Repeat with remaining disk of dough.

SPINACH MUSHROOM QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the mushrooms, garlic and thyme. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms have browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Remove the skillet from the heat.
• Press the pie crust into a deep, 9-inch tart pan with a removeable bottom (or a deep-dish pie pan). Layer the mushrooms and spinach into the crust and top with the cheese.
• Whisk together the half-and-half, eggs and a good pinch of salt and pepper in a large bowl. Pour the egg mixture into the crust.
• Place the pan on a rimmed baking sheet. Lightly cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking until the quiche is set and the crust is golden brown, another 10 to 15 minutes. Let the quiche sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then remove from the pan, slice and serve.

SPINACH PUFF PASTRY QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F. Roll puff pastry to 11-inch square. Transfer to 9-inch diameter glass pie plate. Trim edges. Beat cream cheese in medium bowl until smooth. Gradually beat in half and half and eggs. Mix in remaining ingredients. Pour mixture into prepared crust. Bake until crust is golden brown and filling is set, about 25 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before serving.

SPINACH QUICHE

Steps:

• Beat eggs; add cream, then beat again.
• Wash the spinach under water, and remove all the stems, piling the wet spinach into a large pot, adding no water.
• Cook over medium heat, turning and stirring, for 5 minutes; then drain thoroughly in a colander, squeezing the spinach dry.
• Take a pair of kitchen scissors and snip the drained spinach into tiny pieces.
• Season the spinach to taste with salt and pepper.
• Line pie pan with pastry or crust; place spinach in crust, top with grated cheese, add cream, sprinkle with mace, then dot with small bits of butter.
• Place pie pan on a cookie sheet and bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 40 minutes or until domed and light brown.
• Cool 30 minutes before slicing and serving.

FLUFFY SPINACH, ONION AND ROASTED RED PEPPER QUICHE WITH GRUYERE

Steps:

• Blind bake your pie crust and let it cool.
• When crust is cool, spread Dijon mustard on bottom of the crust. Top with grated gruyere.
• Carmelize onions in olive oil. Add thyme, salt and pepper. Set aside. Spread onions on top of cheese layer.
• Chop fresh spinach and cook in frying pan with chopped roasted red peppers until wilted and starting to dry, set aside.
• Wisk together eggs, yogurt and baking powder. (Don't use a mixer.).
• Add spinach and roasted red peppers to egg mixture and pour over cheese layer.
• If you're feeling creative, decorate the top with some red pepper strips.
• Bake in 350 degree oven for 55 minutes until knife inserted in center comes out clean. You may want to protect crust edges with foil.
• Enjoy!