Fluffy Spinach Onion And Roasted Red Pepper Quiche With Gruyere Food

SPINACH QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F and set a rack in the middle position. Remove the pie crust from freezer and thaw until just soft enough to easily prick with a fork, about 10 minutes. Prick the bottom and sides all over with a fork (pricking about an inch apart). Bake until fully cooked and lightly golden, 10 to 15 minutes. (Keep an eye on it...if it puffs up while cooking, gently prick it with a fork so it will deflate.) Don't worry if the crust cracks while baking; see my note below on how to fix it before proceeding. Set aside and turn oven down to 325°F.
• Heat the butter in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the shallots until soft and translucent, about 8 minutes. Do not brown. Set aside to cool.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, heavy cream, nutmeg, salt and cayenne pepper.
• Place the cooked pie crust on a baking sheet (this makes it easy to move in and out of oven). Spread the shallots over the bottom of the cooked crust, then sprinkle the shredded Gruyere over top. Scatter the spinach evenly over cheese, breaking up the clumps as best you can. Pour the egg and cream mixture over top.
• Bake at 325°F degrees for 50 to 55 minutes until the custard is set and top is lightly golden. Serve hot or warm.
• Note: I usually defrost the frozen spinach quickly by placing it in a fine mesh strainer and running hot water over it. I then gather the spinach into a ball and squeeze it dry. It takes a few minutes of squeezing and re-squeezing to get all the water out. Be patient...you need the spinach completely dry, otherwise your quiche will be watery.
• Note: Don't panic if your crust cracks -- you can easily fix it. Make a smooth paste by mixing 1 tablespoon of flour with 1 tablespoon of water. Use your fingers to patch up and fill any cracks, then place the crust back in the oven for a minute or so to set. It should be good as new.
• Make ahead: This quiche can be made up to a day ahead of time and refrigerated. To reheat: Cover the quiche with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated 300°F oven for 35 to 45 minutes, or until hot in the center.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cooked quiche can be frozen for up to 3 months. Remove the quiche from the freezer about 24 hours prior to eating and reheat it, covered with foil, in a 300°F oven until hot in the center.

QUICHE WITH RED PEPPERS AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Heat oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet and add onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes, and add a generous pinch of salt, the garlic, peppers and thyme. Cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes, then turn the heat to medium low and continue to cook for 5 to 10 minutes more, until peppers are very tender and sweet.
• Turn up heat to medium-high and, a handful at a time, add spinach and stir until each handful wilts. If there is liquid remaining in the pan turn up the heat and stir while you let it cook off. Remove from heat and transfer to a bowl. If you are making filling a day ahead, refrigerate uncovered.
• Beat together egg yolks and eggs in a medium bowl. Set tart pan on a baking sheet for easy handling. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush bottom of the crust with some of the beaten egg and place in oven for 5 minutes.
• Add salt (I use 1/2 teaspoon), pepper, and milk to the remaining eggs and whisk together.
• Spread pepper and spinach mixture in an even layer in the crust. Stir together cheeses and sprinkle in an even layer on top. Very slowly pour in the egg custard over the filling. If your tart pan has low edges, you may not need all of it to fill the shell, and you want to avoid the custard spilling over. Place quiche, on baking sheet, in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until set and just beginning to color on the top. Remove from oven and allow to sit for at least 10 minutes before serving. Serve hot, warm or room temperature.

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!

LIGHT AND FLUFFY SPINACH QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a cookie sheet with foil.
• In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise and milk until smooth.
• Whisk in eggs.
• Layer spinach, cheese, and onion in pie shell, making several layers of each.
• Pour in egg mixture.
• Place quiche on prepared cookie sheet. Cover quiche with foil.
• Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes. Remove cover, and bake 10 to 15 minutes, or until top is golden brown and filling is set.

ROASTED RED PEPPER QUICHE

Steps:

• Prepare prebaked tart shell for custard-filled tart or pie.
• Heat boiler.
• Broil pepper about 4 inches from heat, turning as needed, until blackened on all sides, 15-20 minutes. Let steam in closed plastic bag or covered bowl 5 minutes to loosen skin.
• Peel off blackened skin, then cut out stem. Cut pepper in half, remove seeds and white pith, and cut into 1/2-inch strips.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees.
• Heat butter in small skillet over medium heat. Add shallot and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes. Let cool.
• Whisk remaining ingredients except whole chives together in mixing bowl, then whisk in cooled shallot. Place tart pan on baking sheet. Pour egg mixture evenly into tart shell. Arrange pepper strips in sunburst pattern on tart and place whole chives between strips.
• Bake tart until custard is set and pastry is lightly browned, 15-20 minutes. Transfer tart to wire rack and let cool 10 minutes before serving.

GRUYERE QUICHE WITH ONION & RED PEPPER

Steps:

• Sauté onion in olive oil for 5 minutes; add the salt, herbs and mustard.
• Lower heat; cover and let cook 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Stir in the vinegar and bell pepper into the onions; turn the heat up to medium and cook, uncovered, for another 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• Sprinkle the cheese into the crust and spoon the onion/pepper mixture on top of the cheese.
• Whisk together the eggs, milk and pepper; slowly pour over the veggies and cheese.
• Bake on a cookie sheet for 35-40 minutes till set.