Gruyere Veggie Quiche 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.

GRUYERE VEGGIE QUICHE

Steps:

• This quiche has both sauteed veggies and some fresh veggies. Start by sauteing about 1 cup vegetables in a little butter or oil. Set them aside to cool.
• While the veggies are cooling, roll out the packaged pie dough. Sprinkle 1 t. cornmeal or breadcrumbs in the bottom of the baking dish (I like the Pampered Chef 11" round stoneware dish, but you can use a DEEP-DISH pie plate). Fit pie dough into plate.
• Into pie dough, place cooled cooked vegetables (drain first), chopped fresh spinach, then gruyere cheese that has been tossed with 1 T. flour.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, Bisquick, salt and pepper. Pour over veggies.
• Sprinkle the fresh diced tomatoes and green onions around the edge of the quiche.
• Bake 375 for 45-50 minutes, or until center has puffed slightly and a knife tests clean.

ROASTED VEGETABLE AND GRUYERE QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 F (200 C).
• Roast the vegetables: Spread the onion, broccoli, and red pepper evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roast at 400 F for 15 minutes, turning once half-way through.
• Prepare the eggs: Whisk the 2 egg whites with 4 whole eggs, skim milk, evaporated skim milk, black pepper, salt, ground nutmeg, and Dijon mustard.
• Brush a 10-inch quiche dish with melted margarine.
• Assemble: Place the roasted vegetables in the quiche dish. Add the Gruyere and green onions. Gently pour the egg mixture over top and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
• Bake at 375 F (190 C) for 30-35 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

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.

LEEK, MUSHROOM & GRUYèRE QUICHE

Steps:

• To make the pastry, tip the flour and butter into a bowl, then rub together with your fingertips until completely mixed and crumbly. Add 8 tbsp cold water, then bring everything together with your hands until just combined. Roll into a ball and use straight away or chill for up to 2 days. The pastry can also be frozen for up to a month.
• Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to a round about 5cm larger than a 25cm tin. Use your rolling pin to lift it up, then drape over the tart case so there is an overhang of pastry on the sides. Using a small ball of pastry scraps, push the pastry into the corners of the tin (see picture, above left). Chill in the fridge or freezer for 20 mins. Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6.
• While the pastry is chilling, heat the butter in a pan and cook the leeks for 10 mins, stirring occasionally, until they soften. Then turn up the heat and add the mushrooms. Cook for 5 mins more, then turn off the heat.
• Lightly prick the base of the tart with a fork, line the tart case with a large circle of greaseproof paper or foil, then fill with baking beans. Blind-bake the tart for 20 mins, remove the paper and beans, then continue to cook for 5-10 mins until biscuit brown
• While the tart case cooks, beat the eggs in a bowl, then gradually add the cream. Stir in the leeks, mushrooms and half the cheese. Season, then tip the filling into the tart case. Sprinkle with the rest of the cheese, then bake for 20-25 mins until set and golden brown. Leave to cool in the case, trim the edges of the pastry, then remove and serve in slices.

VERY VEGGIE, HAM, AND GRUYERE QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Spray a 9-inch quiche or pie pan with cooking spray.
• Place thawed, shredded hash browns on paper towels and lightly press with another paper towel, to remove excess moisture.
• Pour hash browns in the prepared pan, and press on the bottom and up the sides of the pan to form a crust. Brush the sides and bottom of the hash brown crust with melted butter. Use a piece of parchment paper or plastic wrap to press the potatoes firmly on the bottom and sides of the pan again, making sure there are no gaps.
• Bake crust in the preheated oven until crust is lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes, adding 5-minute increments if needed. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• While the crust is baking, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a small skillet and cook the chopped red bell pepper, chopped fresh mushrooms, and chopped scallions, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Add chopped spinach and cook until spinach is just wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Set cooked vegetables aside and allow to cool.
• Beat eggs, cream, and remaining salt and pepper together in a medium mixing bowl. Stir in cooked vegetables and 1/2 cup shredded Gruyere cheese.
• Place sliced Gruyere cheese on the bottom of the baked crust, cutting to fit. Sprinkle diced ham on top of the sliced Gruyere, and pour egg mixture over all. Sprinkle remaining shredded Gruyere on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the center of the quiche is set, and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool on a rack for about 15 minutes. Slice and serve warm, or at room temperature.

SPINACH AND GRUYERE QUICHE

Steps:

• Crust: Pulse flour and salt in a food processor until combined. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. Whisk together egg and yolk with ice water. Add to flour mixture and pulse until moist crumbs start to form (no longer). Transfer mixture to a piece of plastic wrap and, using wrap and your hands, form into a disk (or 2 disks, if making 2 quiches in pie plates). Refrigerate at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.
• Let sit at room temperature until pliable, then roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to a 14-inch round. Fit into a 9-inch springform pan, folding and pressing sides to an even thickness. (Or roll out 2 disks to 11-inch rounds and fit into 8- or 9-inch pie plates.)
• Trim edge of dough flush with top of springform pan. (If using pie plates, fold edges of dough under; crimp as desired.) Wrap in plastic; freeze at least 30 minutes and up to 3 days. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Line crust with parchment; fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake, with a baking sheet on rack below, 20 minutes; remove paper and beans. Bake until golden, 12 to 15 minutes (8 to 10 minutes, for pie plates). Let cool.
• Reduce oven to 375 degrees. Whisk eggs until smooth, then whisk in remaining ingredients until well combined.
• Pour custard mixture into cooled crust, stopping just short of top (if making in 2 pie plates, divide evenly between crusts). You may not need to use all of custard; be careful not to overfill. Press spinach into custard(s), leaving some poking out from top.
• Sprinkle with Gruyere. Bake 10 minutes at 375 degrees, then about 1 hour at 325 degrees. Let cool about 1 hour before serving.