Silverbeet Swiss Chard Or Spinach Leek Garlic Quiche Food

CRUSTLESS SWISS CHARD QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Wash and dry swiss chard. Cut off the very ends of the stems. Roughly chop (leaving stems intact) the chard.
• Add onion and Chard to the oil and saute until stems are tender (do not overcook). Add salt & pepper to taste.
• Meanwhile, grate 2.5 cups of cheese. Use whatever varieties you want/have. Be creative! I used Swiss, Cheddar, Parmesan, and Cojito.
• Wisk eggs. Add milk and cheese. Fold in the onion/chard mixture. Add salt & pepper to taste, if necessary.
• Pour into a pie dish that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
• Bake for 35-45 minutes or until golden brown and no liquid seeps when you poke it with a knife.

SILVERBEET (SWISS CHARD) - OR SPINACH - LEEK & GARLIC QUICHE

Steps:

• Use pastry to line the base and sides of a 2.5cm deep, 26cm (base) fluted, loose-based flan pan.
• Trim excess pastry.
• Place pan and pastry in the freezer for 15 minutes or until firm.
• In a small pan, shaking the pan frequently, toast the pine nuts until lightly browned; remove from the pan and set aside.
• Or you can use the same larger pan that you then use for steps 3-5.
• Place the bacon in a large non-stick pan over a medium-high heat and cook, stirring often, for 4 minutes or until light golden.
• Add the leek and garlic to the pan and cook for 2 minutes or until they have softened.
• Add the silverbeet - or spinach - and toss all the ingredients until they are well-combined; remove the pan from the heat and set aside for 3 minutes or until the silverbeet - or spinach - has wilted and completely cooled.
• Place a baking tray in the oven and preheat the oven and tray to 200°C.
• Place the flan pan on the hot tray and bake the pastry case for 10 to 12 minutes or until it is lightly golden.
• Remove the flan pan and pastry case from the oven and reduce the heat to 180°C.
• Spread the silverbeet mixture over the pastry base, top with cheese and pine nuts.
• With a fork, beat the eggs, cream, milk and salt and pepper to taste, in a jug; and pour over the egg mixture the cheese.
• Cook the quiche for 25 to 30 minutes or until it has set in the centre.
• Serve warm or at room temperature with a salad and crusty rolls.
• Notes: If using baby spinach leaves, you may want to leave them whole. Some people remove the stalks, but I always find baby spinach leaves, stalks and all, so tender that I leave the stalks on. IT's a bit of a timesaver too!

SWISS CHARD QUICHE

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium high , cook bacon until just turning cirspy (5 minute or so), if there is lots of grease, drain some off; add swiss chard and onions cook until tender, set aside to cool for 10 minute use a slotted spoon to drain excess liquid.
• In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, half and half, salt pepper and thyme.
• Add shredded cheese to chard and bacon, transfer to prepared pie crust, pour the egg mixture into the crust, stir gently to eliminate any large clumps or air bubbles.
• Bake for 20 minute at 400 degrees.
• Reduce oven temperature to 325, bake until center is set, about another 40 min, allow to cool for 15 minute before slicing.
• Serve warm or cool.

GARLICKY SWISS CHARD

Steps:

• Stack chard leaves on top of one another (you can make several piles) and slice them into 1/4-inch strips.
• Heat oil in a very large skillet (or use a soup pot). Add garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté for 30 seconds, until garlic is fragrant. Stir in the chard, coating it in oil. Cover pan and let cook for about 2 minutes, until chard is wilted. Uncover, stir and cook for 2 minutes longer. Season with salt.

SILVERBEET (SWISS CHARD ) PIE AKA " GRASS PIE"

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F ( 200°C ) 15 to 20 degrees less if using a fan-forced oven.
• Heat the olive oil in a non-stick frypan and add the garlic and chopped leek. Cook on a gentle to medium heat until the leek has softened. Set aside to cool.
• Remove the course stems from the silverbeet and just use the green leaves. Chop them roughly and add the whole bunch to a large saucepan. Add 1 cup of water. Cook over a medium heat with the lid on until the spinach has steamed and wilted down. Do not overcook the spinach- it should only take a few minutes to this point.
• When the silverbeet has wilted - strain it as much as possible and place on a clean tea-towel. Wrap the silverbeet in a clean tea-towel and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Chop the silverbeet finer if desired and add it to a large mixing bowl.
• Add the cooked leek mixture, eggs, cheeses, salt and pepper to the silverbeet. Mix and pour into the pie shell.
• Decorate with the sliced tomato and sprinkle over some more cracked black pepper and salt.
• Bake in the oven approx 40 minutes or until set through. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve with a salad or more veggies on the side.