quiche essentials: broccoli & two-cheese quiche
Had a hankering for a quiche, but I did not want to leave the house, so I worked with what I had on hand, and came up with this crustless broccoli and 2-cheese version. I wanted to keep it simple, so I did not add any meats; just broccoli and onions. Gruyère was my main cheese, and I added a bit of feta, to kick it up. Oh, one more thing… The French did not invent the quiche; the Germans did. So, you ready… Let’s get into the kitchen.
prep time
15 Min
cook time
55 Min
method
Bake
yield
4 - 5
Ingredients
- PLAN/PURCHASE
- 2 tablespoons sweet butter, unsalted, plus a bit more for greasing the pie plate
- 1/2 cup yellow onions, chopped
- 10 ounces broccoli florets, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 cup gruyère cheese, freshly shredded
- 2 - 3 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
- 1 1/2 cups half & half
- 3 large eggs
- 1 pinch nutmeg, freshly ground
- - salt kosher variety, to taste
- - white pepper, freshly ground to taste
- OPTIONAL ITEMS
- - cayenne pepper
- - chopped, cooked bacon… mmmmm
- - cubed ham
How To Make quiche essentials: broccoli & two-cheese quiche
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Step 1PREP/PREPARE
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Step 2For this recipe, you will need a medium-sized pan, to cook a few things, and a standard, ovenproof, pie plate, to throw it all together. As a matter of fact, if the pan is the right size, you could probably assemble and bake the thing in the pan. That makes it a one-pan meal.
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Step 3It is about the balance. We all love the fluffy taste of a perfectly baked quiche, and part of that perfection is the proper balancing of the eggs and milk. Too many eggs, and it tastes like you are eating an omelet, too few, and the quiche will not set. I have found that the ideal balance is 1 large egg per 1/2 cup milk. That should do the trick.
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Step 4Chef’s Tip: You will notice from the main image, that the quiche seems to have areas of cheese, and areas of egg. Some people mix the cheese in with the liquid; however, I lightly toss the cheese with the veggies, and then pour the liquid on top. That way, when it cooks you will have areas with more cheese than eggs, and vise/versa. And that makes every bite a tasty adventure.
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Step 5Gather your Ingredients (mise en place).
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Step 6Place a rack in the bottom position, and preheat the oven to 360f (180c).
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Step 7Cut the broccoli into bit-sized pieces, and reserve.
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Step 8Add the butter to a skillet over medium heat.
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Step 9When the foaming subsides, add the onions.
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Step 10Stir until the onions soften, and begin to brown, about 3 - 5 minutes.
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Step 11Add the broccoli, and then stir with the onions, for 2 minutes.
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Step 12Remove pan from heat, and allow to cool, for about 10 – 12 minutes.
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Step 13Chef’s Note: Veggies contain a lot of moisture, and I want to do everything possible to prevent a runny quiche, so by letting the veggies sit in the pan (off heat), the residual heat will help to evaporate any unwanted moisture.
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Step 14If you have not done so, grate the Gruyère and crumble the Feta.
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Step 15Lightly toss the cheeses with the veggies, and then add to a lightly-greased pie plate.
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Step 16Whisk together the half & half with the eggs, and the nutmeg, salt, and pepper, and then pour into the pie plate over the veggies. If you are feeling adventurous, add a few sliced tomatoes to the top.
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Step 17Place in the preheated oven, and bake until the sides are set, and the middle still has a bit of a giggle, about 50 – 60 minutes.
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Step 18Chef’s Tip: One of the side effects of over-cooking a quiche is that ii will become wet and soggy. Why? The protein strands in the egg will begin tightening, just like wringing out a sponge, and will dump all that liquid right into the pie plate. So, if the middle has a giggle, that is a good thing. Besides, carryover cooking will continue to cook the quiche for 5 – 7 minutes after it has been removed from the oven.
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Step 19Remove from the oven, and allow to rest 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
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Step 20PLATE/PRESENT
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Step 21Serve by itself, or with a small side salad. Enjoy.
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Step 22Keep the faith, and keep cooking.
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!
Discover More
Tag:
#Quick & Easy
Tag:
#Heirloom
Diet:
Vegetarian
Diet:
Gluten-Free
Diet:
Wheat Free
Diet:
Soy Free
Method:
Bake
Culture:
German
Category:
Savory Pies
Ingredient:
Eggs
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