3 Pepper Quiche Recipes

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.

QUICHE RECIPE

Steps:

• I like to make sure my pie dough is prepared before I begin the quiche. Make pie dough the night before because it needs to chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before rolling out and blind baking (next step).
• On a floured work surface, roll out one of the disks of chilled dough (use the 2nd pie crust for another recipe). Turn the dough about a quarter turn after every few rolls until you have a circle 12 inches in diameter. Carefully place the dough into a 9-inch pie dish. Tuck it in with your fingers, making sure it is completely smooth. To make a lovely edge, I do not trim excess dough around the edges. Instead, fold the excess dough back over the edge and use your hands to mold the edge into a rim around the pie. Crimp the edges with a fork or use your fingers to flute the edges. Chill the pie crust in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and up to 5 days. Cover the pie crust with plastic wrap if chilling for longer than 30 minutes.
• While the crust is chilling, preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
• Line the chilled pie crust with parchment paper. Fill with pie weights or dried beans. Make sure the weights are evenly distributed around the pie dish. Bake until the edges of the crust are starting to brown, about 15-16 minutes. Remove pie from the oven and carefully lift the parchment paper (with the weights) out of the pie. Prick holes all around the bottom crust with a fork. Return the pie crust to the oven. Bake until the bottom crust is just beginning to brown, about 7-8 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside. (Crust can still be warm when you pour in the filling. You can partially pre-bake the crust up to 3 days ahead of time. Cover cooled crust tightly and refrigerate until ready to fill.)
• Reduce oven temperature to 350°F (177°C).
• In a large bowl with a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, salt, and pepper together on high speed until completely combined, about 1 minute. Whisk in add-ins and then pour into crust.
• Bake the quiche until the center is just about set, about 45-55 minutes. Don't over-bake. Use a pie crust shield to prevent the pie crust edges from over-browning. Allow to cool for 15 minutes. Top with optional toppings before slicing and serving, if desired. Or you can cool the quiche completely before serving- it's fantastic at room temperature!
• This quiche makes great leftovers! Cover tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

RED PEPPER QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Fit the piecrust into a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate according to the package directions; fold edges under and crimp. Prick bottom and sides of the pie crust with a fork.
• Line the pastry with aluminum foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 7 minutes. Remove the weights and foil and bake until the bottom is golden brown, 3 to 4 more minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees F.
• While the pie crust is cooking, heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the green onions and cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until tender. Stir in the ham and garlic and cook 1 minute longer until the garlic is fragrant. Let cool slightly.
• Whisk together the half-and-half, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, salt, pepper, whole eggs and egg white in a medium mixing bowl. Then add the roasted red peppers, oregano and basil.
• Sprinkle the Swiss cheese over the bottom of the pastry shell. Top with 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese and the ham mixture. Pour the egg mixture over the top. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese.
• Bake until the center is set, 35 to 40 minutes, shielding the crust with aluminum foil, if necessary. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
• Tip: If your quiche isn't quite done but you're in a pinch to get it on the table, just stick it in the microwave for 60 seconds. This will help the eggs to set up.

3-PEPPER QUICHE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, sauté pepper strips and onions in margarine until soft but not limp.
• In a bowl, combine eggs, half-n-half, water, garlic, basil, and cayenne.
• Spoon peppers into unbaked pie shell.
• Pour egg mixture over peppers.
• Bake at 375°F for 50-55 minutes until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

ULTIMATE QUICHE LORRAINE

Steps:

• For the pastry, put 175g plain flour, 100g cold butter, cut into pieces, 1 egg yolk and 4 tsp cold water into a food processor. Using the pulse button, process until the mix binds.
• Tip the pastry onto a lightly floured surface, gather into a smooth ball, then roll out as thinly as you can.
• Line a 23 x 2.5cm loose-bottomed, fluted flan tin, easing the pastry into the base.
• Trim the pastry edges with scissors (save any trimmings) so it sits slightly above the tin (if it shrinks, it shouldn't now go below the level of the tin). Press the pastry into the flutes, lightly prick the base with a fork, then chill for 10 mins.
• Put a baking sheet in the oven and heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Line pastry case with foil, shiny side down, fill with dry beans and bake on the hot sheet for 15 mins.
• Remove foil and beans and bake for 4-5 mins more until the pastry is pale golden. If you notice any small holes or cracks, patch up with pastry trimmings. You can make up to this point a day ahead.
• While the pastry cooks, prepare the filling. Heat a small frying pan, tip in 200g lardons and fry for a couple of mins. Drain off any liquid that comes out, then continue cooking until the lardons just start to colour, but aren't crisp. Remove and drain on paper towels.
• Cut three quarters of the 50g gruyère into small dice and finely grate the rest. Scatter the diced gruyère and fried lardons over the bottom of the pastry case.
• Using a spoon, beat 200ml crème fraîche to slacken it then slowly beat in 200ml double cream. Mix in 3 well beaten eggs. Season (you shouldn't need much salt) and add a pinch of ground nutmeg. Pour three quarters of the filling into the pastry case.
• Half-pull the oven shelf out and put the flan tin on the baking sheet. Quickly pour the rest of the filling into the pastry case - you get it right to the top this way. Scatter the grated cheese over the top, then carefully push the shelf back into the oven.
• Lower the oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Bake for about 25 mins, or until golden and softly set (the centre should not feel too firm).
• Let the quiche settle for 4-5 mins, then remove from the tin. Serve freshly baked, although it's also good cold.

BELL PEPPER & ONION QUICHE

Steps:

• 1. Heat oven to 425°F Place pie crust in 9-inch glass pie pan as directed on box for One-Crust Filled Pie. Bake 5 to 7 minutes or just until edge begins to brown. If crust puffs up in center, gently push down with back of wooden spoon.
• 2. Meanwhile, in large bowl, combine cheese and flour; toss to coat.
• 3. Saute the Pepper and Onion until Caramelized. (drain)
• 4. Remove partially baked crust from oven; reduce oven temperature to 375°F Spoon cheese mixture into partially baked crust. In same bowl, combine all remaining ingredients; beat until well blended. Pour over cheese mixture.
• 5. Return to oven; bake at 375°F 35 to 45 minutes longer or until filling is puffed and knife inserted in center comes out clean. If necessary, cover edge of crust with strips of foil during last 15 to 20 minutes of baking to prevent excessive browning. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
• *Prebaking the crust a few minutes helps eliminate a soggy crust.