My favorite quiche recipe: Spinach and Goat Cheese

Today I want to share my favorite recipe for Spinach Goat Cheese Quiche. This is a very basic quiche recipe and is one of my go-to quick and easy meals.  It is a perfect breakfast, lunch, brunch or dinner and even better the next day. The best part is I can make it in about 10 minutes.

It’s a great meat-free meal. The challenge if you have someone in your family that really likes meat for dinner for is finding something filling to replace it. This quiche is pretty rich and seems to fill the gap.

I first tasted this recipe when staying with Mary, from Life At Bella Terra.

Tips for Using Store-Bought Pie Crust

First, look at the instructions on the package and let it defrost for the recommended amount of time. If you don’t take this step, you will likely have a crust that is almost unusable.

I don’t know about you, but whenever I use store bought pie crust it seems to be in about 20 pieces. Regardless of how many pieces it’s in, lay the crust out on a lightly floured surface.

Gently press it together with your fingertips until it resembles one piece. Use a pastry scraper to lift the edges and make sure that it’s loose from the surface. I like to use a rolling pin to even it out. Don’t be frustrated if it comes apart on the way to the pan, you can always press it back together. I show you how I do it in this video, and you can see it’s far from perfect.

What to serve with quiche?

My favorite way to serve quiche is with a simple green salad tossed with a light vinaigrette. If you’re looking for more alternatives here’s a good list.

1. Fresh Fruit Salad: For a sweet counterpoint to the savory quiche. I like a berry mix best because it adds a lot of color.
2. Roasted Vegetables: Choose seasonal veggies, toss them in some olive oil and your favorite spices, and roast until they’re tender.
3. Soup: Depending on the quiche flavor, a well-paired soup can be a warm and comforting side. Consider a tomato bisque..
4. Crusty Bread or Baguette: A piece of fresh, crusty bread can be a wonderful complement to the creamy, eggy quiche.
5. Grilled Asparagus: Grilled asparagus has a robust flavor that pairs beautifully with quiche. Drizzle with olive oil, lemon, and a bit of Parmesan cheese.
6. Bacon or Sausage: Offering some crispy bacon or sausage on the side can be a protein-packed addition.
7. Roasted Potatoes: Roasted or grilled potatoes, perhaps with rosemary or thyme, can be a hearty side that works especially well if you’re serving the quiche for a brunch or dinner.

Ingredients

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees farenheit
2. Lightly flour your work surface. 
3. Prepare the crust.   I like the frozen pie dough from Trader Joes.  I have found that even when I follow the instructions for defrosting the crust at room temperature, it tends to come apart in several pieces.  I roll it out on a lightly floured surface before placing it in the pie tin.  Place it in the pie plate and work with it a bit to piece it together and close any gaps or cracks.  Next crimp the edges of the crust and trim any excess.
4. Blind bake the crust.  Prick the bottom of the pie crust with a fork then line it with parchment paper and add pie weights.  You can use metal beans or real beans.  Bake at 375 for 10 minutes.  Your crust will be just begin to show a golden brown color.
5. Prepare the filling.  In a large skillet over medium heat add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and saute minced shallots and spinach leaves.  Season with salt and pepper.
6. Prepare the egg mixture. In a large bowl whisk 4 eggs with a little salt and pepper.  Add cream and whisk. 
7. Spread the shallot and spinach mixture in bottom of the pie dish.
8. Break the goat cheese into chunks and spread that over the spinach and shallot layer.
9. Pour the egg mixture into the pie pan.
10. Place in the 375 degree preheated oven.  I use a toaster oven and bake the quiche for  20-30 minutes.  Since ovens vary it is best to test with a toothpick.  When it comes out clean your quiche is ready. 

Let the quiche sit for about 10 minutes before you slice it, then dig in and enjoy. The best part is it’s a nutritious meal my family loves!  

If you like quick meals, you might also like the one pan chicken dinner or these home made hot pockets.