Spinach Quiche Lorraine

(I get asked by friends a lot: “Since you’re a Chef, do you still buy frozen pizzas, or buy pre-made food at the grocery store?” And I always reply: “What?! Are you crazy?! YES! Of Course, I do!” I’m a firm believer that we should never ever be snooty of where we get our foods as long as the quality is there. It’s all about reading the labels and knowing your skill level and your allotted time in the kitchen. If you are short on time one day, an easy to cook meal can save the day. Here’s a simple, yet elegant Quiche dish made from pre-packaged foods.)

**Easy Difficulty**
Serves 4 to 6

4 Large Eggs
1 tin pan (9 in / 23 cm) Frozen Pre-made Pie Crust, thawed
1 bag (6 oz / 170 g) Frozen Cut Spinach, thawed, water squeezed out.
4 oz / 113 g Cream Cheese, cubed
1 cup / 200 g Mozzarella, shredded
½ cup / 100 g Sharp Cheddar, shredded
8 oz / 225 g Bacon, chopped
1 Tbsp / 15 g Garlic, minced
4 Tbsp / 60 g Pearl Onions, rough chop (You can use regular white onions)
1 cup / 235 ml Milk
1 Tbsp / 15 g Chives, chopped
½ Tbsp / 8 g Dill, chopped
1 tsp / 5 g Nutmeg
Salt to taste
White Pepper to taste

1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. / 175 degrees C. With a fork, prick the bottom of the thawed pie in its tin pan. Then set pie aside in the fridge.

2.) In a saute pan set on medium high heat, cook the bacon until it is crispy and red. Set bacon aside on a plate lined with paper towels when ready. Chop Bacon when cooled enough.

3.) In a clean saute pan set at medium high heat, saute the Garlic until it browns lightly. Then add in Onions and saute together until the onions are browned. Then add thawed, pressed spinach, Chives, and Dill, and saute until most of the moisture is evaporated from the spinach. We don’t want a runny Quiche! Add Nutmeg. Add Salt and White Pepper to taste. Set aside to cool.

4.) In a mixing bowl, add in Eggs, Milk, Mozzarella, and Cheddar. Whisk lightly and set aside.

5.) Place a layer of cubed Cream Cheese and chopped Bacon on the bottom of the pie. Place Spinach mixture on top of the Cream Cheese and Bacon. Pour Egg Mixture on top of everything else.

6.) Place Quiche into the preheated oven and bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until the Spinach Quiche has set firmly. Once the Spinach Quiche is fully cooked, remove from oven and let cool before serving. Enjoy!

Extra Info: You can easily use your own pie dough recipe if you prefer, however, for a quick quiche on the fly, I always use store bought crust. If you are vegetarian, you can omit the bacon completely.

At the 40 min mark during baking, you can check to see if your crust is getting too brown. If you find that your crust is burning, cover the sides with aluminium foil. That should help it. When your quiche is done, you’ll want to let it cool completely. This allows the quiche to set, and also allows for Carry-Over cooking to finish the dish. The Quiche should be firm to the touch, and springy.

Happy Eating!

Mise en Place Picture:
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/16601553/