Tomato Florentine Quiche is full of cheesy goodness and is perfect for brunch, lunch or a light dinner. Reheated leftovers are just as good the next day.
5Tablespoons(2.5 ounces, 71 grams) unsalted butter, cold and cut into small pieces
5Tablespoons(2.5 ounces, 71 grams) vegetable shortening, cold and cut into small pieces (See Tip 1)
¼cup(2 ounces, 56 grams) ice water
Quiche
14.5ouncecan Petit Diced Tomatoes, drained
2TablespoonsItalian bread crumbs
3large eggs
1cuphalf and half
½teaspoonKosher salt
¼teaspoonfreshly ground black pepper
½teaspoondried basil
½cup(2 ounces, 56 grams) Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
½cup(2 ounces, 56 grams) extra sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
10ouncepackage frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry (See Tips 2 and 3)
¼cupcrumbled bacon (4 to 5 slices)
Instructions
Crust
Add flour, sugar and salt to bowl of food processor fitted with steel blade. Pulse 4 or 5 times to combine. Add butter and Crisco; pulse to combine until mixture resembles coarse meal, about 8 or 9 pulses. Add water. Pulse 3 or 4 times, just until mixture comes together.
Empty dough mixture into a 9-inch quiche pan with removable bottom. Gently press the dough into the quiche pan and up the sides to create the crust. Smooth out using a straight-sided measuring cup. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Pierce crust all over with a fork. Line with parchment paper and fill pan with dried beans or other pie weights. Bake at 400°F for 30 minutes. Remove parchment paper and dried beans.
Tomato Florentine Quiche
Reduce oven temperature to 375°F.
Combine drained Petit Diced Tomatoes and Italian bread crumbs in small bowl; set aside.
Whisk together the eggs and half and half. Add salt, pepper, basil, cheeses, spinach and bacon. Stir to combine. Fold in tomato/bread crumb mixture.
Pour into prepared quiche crust. Bake at 375°F for 40 minutes. Remove from oven. Allow to cool for 20 minutes before servings.
Yield: 6 servings. (See Tip 4)
Tips/Notes
May use unsalted butter in place of the Crisco.
I start by squeezing the spinach with my hands to remove excess liquid. Then, I place the spinach in doubled paper towels and continue squeezing to remove the liquid. You want to be sure that all of the liquid has been squeezed out.
The best chopped spinach for this quiche is finely chopped. Roughly chopped spinach tends to dominate the flavor of the quiche.
Leftovers, if any can be reheated in a 350°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes.