Discover the Delight of Homemade Broccoli Quiche
The Broccoli Quiche is a culinary chameleon, effortlessly transitioning from a sophisticated brunch centerpiece to a light, satisfying lunch, or even a comforting dinner. This classic dish, originating from France, combines a rich, creamy custard with tender broccoli florets and often savory cheese, all encased in a flaky pastry crust. It’s a testament to how simple ingredients can create a truly spectacular meal.
What makes a Broccoli Quiche so appealing? It’s the perfect balance of flavors and textures: the earthy notes of broccoli, the richness of eggs and cream, and the sharpness of cheese, all complemented by the buttery crust. Beyond its delicious taste, Broccoli Quiche is incredibly versatile. It can be served warm or at room temperature, making it ideal for meal prep or gatherings where you want to impress without last-minute fuss. It’s also an excellent way to incorporate more vegetables into your diet, proving that healthy eating can be truly enjoyable.
Crafting a perfect Broccoli Quiche involves a few key steps, from preparing the crust to achieving that silky-smooth custard and perfectly cooked broccoli. While it might seem intimidating, this guide will break down the process into easy-to-follow instructions, ensuring your Broccoli Quiche turns out beautifully every time. Say goodbye to soggy bottoms and rubbery fillings – with our tips, your homemade Broccoli Quiche will be a resounding success.
Get ready to elevate your culinary skills and add a versatile, crowd-pleasing recipe to your repertoire. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or new to the world of quiches, this recipe for Broccoli Quiche promises a rewarding experience and a delicious result.
Why Broccoli Quiche is a Brunch Star: Benefits and Versatility
The popularity of Broccoli Quiche isn’t just about its delicious taste; it’s also about its numerous advantages as a meal.
- Nutrient-Packed: Broccoli is a powerhouse of vitamins (C, K), fiber, and antioxidants, making Broccoli Quiche a healthy addition to your meal plan. Eggs provide high-quality protein, and dairy offers calcium.
- Highly Adaptable: While this recipe focuses on Broccoli Quiche, the basic custard and crust can be adapted with various vegetables, cheeses, and even meats, allowing for endless customization.
- Excellent for Meal Prep: Quiche reheats beautifully, making it perfect for preparing in advance for quick breakfasts, lunches, or light dinners throughout the week.
- Crowd-Pleaser: Its elegant appearance and comforting flavors make Broccoli Quiche a fantastic dish for entertaining guests, brunches, or potlucks.
- Versatile Serving: Enjoy it warm straight from the oven, or at room temperature, making it suitable for picnics or buffets.
Embracing the Broccoli Quiche means embracing a dish that is both nutritious and incredibly satisfying, proving that wholesome food can be genuinely exciting.
The Secret to a Perfect Broccoli Quiche Crust: No More Soggy Bottoms!
A common challenge with quiche is a soggy bottom crust. Achieving a golden, flaky crust for your Broccoli Quiche is essential.
- Blind Baking: This is the most crucial step. Blind baking (or pre-baking) the crust before adding the filling helps it crisp up and prevents it from absorbing moisture from the custard. Prick the bottom with a fork, line with parchment paper, and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until lightly golden.
- Cold Ingredients: Ensure your butter and water for the pastry are very cold. This helps create pockets of steam during baking, resulting in a flaky texture.
- Quality Ingredients: A good all-purpose flour and high-quality butter make a noticeable difference in the taste and texture of your Broccoli Quiche crust.
- Don’t Overwork the Dough: Overworking the dough develops too much gluten, leading to a tough crust. Handle it minimally.
For those who love to bake, you might also enjoy exploring other delightful treats in the bakery section of our site.
Essential Ingredients for Your Best Broccoli Quiche
To create a truly exceptional Broccoli Quiche, gather these fresh and flavorful ingredients:
- For the Pie Crust:
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, very cold and cubed
- 3-4 tbsp ice water
- For the Filling:
- 1 ½ cups chopped fresh broccoli florets (about 1 small head)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ small onion, finely diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 4 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups half-and-half or heavy cream
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Pinch of nutmeg (optional, enhances savory flavor)
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, Gruyère, or a blend work well)
- Optional: ¼ cup cooked bacon bits or diced ham for added flavor.
Freshness of ingredients, especially the broccoli, makes a noticeable difference in the final taste of your Broccoli Quiche.
Crafting Your Broccoli Quiche: A Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these steps to ensure a perfect Broccoli Quiche every time.
- Prepare the Pie Crust: In a large bowl, whisk together flour and salt. Cut in the cold, cubed butter using a pastry blender or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing until the dough just comes together. Do not overmix. Form into a disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Blind Bake the Crust: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough into a 12-inch circle. Carefully transfer to a 9-inch pie dish. Trim and crimp the edges. Line the crust with parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove weights and parchment, then bake for another 5-7 minutes, until lightly golden. Remove from oven and reduce temperature to 350°F (175°C).
- Prepare Broccoli and Aromatics: While the crust bakes, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and broccoli florets. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the broccoli is tender-crisp. You can also lightly roast the broccoli for deeper flavor, as suggested in Love & Lemons’ guide on roasted broccoli.
- Make the Custard: In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, half-and-half (or cream), salt, pepper, and nutmeg (if using) until well combined.
- Assemble the Quiche: Sprinkle half of the shredded cheese evenly over the bottom of the blind-baked crust. Top with the sautéed broccoli and onion mixture. If using bacon or ham, add it now. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the vegetables. Carefully pour the egg custard mixture over the fillings.
- Bake the Broccoli Quiche: Carefully transfer the pie dish to the preheated 350°F (175°C) oven. Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the center is just set (a knife inserted near the center comes out clean) and the top is golden brown. If the crust edges brown too quickly, cover them loosely with foil.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the Broccoli Quiche from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack for at least 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the custard to fully set.
Pro Tips for the Best Broccoli Quiche
- Don’t Skimp on Draining: If using frozen broccoli, ensure it’s fully thawed and squeezed dry to prevent excess moisture from making the quiche watery.
- Pre-cook Veggies: Sautéing the broccoli and onions before adding them to the quiche ensures they are tender and flavorful, and helps prevent the quiche from becoming watery.
- Room Temperature Eggs/Dairy: Using room temperature eggs and cream helps create a smoother, more uniform custard.
- Experiment with Cheese: Gruyère offers a nutty flavor, while cheddar provides a sharp tang. A combination can be excellent for your Broccoli Quiche.
- Gentle Heat: Baking at a moderate temperature ensures the custard cooks evenly without curdling or cracking.
Storing and Reheating Your Broccoli Quiche
- Storage: Leftover Broccoli Quiche can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezing: Whole or sliced quiche can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheating:
- Oven: For best results, reheat slices (or whole quiche) in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for 15-20 minutes (or longer for whole quiche) until heated through.
- Microwave: Suitable for individual slices, but the crust might become less crisp. Heat in 30-60 second intervals until warm.
Your Delicious Broccoli Quiche Awaits
Making homemade Broccoli Quiche is a rewarding experience that yields a truly versatile and delicious dish. From the flaky crust to the creamy, savory filling packed with tender broccoli, every bite is a delight. Whether you’re serving it for a festive brunch, a casual lunch, or a light dinner, this Broccoli Quiche recipe is sure to impress. Embrace the joy of creating this timeless classic in your own kitchen!
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Delicious Broccoli Quiche: 1 Easy Recipe for Perfect Brunch!
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 6–8 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Master this delicious and easy Broccoli Quiche recipe! With a flaky crust and a rich, creamy filling packed with tender broccoli and savory cheese, it’s perfect for brunch, lunch, or a light dinner.
Ingredients
- For the Pie Crust:
- 1 ¼ cups (150g) all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, very cold and cubed
- 3–4 tbsp ice water
- For the Filling:
- 1 ½ cups (approx. 180g) chopped fresh broccoli florets
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ small onion, finely diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 4 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups (360ml) half-and-half or heavy cream
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Pinch of nutmeg (optional)
- 1 cup (120g) shredded cheese (cheddar, Gruyère, or blend)
- Optional: ¼ cup cooked bacon bits or diced ham
Instructions
- Prepare Crust: In a bowl, whisk flour and salt. Cut in cold butter until coarse crumbs form. Add ice water 1 tbsp at a time until dough just comes together. Form a disk, wrap, and chill for 30 mins.
- Blind Bake Crust: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Roll dough to a 12-inch circle; transfer to a 9-inch pie dish. Trim/crimp edges. Line with parchment, fill with pie weights. Bake 15 mins. Remove weights/parchment; bake 5-7 mins more until lightly golden. Reduce oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Prep Fillings: In a skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Sauté diced onion 3-4 mins until softened. Add garlic and broccoli; cook 5-7 mins until tender-crisp. Let cool slightly.
- Make Custard: In a large bowl, whisk eggs, half-and-half (or cream), ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp pepper, and nutmeg (if using) until smooth.
- Assemble Quiche: Sprinkle ½ cup cheese into the blind-baked crust. Add sautéed broccoli and onion mixture (and optional bacon/ham). Top with remaining ½ cup cheese. Carefully pour egg custard over fillings.
- Bake: Bake for 35-45 minutes at 350°F (175°C), or until center is set and top is golden brown. If edges brown too quickly, cover with foil.
- Cool & Serve: Let Broccoli Quiche cool on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Dry Broccoli is Key: If using frozen broccoli, thaw completely and squeeze out excess water to prevent a watery quiche.
- Don’t Overmix Pastry: Handle the pie dough minimally for a flaky crust.
- Chilling is Crucial: Chilling the dough helps prevent shrinkage and ensures a better texture.
- Customize: Feel free to add other vegetables, cooked meats, or different cheeses to your Broccoli Quiche.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 60-75 minutes (includes blind baking and baking)
- Category: Main Meals, Breakfast,
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French, American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (estimated 1/8th of quiche, includes crust and filling)
- Calories: 300-400 (estimated, varies with crust butter, cream fat, and cheese)
- Sugar: 3-6g (estimated, from dairy, vegetables)
- Sodium: 400-600mg (estimated, depends on added salt and cheese)
- Fat: 20-30g (estimated, from butter, cream, cheese)
- Saturated Fat: 10-15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10-15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20-30g
- Fiber: 2-4g (estimated, from broccoli)
- Protein: 12-18g (estimated, from eggs, dairy, cheese)
- Cholesterol: 150-250mg (estimated, from eggs, dairy)
