Though a French dish, the name Quiche Florentine is derived from the famous Italian town of Florence. The Quiche is a form of French tart that has a creamy egg custard filling. It can have fillings of onions, vegetables, and an assortment of cheeses folded into it. It’s remarkably simple to prepare and tastes sumptuous.
It can be a bit baffling how something can be prepared so easily and yet taste so good. In its simplest form, it is simple custard consisting of eggs and shredded gruyere cheese, with some fresh spinach in between. The entire dish is made as a light pie, which you can also prepare from scratch. Or, if you have to make it on short notice, then store-bought pie crust will also result in excellent quiches.
As its legacy comes from Italy, remember to pronounce it as “Flor-en-teen.” Interestingly, in many dishes named Florentine, as in Chicken Florentine, the principal ingredient used is spinach. This makes the dish, not just delicious but also quite healthy. And if you are looking forward to mastering the art of making Quiche, this guide will help you lay the table with style.
Table of Contents
Why will the Quiche Florentine Never Fail to Amaze?
The Quiche Florentine, made predominantly with spinach and cheese, is a great vegetarian option for those who might not eat meat due to dietary restrictions or personal preferences. It is wonderful as one of the elements in a brunch or as a main dish in lunch or dinner. In addition, you can also prepare this dish in advance, giving you ample time to prepare your meals with ease.
Most importantly, the Quiche Florentine also takes your meal presentations to a whole new level. There is something warm and comforting about a freshly baked pie-based dish like a Quiche, which is reminiscent of home-cooked food and all things wholesome. Your friends and family are surely going to appreciate your efforts.
Elements in a Quiche Florentine
So, a Quiche Florentine has several elements to it that are finally baked together like a pie.
The principal element is, of course, spinach. Use the freshest spinach you can find. Both regular and baby spinach are apt for the recipe, though the latter might wilt a little more. Make sure to wash them properly and keep them wrapped in a damp towel to prevent drying.
The next element in the dish is cheese. The preferred variant for the cheese here is Gruyere, which is quite savory to taste. It has a subtly nutty flavor and is a classic for making the most authentic quiches. If you are averse to cheese made from animal rennet, you can go for any variety of vegetarian, aged Swiss Cream cheese; and the result will still be spectacular.
The next element in the dish is to make the pie crust. You can use a pre-made pie crust or make it yourself fresh at home. However, if you are in a rush and you have to make a large batch, a pre-made crust works just fine.
The next element in the dish is a custard that you will pour into the pie. Usually, it is a combination of whole milk and heavy cream. You can also add eggs if you want a non-vegetarian version. To make a healthy version, you can try low-fat versions of cream, like half and a half and low-fat milk.
How to Make Delicious Quiche Florentine Recipe?
So now that you know how versatile this dish is, here is the main recipe. You can add more vegetables to the fillings, like sautéed mushrooms, if you like. Here is how you make Quiche Florentine.
Recipe for Easy Spinach Quiche
- Preparation Time – 10 minutes
- Cooking Time – 45 minutes
- Yields- 8 servings
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Cuisine: American
- Course: Main Course
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup milk
- 4 eggs
- 8 ounces of Gruyere cheese
- 4 cups of fresh spinach
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
- 1 medium onion (optional)
- 2 tablespoon olive oil (optional)
Equipment Required
- 9 inches deep dish pie shell
- Foil
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Chop up the spinach finely.
- Shred the cheese.
- Take a bowl and break and beat the eggs. Then, mix all the ingredients, barring the spinach and cheese. Add the seasoning.
- As an additional step, you can chop up the onion finely and cook it in olive oil till slightly brown. Then mix it with the chopped spinach.
Cooking
- Place the pie crust in a deep dish. Make sure to perforate it with a fork at regular intervals so that it does not expand.
- Place the spinach and onion mixture evenly at the bottom of the crust.
- Add shredded Gruyere cheese generously on top.
- Pour the custard mixture slowly inside the pie crust over the layer of spinach and cheese.
- Cover the pie dish with foil and bake it for 50 minutes. At this point, the middle would be just a little softer than the outer edges.
- Then, remove the foil and bake it again for 10 minutes until you get a golden and crispy crust. It will tighten up a little more as it starts cooling.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories: 377 kcal
- Protein: 12g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 114 mg
- Fat: 29g
- Potassium: 182 mg
- Sodium: 535 mg
- Vitamin A: 1775IU
- Calcium: 262 mg
- Vitamin C: 4.2 mg
- Iron: 1.7 mg
Also Read: Easy & Delicious Pomodoro Sauce Recipe
Can you Freeze Quiche Before Baking?
Freezing Quiche is a good idea if you want to make it in advance. All you have to do is ensure that you are freezing it on the flattest cookie sheet you can find. Then, you can transfer it to a plastic bag. Remove as much air as possible from the bag. Then, you can cover it with foil and bake it later. Usually, it would take about 1 hour, and you would need to bake it at 375 degrees. Then, remove the foil and bake again for about ten more minutes or so.
Alternatively, you can also make the Quiche Florentine and then freeze it in a plastic bag. Let the Quiche cool down to room temperature, and then wrap it up in a plastic wrap. You can also wrap it up in foil again and then put it in the freezer. Then, when you are ready to eat it, all you have to do is toast it in the oven for five to seven minutes, and it will be ready for consumption.
Or, you can bake it again at low heat for about 45 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, take as many slices out of the freezer as you want and place them on a baking sheet. In this way, you can use the Quiche for up to 3 months after cooking it.
You can also keep any leftover in the fridge for up to three to four days without freezing and warm it up in the microwave.
How can you Serve Quiche Florentine?
You can keep things simple and easy with a quiche. You can serve it with a simple and light salad and apple cider vinaigrette. Baked asparagus is also a great way to serve at the sides. You can also serve it with a bowl of freshly made fruit salad.
Pro Tips for Making the Perfect Quiche Florentine
Here are some pro-tips that will ensure that your Quiche turns out perfect.
- It is important that you start with a really good pie crust. Then, you can make the crust at home in advance.
- You can also depend on frozen spinach if you cannot get fresh spinach. They are also quite nutritious, and they are quite easy to work with. Simply let the spinach thaw and squeeze out any excess water. Remember that any water in the spinach will make the crust soggy and prevent it from cooking properly.
- It would be best if you cut the onions finely as this is a dish where you do not want chunky pieces of onions in your mouth. If you prefer, you may also replace the onions with shallots.
- Don’t over-bake the quiche. If you think the center is still a bit soft, it is still okay as the Quiche will firm up as it cools.
Conclusion
The Quiche Florentine is very popular because of its simplicity and elegance. Although it is a major part of American cuisine, its European inspiration has made it a cosmopolitan dish. A slice of Quiche can be exceedingly filling, with the eggs, milk, and best cheese giving you the most satisfying feeling.
You can choose to make it for a special occasion or just when you want to enjoy a lazy day lounging around and do not want to spend hours in the kitchen. The dish is known for its wholesome goodness, and you are sure to love its texture and taste when it is done to perfection, making you revisit it time and again.
Delicious Quiche Florentine Recipe [Spinach Quiche]
Equipment
- One 9 inches deep dish pie shell
- Foil
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup milk
- 4 eggs
- 8 ounces of Gruyere cheese
- 4 cups of fresh spinach
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
- 1 medium onion (optional)
- 2 tbsp olive oil (optional)
Instructions
- Place the pie crust in a deep dish. Make sure to perforate it with a fork at regular intervals so that it does not expand.
- Place the spinach and onion mixture evenly at the bottom of the crust.
- Add shredded Gruyere cheese generously on top.
- Pour the custard mixture slowly inside the pie crust over the layer of spinach and cheese.
- Cover the pie dish with foil and bake it for 50 minutes. At this point, the middle would be just a little softer than the outer edges.
- Then, remove the foil and bake it again for 10 minutes until you get a golden and crispy crust. It will tighten up a little more as it starts cooling.