The great thing about quiche is that you can make one full-size and serve it as a main course for a lovely summer brunch, or you can make bite-size mini-quiche and serve them as appetizers or hors d’oeuvre at an elegant party or even a baby or wedding shower. Even better, there are so many vegetarian quiche recipes out there and making vegetarian quiche is so common that no one will notice that you haven’t included any meat in the final product.
When you make a quiche, there are some basic ingredients you need to use and basic steps you have to take to make sure that your quiche sets correctly. After that, though, you can experiment to your heart’s content with different vegetables and herbs to put into the quiche to make it unique.
Start with a deep dish pie pan with high sides to give you plenty of room for all of the ingredients in your quiche. If you’re making mini-quiche, though, try using mini muffin pans that you’ve greased with cooking spray so that they don’t stick to the pan. Start with an unbaked pie crust, which you can buy at the store and save yourself the trouble of making. However, when you buy pre-made pie crusts from the grocery store, make sure you read the ingredients so you don’t buy one with any lard or other animal fat included. You should look for one that is just made with vegetable shortening. Start by layering shredded cheese on top of the pie crust. You should experiment to find cheese you like, and you shouldn’t be afraid to combine different cheeses for added flavor. If you’re trying to play it simple, though, mild cheddar and Swiss are two very popular choices. Then, on top of the cheese, place a layer of the vegetable and herb filling of your choice. Some popular ideas for vegetarian quiche recipes are sautéed onions with Swiss cheese, a combination of garlic, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, and cheddar cheese, broccoli and cheddar cheese, asparagus mixed with roasted red pepper and gruyere cheese, or fresh spinach, garlic, onions, and feta cheese. Asparagus, roasted mushrooms, or even just some garlic and onions mixed together are also great options for vegetarian quiche filling. Remember, though, these aren’t your only options, so don’t be afraid to experiment with the different vegetables, herbs, and cheeses that you already have in your house.
From there, you need to whisk together eggs, cream, some nutmeg, and salt. Heavy cream is the ideal ingredient to use for quiche as it will make your final quiche taste rich and creamy, but if you’re trying to be more health-conscious and don’t mind the slight alteration in the final texture and taste of your quiche, you can substitute with half and half, whole milk, one percent milk, or soy milk. Pour this mixture into the pie pan over everything else and bake. The best thing about this dish is that the whole thing can be frozen and defrosted later, and it makes great leftovers if the whole thing isn’t eaten. If you’re having a party where you’re making more than one quiche, try experimenting with different kinds so that each quiche is different. If you’re turning this into a meal, serve with a bowl of hearty vegetarian soup or a delicious fruit salad, and you’ll have a delightful meal that you’ll remember for a long time.
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