A Brief History of Quiche
This crustless spinach quiche is a new take on the classic French dish. Surprisingly, quiche actually originated in Germany. It was created in the Kingdom of Lothringen, which spanned several modern European countries. Eventually, this area became a part of France and was renamed “Lorraine”. The word “quiche” actually comes from the German word “kuchen”, which just means cake. (1)
The most famous version of the dish, quiche Lorraine, originally consisted of dough, eggs, lean smoked bacon, and cream. These ingredients were readily available in farms and villages at that time. It wasn’t until later that the cheese we expect to be in contemporary quiche Lorraine was added to the recipe. When knowledge of quiche later traveled outside Lorraine, the dough became pastry, and cooks included cheese and sometimes pork. (1)
The Duke of Lorraine, Charles III, loved quiche so much that the manager of his home was concerned about a financial deficit caused by all those eggs. After World War II, the British became enamored with quiche. And Julia Child helped it gain popularity in the United States. Today, there are many varieties of the dish beyond the original quiche Lorraine. And people enjoy it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. (1, 2)
Crustless Quiche
A crustless quiche is perfect for when you don’t want to deal with making a pie crust or don’t have a pre-made one in the freezer. It gives you the freedom to cook up a quiche if you have eggs and a few other ingredients on hand.
People who follow a gluten-free diet will also appreciate a crustless quiche. Going gluten-free often means giving up some of your favorite foods. This can be difficult, even when going gluten-free solves health issues. Finding alternative recipes for favorite meals is a source of joy for those with restricted diets.
Eliminating the crust allows gluten-free eaters to still enjoy quiche. The eggs in the dish give it enough firmness to hold up even without a crust, so the pastry is unnecessary for the structure of the dish.
Crustless Spinach Quiche Recipe
Serves: 8
Prep time: 25 min
Baking time: 40 min
Total time: 1 hour, 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms – button or baby bella
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 10-oz package frozen spinach, thawed and thoroughly drained
- ⅔ cup finely-chopped ham (fully cooked)
- 5 large eggs
- 3 cups shredded cheese – Muenster or Monterey Jack
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a nine-inch pie pan or quiche dish. Set aside.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and mushrooms – saute until tender.
- Add the ham and spinach to the skillet. Cook, stirring frequently until the moisture from the spinach evaporates off. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
- Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Stir in the cheese and mix thoroughly. Stir in the vegetable and ham mixture. Add pepper. Blend everything together well.
- Pour the mixture into the greased dish. Spread it evenly. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until you can insert a knife into the center and pull it out clean.
Original Recipe From A Taste of Home.
