Ham and Broccoli Cheddar Quiche Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is milk better than heavy cream in quiche? ›

Heavy Cream and Milk – For the best tasting quiche, use a combination of whole milk and heavy cream. (Or simply use half-and-half.) Using just heavy cream produces an overly thick filling. Whole milk is great, but a combo of heavy cream and milk is better.

You need a par-baked or fully baked crust if you're making quiche, no-bake pie, custard pie, cream pie, pudding pie, or simply want an extra-crisp pie crust. If you're making a pie that doesn't require a baked filling, you still need a baked crust.

Cook the Veggies First

"Vegetables will take longer to cook than your egg custard, so always sauté onions, steam broccoli, etc. before you add them to your egg mixture to ensure every bite of quiche will be perfectly cooked," says Kristin Beringson, executive chef at Henley in Nashville.

Wet pie fillings + raw dough are a tricky combination. If the bottom crust doesn't set before the filling soaks in, it's going to be gummy. A metal pie pan placed on a preheated surface will set the bottom crust quickest; once cooked, the liquids from the filling above won't soak in, and as a result: no soggy bottom.

But it's possible to make quiche without heavy cream — you could try a sour cream substitute for the cream, although keep in mind that sour cream also is high in calories, at 455 per cup, and contains almost 45 grams of fat per cup as per the USDA.

Quiche Ratio: 1 large egg to 1/2 cup of dairy

You'll need to increase the amount of eggs and milk based on the size of your quiche, so knowing the basic ratio makes it really easy to scale up or down. For a standard 9-inch quiche: Use 3 large eggs (6 ounces) 1 1/2 cups of whole milk or cream (12 ounces)

With docking, the holes allow steam to escape, so the crust should stay flat against the baking dish when it isn't held down by pie weights or a filling. Otherwise the crust can puff up, not only impacting appearance but also leaving you with less space for whatever filling you have planned.

Sprinkle dried breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes, or other types of cereal, on the bottom crust before filling and baking in the oven.

Steam the spinach until it's just wilted. Then, transfer it to a kitchen towel and wring out the excess water. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk, beating until no streaks of egg white remain. Add the steamed spinach, green onions, cheese, salt, and several grinds of pepper.

Whether you serve it as an appetizer or a main dish, quiche can either be cooked ahead of time and served warm, cold, or at room temperature.

Should I prebake pie crust for quiche? ›

And yes, as you'll see, you should always prebake quiche crust to avoid a gummy pastry. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Roll out your homemade or purchased refrigerated dough into a 12-inch circle.

Why is my broccoli quiche watery? Your broccoli quiche likely turned out watery if it wasn't baked long enough or if you used frozen veggies that weren't completely thawed first. Since the egg mixture already has a high moisture content, you mustn't add frozen veggies to the mix or else it will turn soggy.

If you don't blind bake with weights, or poke holes into the bottom of the crust, the bottom of the crust can puff up.

Heavy cream and heavy whipping cream are best for recipes that require a thick and creamy texture, or for making whipped cream. Whole milk: Use whole milk in recipes that call for milk or when you want to add richness and flavor to a dish without making it too heavy.

The best quiche ratio is 1 large egg to 1/2 cup of dairy. The ratio of the fat content from the dairy and the protein from the eggs determine the custard's final texture. The egg proteins bond to form a soft gel-like texture, while the dairy gives the quiche a creamy flavor.

Milk can dilute the flavor of scrambled eggs, but adding crème fraîche or heavy whipping cream can bring out the depth of flavor you're trying to achieve. Additionally, milk is known for turning scrambled eggs into chewy chunks, while cream does a better job of holding everything together nicely.

Figuring out your proportions couldn't be simpler – for each egg you use, you need half a cup of milk. Too little dairy, and your quiche will be dry instead of creamy. Too much, and it won't set properly.