Description
Barefoot Contessa’s asparagus quiche blends French culinary elegance with fresh seasonal ingredients. Creamy egg custard and tender asparagus create a luxurious brunch centerpiece you’ll savor with delight.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 (8-inch) pie shells (unbaked)
- 2 cups Swiss cheese (shredded)
- 4 large eggs
- 1 pound asparagus (fresh, trimmed and cut into 0.5-inch pieces)
- 10 slices bacon
- 1.5 cups half-and-half (473 ml)
- 1 egg white (lightly beaten)
- 0.25 tsp ground nutmeg
- salt (to taste)
- pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and set up steamer for asparagus cooking.
- Asparagus Treatment: Steam asparagus in hot water until tender-crisp, then cool completely and drain.
- Bacon Preparation: Crisp bacon in skillet over medium-high heat until uniformly golden, drain on paper towels, and crumble into small fragments.
- Crust Layering: Brush pie crust edges with egg white, then strategically distribute crumbled bacon and steamed asparagus across the shell.
- Cheese Distribution: Generously coat asparagus and bacon with Swiss cheese, ensuring complete coverage.
- Custard Creation: Whisk eggs, half-and-half, nutmeg, salt, and black pepper into a smooth, homogeneous mixture.
- Baking Process: Pour custard over cheese layer and bake in preheated oven for 35-40 minutes until filling sets and top turns golden brown.
- Serving Preparation: Allow quiche to rest at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before slicing and presenting.
Notes
- Perfectly Steam Asparagus: Cook until tender-crisp, avoiding overcooking to maintain texture and vibrant green color. Cooling completely prevents soggy quiche bottom.
- Bacon Browning Technique: Cook slowly over medium-high heat for even golden color, draining excess grease ensures crispy texture and prevents greasy filling.
- Egg Wash Trick: Brushing pie crust edges with egg white creates a professional-looking glossy seal and helps prevent soggy bottom.
- Nutmeg Magic: A pinch of nutmeg adds subtle warmth and depth to the egg mixture, enhancing the overall flavor profile of the quiche.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 445
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 751 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 186 mg