Steve Sherman is a writer who lives in Hancock, New Hampshire. His books include Cheese Sweets & Savories and Soup & Bread in collaboration with Julia Older. This spinach quiche recipe comes from Cheese Sweets & Savories. Steve describes it as “rather thick, good for an entrée or, cut thinly, as an appetizer.”
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 medium-size onion, diced
1 cup chopped fresh zucchini
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
3 large eggs, slightly beaten
1-1/2 cups small-curd cottage cheese
3 ounces cream cheese, softened and diced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried dill weed
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
10 ounces spinach, cooked, drained, and chopped
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup cream
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
To make the filling, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a frying pan and sauté the garlic and onion until transparent, not brown. Remove and set aside.
Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and sauté the garlic and onion until transparent, not brown. Remove and set aside.
Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and sauté the zucchini and green pepper until slightly tender. Combine them with the onion mixture.
In a separate bowl, mix the eggs with the cottage cheese. Stir in the cream cheese and, if necessary, slice with a pastry cutter to break up any lumps. Add the salt, pepper, dill, and nutmeg. Then add the onion mixture, spinach, Parmesan cheese, and cream. Mix well.
Pour into the crust. Bake for 40 minutes, or until the center is set. Remove the sides from the quiche pan and serve hot.
1-1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons shortening
1 egg yolk
3 to 4 tablespoons cold water
To make the crust, mix the flour and salt. Cut in the butter and shortening. Stir in the egg yolk. Add the cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, to form the dough into a ball. Chill. Roll out and place in a high-sided 9-inch quiche pan with removable sides. Pierce with a fork. Bake for 7 to 9 minutes, or until lightly toasted. Cool. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees.