Saturday, September 19, 2009

Wholesome quiche




I don't know about everybody else, but I always found quiches a bit decadent...Buttery pastry, lots of eggs and heavy cream and possibly bacon. Sounds like heaven on a plate for some, but I have sadly come to realise that no matter how much I exercise, such indulgences are more than a passing whim...they dig themselves somewhere on my body...mostly on my hips and stomach. And after three kids, believe me, that is the last spot where I need padding.

But I love quiches and they are the perfect summer picnic fare and now that we have more chickens what better way to use surplus eggs. Ahh, don't get me started on eggs...I could go on all day about the wonder of having freshly laid eggs every day. There is something deeply nourishing about having your own chucks...and I don't mean the protein in the egg.

Anyway, back to the quiche dilemma. Since discovering Liz's easy pastry, I have been getting into making quick pies and tarts. And now I feel I can include a quiche not as a mere indulgence but the pastry now belongs to a food group...along with the eggs and light cream....yes, light.
I guess the opinions are divided about the benefits of "light" products, but sometimes they have its place. When you consider that a traditional quiche contains butter, cream and eggs, along with some bacon and the token greens, you don't need to be a nutritionist to add up the calories. And since we are no athletes training for the Olympics I see no way of getting away with such indulgence....Anyway, that is my humble approach and here is my humble, less decadent quiche recipe.

Wholemeal pastry quiche

Pastry:
2 cups wholemeal flour
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
pinch of sea salt

Filling:
6 free range eggs
200 ml light cream

fat free bacon
olives
Greek feta
spinach
lots of herbs


Blind bake the pastry. Add the filling and bake until eggs are set.

The ingredients are what I had in the fridge that day. Today I made a quiche with sauteed leek, thyme and fetta. The options are endless.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Looks super yummy A. I would make it lighter by substituting the cream for skim milk or soy milk. Will still work but no - not be as decadent.

Bacon alternative could be smoked salmon or trout. More "good oils" in there.

Love your pics too.