Mini Quiche 4 Ways

Many nights, I have about a half serving of vegetables left over. What do you do with a couple of tablespoons of cooked broccoli or spinach no one had room for at dinner? What about that odd slice of ham, or the extra slice of prosciutto that you didn't need for a recipe? Here's a way to use up lots of little "extras" and jazz up your weekend brunch.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins
• Calories: 381 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh basil
• 6 large eggs
• 2 slices cooked bacon
• 4 teaspoons minced fresh parsley
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder, divided
• 16 (4 inch) frozen tart shells, thawed
• 8 tablespoons grated Cheddar cheese
• 4 tablespoons diced green bell pepper
• 4 tablespoons diced ham
• 4 tablespoons chopped, cooked broccoli
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme, divided
• 8 tablespoons grated Gruyere cheese
• 4 tablespoons cooked onions
• 4 tablespoons cooked mushrooms
• 2 thin slices prosciutto, diced
• ¼ cup cooked chopped spinach
• 2 medium cherry tomatoes, halved lengthwise
• 4 teaspoons diced red onion

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a 12x18-inch baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2

Place tart shells on the prepared baking sheet and prick the sides and bottoms with a fork.

Step 3

Bake in the preheated oven for 8 minutes. The partial cook will help keep the pastry crispy on the bottom. Allow shells to cool slightly, in the pan, about 10 minutes.

Step 4

To make the mini-quiches: when shells are cooled but still warm, place 1 tablespoon Cheddar cheese in the bottom of 8 of the partially-baked tart shells. To 4 of the Cheddar-filled shells, add 1/2 piece of bacon, crumbled, and 1 tablespoon bell pepper. To the remaining 4 Cheddar-filled shells, add 1 tablespoon diced ham, 1 tablespoon broccoli, and 1/8 teaspoon thyme.

Step 5

Place 1 tablespoon Gruyere on the bottom of remaining partially-baked tart shells. To each of 4 of the Gruyere-filled shells, add 1 tablespoon cooked onion, 1 tablespoon of cooked, minced mushrooms, and 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder. To each of the remaining Gruyere-filled shells, add 1/4 of the diced prosciutto, 1 tablespoon cooked spinach, 1/8 teaspoon Italian seasoning blend, and a pinch of nutmeg, if using, to taste.

Step 6

Briskly stir eggs together with cream, salt, and pepper in a medium mixing bowl. Pour 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of the egg mixture into each of the 16 filled shells.

Step 7

Top the bacon/bell pepper mini quiches with a cherry tomato half. Top the ham/broccoli mini quiches with 1 teaspoon diced red onion. Top the onion/mushroom mini quiches with 1 teaspoon minced fresh parsley, and top the prosciutto/spinach mini quiches with 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh basil.

Step 8

Place mini quiches in the oven, and reduce heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake until the egg mixture is set and the crust is lightly browned, 30 to 35 minutes. Allow to cool on a rack, about 10 minutes. Serve warm.