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Quiche with Arugula, Bacon, and Cheddar

This quiche is packed full of flavor – peppery arugula, salty bacon, tart balsamic, and sharp cheddar, all wrapped in a flaky, buttery crust. It's light on the egginess, making it perfect for brunch or parties.
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Breakfast, Brunch

Ingredients
  

For the crust
  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons 3/4 stick chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 3 tablespoons chilled solid vegetable shortening cut into small pieces
  • 4 tablespoons about ice water
For the filling
  • 6 bacon slices cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1/2 cup chopped shallots about 2-3 shallots
  • 8 ounces arugula stems trimmed, leaves coarsely chopped (about 5 1/2 cups)
  • 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 cup whipping cream
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese gruyere or gouda would also be delicious!

Method
 

For the crust
  1. Blend flour + salt in processor. Add butter + shortening. Using on/off turns, process until mixture resembles coarse meal. Mix in enough ice water to form moist clumps. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic + chill until dough is firm enough to roll out, about 30 minutes.
  2. Roll out dough on floured surface to 12-inch round. Transfer to 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Trim dough overhang to 1 inch. Fold overhang in + press, forming double-thick high-standing sides. Pierce crust all over with fork. Freeze crust 30 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover + keep frozen.)
  3. Position rack in center of oven + preheat to 400°F. Bake crust until golden brown, piercing with fork if crust bubbles, about 20 minutes. Transfer crust to rack. Reduce temperature to 375°F.
For the filling
  1. Cook bacon in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat until crisp, about 5-8 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels + drain. Add shallots to same skillet + sauté until tender, about 4 minutes. Add arugula + sauté until just wilted, about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add balsamic vinegar; toss to combine. Sprinkle arugula mixture, then bacon over crust.
  2. Whisk cream, eggs, salt + pepper in large bowl to blend. Stir in cheese. Pour egg/cheese mixture into crust.
  3. Bake quiche until filling is slightly puffed + golden, about 35 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Cut into wedges + serve.

Notes

Can be made 1 day ahead: cover and keep frozen after freezing the crust. The quiche is just as tasty at room temperature, ideal for brunches or parties.