It's officially spring. The price of eggs has skyrocketed lately, but I cannot fathom a world without eggs. I've had chickens a couple of times and have gone whole swaths of my life where I pretty much lived on eggs. They're a hearty food that's filling enough to keep you going in a pinch. They're one of my favorite morning foods on the go. Today, I want something a little bit more fancy than a fried egg or a breakfast burrito. I've decided on Miniature Quiche with Potatoes and Broccoli.
Low Lactose & Gluten Free Option
A lot of recipes call for bread cubes. I tend to make my own bread. The idea of making bread just to dry it out and cut it into cubes is a little bit of a stretch, though. So, I've opted to use Greek yogurt and potatoes to thicken it, instead of milk and bread. This also does make the dish gluten free. Although you can add them back in at a 1x1 ratio of milk/Greek yogurt and bread/potatoes.
Is This Baked Eggs or Quiche?
I tend to think of anything that isn't something else a quiche. A quiche that's fried is a frittata. Savory quiche might be classified as tarts. Even pancakes without flour would probably be a quiche. Or, at least a frittata or, with less dairy, an omelette.
I have an entire article on What’s the Difference Between a Quiche, Frittata, & Omelette? The different between egg-based custards is largely based on how a dish is made, rather than the ingredients that it has. For simplicity's sake, I tend to call a lot of the things that I do a crustless quiche. Although, if I bake it in a muffin tin, that's getting into more of baked eggs territory. You could still call them miniature quiche, though. Miniature quiche sounds a bit more festive. And it fits more with the rest of the Crustless Quiche content that I routinely put out. This is an arbitrary distinction, though. So, go ahead and call this recipe whatever you like it!
I guess more precisely:
It's a cheddar-crusted miniature quiche baked in a Halloween-themed muffin tin for Easter.
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Variations of Miniature Quiche
I make a lot of crustless quiche. They're quick and easy to toss together. You can make or buy a pie crust or puff pastry, if you like. Personally, I don't miss it enough to want to go through the hassle of making a crust! Although quiche is a fun way to mix up your eggs in the morning and is a fun addition to any brunch menu. It's just as good straight out of the oven as it is chilled. Which makes it a great dish to make ahead of time. It will keep for a couple of days in the refrigerator.
This Halloween-themed Miniature Quiche consists of eggs, broccoli, shallot, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, and a cheddar cheese crust. This doesn't make it dairy- or lactose-free. Although it is milk-free and lower-lactose than a lot of other quiche varieties. Personally, I do a lot better with Greek yogurt and sharp cheddar cheese than I do milk or cream. I also really enjoy the slightly tangy and more acidic flavor profile of Greek yogurt. Particularly when it's paired with the hint of vinegar in Dijon mustard. So, I tend to make most of my dishes without milk. Although feel free to mix and match what you have on hand or your own favorite ingredients! Quiche is an incredibly forgiving dish. As long as you get a roughly liquid consistency, you're likely going to be fine.
Whisk eggs, Greek yogurt, mustard, salt, and pepper together. Set aside.
Lightly grease the muffin tin or baking dish.
Press cheddar into the muffin tin. Making sure to pack into the shape of the tray.If you're using a baking dish, rather than a muffin tin, you don't have to pack it in. You can just sprinkle the cheese on the bottom of the pan. I typically put the cheese on top of quiche or egg bakes. Since I'm making this in a shaped muffin tin, I'm turning them upside-down after they're cooked. So, if you similarly want the cheese on top, reserve it until the end and then sprinkle over the rest of the ingredients right before going into the oven.
Fill the muffin tins with broccoli florets. This can be loosely added in and doesn't need to be packed.
Pour the egg mixture over the broccoli. It can help to let it settle or gently tap the side of the muffin tray in order to let the egg mixture seep to the bottom of the broccoli.
Bake for about 45 minutes, or until just set and lightly brown. You want the egg to still juggle slightly, but not be liquid.
Serve immediately or chilled. Egg bakes are great recipes to make ahead of time because it keeps well and is just as good cold. If you do reheat it, though, I would recommend heating in the oven. Oftentimes egg dishes don't microwave well as this tends to overcook them.
Tips, Tricks, & Notes
I also have an entire article on The Fundamentals of Crustless Quiche with more tips and tricks on whether or not you want a crust, whether or not you need dairy or cheese, the type of pan to use, and a recommendation of toppings.
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