Skip to content

Robert St. John

Restaurateur, author, enthusiastic traveler, & world-class eater.

A Quiche for David

Quiche is French in origin, so this recipe is probably an abomination to some. My friend David Trigiani is a dual-citizen Italian is always taking a stand in the French food versus Italian food debate. Heavy whipping cream is a must, and never buy pre-shredded mozzarella. Grate your own. The same goes for parmesan cheese. Never, I repeat never buy that powdery substance in the green can. Invest in a good grater and you'll be a better cook for it. David lives in Jackson, Mississippi, but spends most of his holidays in Italy. He’s an excellent cook, though I have never eaten quiche in his home. Maybe this will inspire him, and I’ll get an invitation.

Ingredients

1 recipe pie dough
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup yellow onion, small dice
½ cup red bell pepper, small dice
½cup green bell pepper, small dice
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
1½ teaspoons kosher salt
½ teaspoon dry oregano leaves
½ teaspoon dry basil leaves
½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
9 large eggs
¾ cup heavy whipping cream
1½ cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
½ cup fresh basil, chopped
½ cup parmesan cheese, grated

Instructions

Serves 6 to 8

Remove the prepared pie dough from the refrigerator. Lightly flour a clean working surface and place the dough in the center of the floured surface. Lightly dust the top of the dough as well. Begin in the center of the dough and roll upwards towards 12 o’clock, then downwards towards six o’clock. Rotate the dough 90 degrees and repaeat the process. Apply more flour as needed to prevent the dough from sticking to the surface or the rolling pin. As your dough begins to resemble a circle, use the rolling pin to define the shape. Roll the dough into a 16-inch circle. Use the rolling pin to transfer the dough to your pie dish. Press the dough firmly on the bottom and up the sides of the pie dish. Using your fingers, crimp the dough along the top of the sides and trim off any excess dough. Chill in the refrigerator while making the filling.

In a medium-sized skillet, cook the Italian sausage over medium-high heat. Crumble well. Line a plate with paper towels. Use a slotted spoon to remove the sausage from the skillet and place it on the paper towels to drain. Drain the grease from the skillet and return it to the heat. Place the olive oil in the skillet and sauté the onions and peppers for four to five minutes, until the onions are translucent. Stir in the garlic, salt, oregano, dry basil, and black pepper. Cook for one minutes and remove from the heat. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and cream. Stir in the sausage, onion mixture, mozzarella cheese and fresh basil. Pour into the prepared pie shell. Top with parmesan cheese. Bake for 40 minutes then remove the quiche from the oven. Using aluminum foil, tent the sides of the crust and return the quiche to the oven for an additional 10 to 15 minutes. The center will jiggle just slightly when the edges is tapped when done.

Allow the quiche to rest for 20 minutes before serving.

Recent Recipes

Stuffed Pork

Robert St. John's Stuffed Pork is an elegant centerpiece dish that takes a braised pork loin and layers it with Black Forest ham and melted Fontina cheese for a result that's as impressive to look at as it is to eat. The pork is seared, slow-roasted in chicken stock, and then sliced accordion-style so each cut fans open to hold the savory fillings before going back into the oven to meld together. A silky pan sauce made from the reduced braising liquid and heavy cream ties it all together, making this one of those recipes that feels restaurant-worthy without being out of reach.

Read more

Fried Calamari

Serves 6 Place the calamari and buttermilk in a bowl and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes…

Read more

Orange Crepes with Sugared Cranberries

I prefer fruit over chocolate after a meal. Orange and cranberries are a perfect pairing, especially during the holidays. This is an excellent and easy dessert after a heavy meal. These can be served individually on small plates or in a casserole for a buffet.

Read more