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

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

Grilled Tripletail with Lump Crab and Chive Beurre Blanc

Tripletail has always been my favorite Gulf fish. The old-timers used to say, "If you can see a tripletail, you can catch a tripletail." They have this peculiar habit of floating near the surface around buoys, crab traps, and other floating objects, often lying on their sides and appearing almost lifeless. This behavior makes them easy to spot and, if you're quick with your cast, easy to hook. The meat is mild, white, and flaky—perfect for grilling. Pairing it with lump crab and a chive beurre blanc elevates this dish to something truly special.

Read more

Potato Gratin

Potatoes are the one vegetable I could never give up. Fried, roasted, mashed, or scalloped—doesn’t matter, they’re always on the table in one form or another. This gratin is my favorite way to make them feel a little more special. It’s rich, creamy, and just decadent enough to make it feel like you’re putting in some extra effort. There’s a good bit of cheese in this recipe, but that’s exactly how it should be. The combination of sharp white Cheddar, gruyere, and Parmesan gives it the perfect balance of nuttiness, creaminess, and tang. And using Yukon gold potatoes instead of russets makes a big difference. They have just the right amount of starch to get creamy without getting mushy. This dish is a showstopper on the holiday table, but I’d eat it on a random Tuesday without hesitation.

Read more