The Perfect Ina Garten Breakfast Quiche Recipe for Cozy Mornings

Breakfast quiche transforms ordinary morning meals into extraordinary culinary experiences.

Elegant and comforting, this classic dish offers incredible versatility for home cooks seeking delightful flavor combinations.

Sophisticated yet approachable, quiche represents a perfect balance between rustic charm and gourmet sophistication.

Rich ingredients meld together, creating a harmonious blend that tantalizes taste buds and satisfies hunger.

Creamy eggs, flaky pastry, and carefully selected fillings elevate this beloved recipe beyond simple breakfast fare.

Professional chefs and home cooks appreciate quiche adaptability and impressive presentation.

Mastering this technique opens up endless possibilities for creative morning dining: Prepare to embark on a delicious culinary journey.

Pro Tips for Ina Garten’s Breakfast Quiche

• Drain Excess Moisture: Remove water from vegetables by sautéing or patting them dry, preventing a soggy quiche bottom that ruins the perfect texture.
• Enhance Cream Richness: Select heavy cream over half-and-half for a luxurious, velvety filling that elevates the entire breakfast experience.
• Chill Butter Strategically: Freeze butter chunks before mixing pastry dough to guarantee ultra-flaky, tender crust layers that melt in your mouth.
• Rest Quiche Deliberately: Allow baked quiche to settle for 10-15 minutes, enabling filling to set and making clean, precise slicing effortless.
• Blind Bake Confidently: Pre-bake pie crust with weights to ensure a crisp, golden foundation that remains sturdy under creamy egg mixture.

How to Store Ina Garten’s Breakfast Quiche

• Vacuum Seal Method: Use a vacuum sealer to remove all air and prevent freezer burn. Slice the quiche into individual portions before sealing, which allows easier reheating and preserves maximum flavor and texture.
• Layered Wrap Technique: Create a protective barrier by first wrapping the quiche in parchment paper, then adding a layer of aluminum foil, and finally placing it in a freezer-safe container. This multi-layer approach prevents moisture loss and protects against potential freezer odors.
• Temperature-Controlled Storage: Cool the quiche completely at room temperature for no more than 90 minutes before refrigerating or freezing. Place in the coldest part of the refrigerator or freezer, typically the back section away from the door, to maintain consistent temperature and prevent potential bacterial growth.

Creative Variations on Ina Garten’s Breakfast Quiche

• Bacon Bonanza: Swap country ham with crispy bacon pieces, creating a smoky and rich flavor profile that adds extra crunch to every bite.
• Mediterranean Marvel: Replace gouda with crumbled feta cheese and add chopped spinach and sun-dried tomatoes for a Greek-inspired quiche that bursts with Mediterranean flavors.
• Vegetarian Veggie Blast: Eliminate ham completely and substitute with roasted bell peppers, zucchini, and caramelized onions to craft a hearty vegetable-packed quiche that satisfies vegetarian preferences.
• Spicy Southwest Sensation: Incorporate diced jalapeños, pepper jack cheese, and sprinkle some chili powder into the egg mixture for a zesty quiche with a southwestern kick that will wake up your taste buds.

Ina Garten’s Breakfast Quiche: A Delicious Start to Your Day

Quiche masterpieces like Ina Garten’s creation celebrate culinary artistry with each delectable slice.

Savory ingredients dance together, creating harmony between crisp potatoes, golden ham, and melted gouda.

Breakfast champions will discover this recipe transforms morning routines into gourmet experiences.

Layers of flavor tell stories beyond simple ingredients, connecting kitchen traditions with modern cooking techniques.

Home chefs can confidently recreate this delightful dish that promises restaurant-quality results.

When hunger calls and inspiration strikes, share this delicious journey with friends, comment below about your quiche adventures, and spread tasty love across social media platforms.

What Makes Ina Garten’s Breakfast Quiche a Perfect Morning Dish

• Savor Flavor-Packed Layers: This quiche delivers a delightful combination of crispy country ham, tender potatoes, and melted gouda cheese that creates a symphony of tastes in every single bite.
• Master Foolproof Cooking Technique: Blind baking the crust and carefully layering ingredients ensures a perfectly crisp bottom and evenly cooked filling, making this recipe foolproof even for novice home cooks.
• Enjoy Effortless Meal Preparation: With straightforward steps and minimal complex techniques, this quiche comes together in just over an hour, offering a delicious breakfast or brunch option that looks and tastes professionally made.
• Customize with Ease: The recipe provides a flexible base that allows creative cooks to swap ingredients like different cheeses, meats, or vegetables, making it adaptable to personal preferences and pantry contents.

Ingredients for Ina Garten’s Breakfast Quiche

• Pie Crust: Buttery base for the quiche, provides a crisp and flaky foundation.

• Eggs: Key protein source that binds the quiche filling together, fresh eggs work best.
• Half-and-Half: Creates a creamy and rich texture for the quiche base.
• Country Ham: Adds savory and salty flavor, choose a high-quality, well-seasoned ham.
• Gouda Cheese: Provides a smooth, slightly nutty flavor and melts beautifully.
• Potatoes: Adds texture and substance to the quiche, slice thinly for even cooking.

• Green Onion: Adds fresh, mild onion flavor and bright color to the dish.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances overall seasoning and balances the flavors.
• Black Pepper: Provides a subtle heat and depth to the quiche filling.

• Vegetable Oil: Used for cooking ham and potatoes, helps prevent sticking and adds subtle flavor.
• Dried Beans: Serves as pie weights during blind baking to prevent crust from puffing up.
• Parchment Paper: Helps with even baking and prevents sticking during blind baking process.

Step-by-Step Guide to Ina Garten’s Breakfast Quiche

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Preheat the oven to 350°F, creating the perfect temperature for a delicious quiche. This ensures even heating and helps achieve a perfectly cooked dish.

Step 2: Crisp the Ham

Heat vegetable oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add diced country ham and cook, stirring occasionally, until the ham turns golden brown and becomes slightly crispy.

Step 3: Soften the Potatoes

Slice potatoes and place them in a small saucepan. Cover with vegetable oil and cook on low heat until the oil bubbles and potatoes become tender. Carefully drain and set aside for later use.

Step 4: Prepare the Crust

Line a 9-inch pie pan with the pie crust. Use a fork to prick the crust several times to prevent air bubbles. Cover with parchment paper and fill with dried beans as pie weights. Blind bake for 10 minutes, then remove beans and parchment.

• Pie crust
• Dried beans
• Parchment paper

Step 5: Create the Egg Mixture

• Beaten eggs
• Half-and-half
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper

Blend until smooth, ensuring no streaks of yolk or white remain.

Step 6: Layer and Assemble

• Cooked potatoes
• Browned ham
• 1/2 of the grated gouda cheese

Pour the egg mixture evenly over the ingredients. Top with remaining gouda and chopped green onions.

Step 7: Bake to Perfection

Place the quiche on the bottom oven rack and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Look for a just-set center and golden top. Allow the quiche to cool for 10 minutes before slicing, which helps the filling set and makes cutting easier.

Ina Garten Breakfast Quiche Recipe

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4.6 from 39 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Mediterranean-inspired quiche delivers a symphony of flavors from France’s culinary heartland. Rich eggs, buttery pastry, and herbed vegetables create a luxurious morning experience you’ll savor with each delightful bite.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup grated aged gouda
• ½ cup diced country ham
• 3 new potatoes, sliced ¼-inch thick (about 1 ½ cups)
• 1 homemade or store-bought 9-inch pie crust
• 1 green onion, chopped

Dairy and Liquid Ingredients:

• ¾ cup half-and-half
• Vegetable oil (for poaching and sautéing)

Seasonings:

• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• Pinch kosher salt
• 2 to 3 cups dried beans (for pie weights)

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Instructions

1. Prepare the oven by heating it to 350°F (177°C), ensuring an even temperature for optimal baking.
2. Sauté diced country ham in a medium skillet with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil over medium heat until it turns golden and develops a crispy texture.
3. Gently cook sliced potatoes in vegetable oil over low heat until they become tender and easily pierced with a fork. Carefully drain and set aside.
4. Carefully line a 9-inch pie pan with the pie crust, using a fork to create small perforations across the surface to prevent air bubbles.
5. Implement blind baking technique by covering the crust with parchment paper and filling with dried beans as pie weights. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove beans and parchment carefully.
6. Create the custard base by whisking eggs, half-and-half, kosher salt, and black pepper in a medium bowl until the mixture becomes completely smooth and uniform.
7. Construct the quiche layers by spreading cooked potatoes across the pre-baked crust, followed by browned ham and half of the grated gouda cheese.
8. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the layered ingredients, ensuring complete coverage of the ham and potatoes.
9. Garnish the top with remaining gouda cheese and chopped green onions for added flavor and visual appeal.
10. Bake the quiche on the bottom oven rack for 35 to 40 minutes, watching for a golden top and a center that is just set but not liquid.
11. Allow the quiche to rest for 10 minutes after removing from the oven, which helps the filling stabilize and makes slicing easier.

Notes

• Streamline morning preparation by chopping ingredients and blind baking the crust the night before, ensuring a stress-free cooking experience.
• Discover the magic of resting the quiche for 10 minutes after baking, allowing the custard to set perfectly and creating clean, beautiful slices.
• Transform this dish from simple breakfast to stunning brunch centerpiece by garnishing with fresh green onions that add a vibrant, zesty punch.
• Explore the rich flavor journey created by country ham’s smoky essence and gouda’s nutty complexity, elevating the quiche beyond ordinary egg dishes.
• Embrace the versatility of this recipe by swapping cheeses while maintaining a creamy, meltable texture that complements the hearty potato and ham base.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Lunch
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 400 kcal
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 12 g
• Cholesterol: 210 mg