A hearty wholesome vegetarian quiche is one of my favourites for lunch or light supper. There are so many versions out there but not so many offer the delicious flavour of a nutty buckwheat pastry base. My take on the filling is with added goats cheese strewn across the top and sprinkled with thyme. The flavour is perfectly delicious and nutritious ....
Ingredients
100 g unsalted butter , plus extra for greasing
200 g buckwheat plain flour
1 small onion finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic , peeled
2 medium leeks , trimmed chopped
olive oil
½ a bunch of fresh thyme
100 g spinach
45 g Goats cheese
3 large free-range eggs
3 tablespoons crème fraîche
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
Method
Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4. Grease a 22cm loose-bottomed tart tin with a little butter, then set side.
Sieve the flour into a large bowl, then rub in the butter with the tips of your fingers until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add 6 tablespoons of cold water, stirring with a knife until it forms a rough dough. Use your hands to bring it together into a ball, then wrap in cling film and pop in the fridge for around 30 minutes to rest.
Meanwhile, make the filling. Finely chop onion, garlic and leeks. Add the garlic to a large pan with a splash of olive oil over a medium heat. Pick in the thyme leaves and cook for around 2 minutes, or until lightly golden, stirring occasionally. Stir in the leeks, turn the heat down to medium–low and cover. Cook for a further 20 minutes, or until softened, adding the spinach for the final minute to wilt. Take off heat. In separate bowl lightly beat eggs then add the crème fraîche and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir well, then set aside.
On a flour-dusted surface, roll out the dough to roughly ½cm thick. Carefully place into the tart tin and push it into the sides (don’t worry if it breaks – patch up any holes with spare pastry). Trim and discard the excess. Place a double layer of baking parchment on top and fill the tin with baking beans or uncooked rice. Place the tin on a baking tray, then pop in the hot oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until lightly golden. Remove the beans and paper, then return to the oven for a further 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden.
Pour the filling into the baked pastry case and dot over the goats cheeses in little pieces cover the filling, then return to the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the filling is almost set.
Leave to cool slightly, then carefully remove the tart tin and serve alongside a crisp, healthy green salad.