Asparagus Quiche

This asparagus quiche recipe highlights spring’s favorite vegetable with Dijon mustard and fresh herbs. To keep it on the healthier side, I swapped heavy cream with milk and used nutty whole wheat flour in the crust.

Asparagus quiche is an exceptional dish in that it transcends time. It works just as well for brunch on a special morning as it does for a light dinner or weekday lunch. In addition to tasting delicious, quiche is easy to pair with something light like this Summer Berry Salad or Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad. Or, serve with something more substantial like Crispy Roasted Potatoes. 

When developing this recipe, I knew I wanted to showcase the best of spring and summer flavors while supporting my health and well being with nutritious ingredients. To do this, I briefly saute fresh asparagus with onions and garlic, then enhance the egg filling with pungent Dijon mustard and Asiago cheese for a savory and exciting flavor combination. While a fragrant smattering of fresh herbs, like thyme or tarragon brings freshness.

To wrap things up, I then bake all of those beautiful ingredients in a whole wheat crust, which lends an earthy slightly nutty flavor that enhances the entire dish. When thinking about Mother’s Day, Easter or just a simple brunch, quiche is always at the top of my list.

Asparagus Quiche to Celebrate Spring

In my family, we serve quiche on special occasions. I have fond memories of all kinds of wonderful quiches, from family brunches to coastal cafés with scratched marble tables, filled with everything from spinach and tomatoes to locally-caught lobster. 

When I lived in Spain, the arrival of spring was marked by asparagus popping up on menus everywhere. It took center stage at the vegetable stalls in the markets, which is why asparagus quiche is an all time favorite recipe for me especially in the spring when the tender green stalks are at their best.

There’s a frenzied rush to celebrate asparagus before its season ends. During these fleeting, magical months, my favorite combination was always asparagus with eggs. Revuelto (Spanish scrambled eggs), Spanish tortilla, or quiche are some of my go-tos.

This asparagus quiche is unlike your typical, overly heavy quiche loaded with a butter-filled crust, heavy cream and other weighty ingredients like bacon. Early on my career, the first chef I worked for taught me that food doesn’t need to be heavy with fat to taste good. Simultaneously, a lighter take on a classic should never compromise on flavor. 

With those ideals in mind, this healthier version of asparagus quiche expertly balances sweet, sharp, and savory flavors without feeling heavy. It may make richer quiches seem almost one-note! 

What is Quiche?

Quiche is a French tart made with a savory egg custard baked in a pastry crust. It can be plain, or filled with vegetables, cheese, meat, or seafood. 

With a few swaps—like extra virgin olive oil for butter, milk for cream and whole wheat flour for some of the all purpose flour—it’s easy to make a healthy quiche that’s just as delicious as it is wholesome. 

Ingredients Needed to Make Quiche

You can easily find everything you need to make this asparagus quiche recipe at the grocery store. If you’re lucky enough to have a farmers market nearby pick up some freshly-picked asparagus from your favorite farmer.

• Whole wheat flour: I love robust and nutty whole wheat flour, whether I’m making quiche or pizza dough. It provides not only a nutritious boost but a flavorful one too.
• All-purpose flour: A small amount of all–purpose flour prevents the whole wheat dough from being too brittle.
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper: Elevates the flavors of the other ingredients. You can also substitute with coarse sea salt or Himalayan pink salt if desired.
• Extra virgin olive oil: Piquant extra virgin olive oil, like our Nocellara Italian EVOO, is used in the crust in place of butter. Just like butter, olive oil makes a flaky crust and is a harmonious partner to whole-grain flour.
• Onion: Yellow or white onion provides a sweet flavor base for the vegetables.
• Asparagus: A taste of spring, green asparagus is earthy and grassy. Break off the tough ends with a satisfying snap, then cut them into 1-inch pieces.
• Garlic: Garlic and asparagus share savory flavor compounds (Also, it’s no secret that garlic tastes good in almost everything).
• Eggs: Eggs are a high-quality protein with several important vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B and selenium.
• Reduced fat milk: Feel free to use whole milk for a richer quiche, or fat-free milk for a lighter one. I chose 2 percent reduced-fat milk for a balance of nutrition and flavor.
• Asiago cheese: Asiago cheese has less fat than most cheeses. More importantly, though, it has a sweet, nutty flavor that works well with asparagus. You can also substitute Fontina, Gruyère, Cheddar, or Swiss.
• Dijon mustard: Mustard seed has been used in the Mediterranean for thousands of years. Dijon is complex, sharp, and imparts a lot of flavor to the custard.
• Fresh thyme or tarragon: Floral thyme or lightly licorice-flavored tarragon are natural partners to asparagus and eggs.
• Pie weights or dried beans: Used to weigh down the crust as it bakes. The weight prevents the dough from puffing or shrinking. If you don’t have pie weights, you can use rice, or break into your penny collection. 

How to Pick the Freshest Asparagus: Tips & Tricks 

Peak asparagus season in the Northern Hemisphere is typically spring, from April to early June. The asparagus becomes sweet, tender, and full of flavor. Here are a few indicators of the freshest asparagus to look out for at your grocery store or farmers market. 

• Stalk size: Small to medium-sized stalks are easy to find at the grocery store. They’ll cook more quickly than the thicker spears you might find at your local farmers market. The size of an asparagus stalk depends mostly on age, nutrition, and when stalks are harvested. Both thick or thin stalks are great in this recipe. If your spears are on the thicker side, cut them in half horizontally before sauteing them. Both thick and thin spears can be woody so it’s best to check and snap or trim the ends.  
• The bend and snap: Check to see that the stalks are firm and threaten to snap when you bend them. Make sure none of the tips are slimy, which is an indication that the asparagus is past its prime.
• Store asparagus properly: If you’re buying the asparagus a few days ahead of cooking, trim the ends. Store in the fridge, standing in a glass with an inch or two of water like you would with flowers.

How to Make Asparagus Quiche

If you’re planning to make a serve the quiche all in one day, plan on starting this recipe about 2 1/2 to 3 hours before you plan to serve it.

However, if you’re partial to making recipes in stages, prepare the crust a day or two ahead of time. Then wrap it tightly in plastic and store it in the refrigerator. Finally, if you just want to make the whole thing the night before go for it. Just warm it up in a 350°F oven for about 15 minutes before serving.

• Make the dough: Add the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, and salt into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse a few times to mix. Next, pour in the olive oil and pulse until it’s evenly distributed. Add the water and pulse until the mixture begins to clump and is evenly moistened. 
• Knead and shape the dough: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Gently knead by hand until the dough comes together into a ball. Press the dough into a disk, about 1-inch thick. Wrap the disk in plastic and let it rest at room temperature for 1 hour. This resting period gives the flour time to hydrate and the gluten to relax.
• Get ready to bake: Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375°F. Dust your countertop lightly with flour. Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough to an 11-inch circle, about 1/8-inch thick. 
• Transfer the dough: Carefully transfer the dough into a 9-inch pie dish. Roll the dough around the rolling pin and unroll it it into the pie plate. Gently press in the dough to line the pie dish. Roll and fold the overhang of dough to build up the edges. Trim excess dough as you work around the circumference of the pie dish. Use your fingers or a fork to crimp the edges, or leave them be for a more rustic finish.
• Blind bake the crust: Cover the crust with parchment paper. Then fill with pie weights or dried beans and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the parchment and pie weights then return the pie crust to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Tip: This is called parbaking, and a parbaked crust can be made ahead. Cool and store in an airtight or in a zip-top bag at room temperature for up to 3 days.
• Cook the vegetables: In a large nonstick skillet set over medium heat, add the oil. Add the sliced onions and cook, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until translucent and softened, about 5 min. Add the asparagus and cook until tender and bright green, another 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Remove from the heat and slide the vegetables into the blind-baked crust. Top with the grated cheese.
• Prepare the custard: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, Dijon mustard, and herbs (if using). Once fully combined, pour the egg mixture into the crust, stopping 1/4-inch from the top. You may not use all of the egg mixture, depending on the depth of your pie pan.
• Bake and serve: You can either set the pie plate directly into your oven or put it on a baking sheet to help prevent spills, then transfer it to the oven. It’s up to you. Bake until the edges are set but the center still jiggles just a little, 30-35 minutes. Once set, remove the quiche from the oven and cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving. Serve warm, at room temperature, or cold.

Variations of Asparagus Quiche

This asparagus quiche recipe is easy to tailor to your taste and dietary needs. Simply swap the vegetables, crust, milk, or seasonings.

• Swap out the asparagus. Use another wholesome green vegetable, like spinach, broccoli, broccolini, or broccoli rabe to complement the flavors in this quiche. 
• Make it gluten-free. Use your favorite gluten-free pie crust recipe, or make it crustless. For a crustless quiche, grease the pie plate with a little olive oil to prevent sticking. Then, skip the crust and bake as written.
• Make it dairy-free. Use your favorite unflavored plant-based milk and leave out the cheese. 
• Save time with frozen pie crust. Nowadays there are plenty of frozen pie crusts to choose from that are whole grain or gluten-free. See the package instructions for whether and how to par-bake the crust.

How to Store Quiche

After cooling, cover the quiche and store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To make it ahead, bake it the day before and reheat at 350°F for 15 minutes, or until warmed through.

Leftover slices can be frozen for up to 1 month. Freeze fully cooled slices on a tray in a single layer for 2 to 3 hours. Once frozen solid, transfer the slices to a freezer-safe reusable container or freezer bag.

What to Serve with Asparagus Quiche

Serve asparagus quiche warm, room temperature, or cold. Add a side of crisp salad greens and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice for a light lunch. 

For a brunch spread, serve with Mashed Potato Pancakes, a bright and citrusy fruit salad and a pitcher of White or Red Wine Sangria. It’s always nice to have something sweet like blueberry muffins or this Healthy Carrot Cake to round out the meal.

More Brunch Recipes We Love

Greek

Spanakopita Recipe (Greek Spinach Pie)

Breakfast

Çılbır: Turkish Poached Eggs

Breakfast

Breakfast Strata (Baked Egg Casserole)

Breakfast

Easy Shakshuka Recipe

Browse all Mediterranean recipes.

Visit Our Shop.