CHICKEN AND SPINACH QUICHE WITH SMOKED GOUDA

Chicken and Spinach Quiche with Smoked Gouda image

This hearty egg dish has a tender homemade crust and is packed with shredded chicken, spinach and Gouda.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 3h

Yield 6-8

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more, for dusting
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, diced and kept very cold
4 teaspoons cider or white vinegar
1/3 cup ice water, plus more, if needed
1/2 cup thinly sliced shallots
1 cup shredded smoked Gouda
1/2 cup shredded cooked chicken
1/2 cup roughly chopped thawed frozen spinach, squeezed dry
1 1/4 cups half-and-half
3 large eggs
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

Put the flour, sugar and salt in a food processor fitted with a metal blade and pulse to combine. Add about a third of the chilled butter cubes and process until the butter is absorbed. Add the remaining butter and pulse until the butter is the size of peas, 5 or 6 pulses. Add the vinegar. Then, while pulsing quickly a few times, add the ice water through the tube. Squeeze some dough between your fingers; it should just hold its shape without feeling wet. If it is crumbly, add more ice water a tablespoon at a time. Pulse quickly; do not overwork the dough or the crust will be tough. Wrap the dough loosely in a large piece of plastic wrap, then firmly press and flatten it into a thin round. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
Lightly dust a work surface with flour, then roll the dough into an 11- to 12-inch round, about 1/8 inch thick. Center the dough in a 9-inch pie plate, with an even overhang all around. Fold the edges and flute or crimp. Chill for at least 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Press a piece of foil over the chilled crust, then fill with pie weights, raw beans or rice. Bake to set the crust, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil and weights and bake until the crust is light brown, 5 to 10 minutes more. Let cool slightly before adding the filling.
For the filling: Sprinkle the shallot evenly into the crust. Put the Gouda, chicken and spinach in a medium bowl and toss to combine. Sprinkle it in an even layer over the shallots.
Whisk together the half-and-half, eggs, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl.
Pour the custard over the filling. Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bake until set, 35 to 50 minutes. Let cool at least 30 minutes before serving warm or at room temperature.