Spring Asparagus Quiche

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• nonstick cooking spray
• 8 ounces asparagus spears, trimmed and halved crosswise
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 2 teaspoons dried basil, crushed
• 1 (10 ounce) package prepared pizza crust
• 3 slices bacon
• 1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
• 5 beaten eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 dash ground nutmeg
• 1 1/2 cups shredded swiss cheese (6 ounces)
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cooking oil
• shaved parmesan cheese (optional)

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 425 degrees f.
• 2 coat a 9-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
• 3 in a medium saucepan cook the asparagus, covered, in a small amount of boiling water for 2 minutes.
• 4 drain; set aside.
• 5 in a small bowl stir together the grated parmesan and basil.
• 6 sprinkle a work surface with half of the mixture.
• 7 roll out pizza dough on the surface to a 12-inch square.
• 8 sprinkle with remaining parmesan mixture.
• 9 using a rolling pin, gently press into dough by rolling over top.
• 10 turn dough into prepared pan.
• 11 press dough up the sides of the pan, folding under edges as needed to form sides that are 2 inches high.
• 12 line dough in pan with a double thickness of foil.
• 13 bake for 8 minutes.
• 14 remove foil.
• 15 bake 5 minutes more.
• 16 remove from oven.
• 17 reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees f.
• 18 meanwhile, in a small skillet cook bacon until crisp.
• 19 drain, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings.
• 20 crumble bacon; set aside.
• 21 cook onion in reserved drippings over medium heat until tender but not brown; drain.
• 22 in a medium mixing bowl stir together eggs, milk, salt, and nutmeg.
• 23 stir in crumbled bacon and onion.
• 24 toss together swiss cheese and flour.
• 25 add to egg mixture; mix well.
• 26 pour egg mixture into the dough-lined pan.
• 27 toss asparagus halves with the oil.
• 28 arrange asparagus in a spokeline pattern on top of egg mixture.
• 29 bake 35 to 40 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
• 30 let stand 10 minutes before serving.
• 31 remove sides of pan to serve.
• 32 top with shaved parmesan cheese, if desired.
• 33 makes 6 main-dish servings.