Quidditch Pitch Quiche | Harry Potter Inspired Recipes
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What’s Up, Hungry Muggles
It’s officially time to return to the wizarding world, just like I do every year, to celebrate the universe, foods and fandom surrounding the Boy Who Lived.
So all aboard the Hogwarts Express as we hop on the train to Hogwarts to start another school year—and most importantly, head back to the Quidditch pitch.
If you haven’t watched all of the Harry Potter movies, be warned there are spoilers ahead—you’ve had more than enough time to catch up on the franchise, so jump to the recipe if you don’t want to read any potential plot line spoilers!
Gotta get back to HOGWARTS, Gotta get back to SCHoooooOOOOoooooL
Today we are back in the magical universe of Harry Potter, where we will be recreating recipes inspired by the book series and movies. I’ve been an avid Harry Potter fan since I was a kid—I am a book loyalist at heart, but the movies play on repeat in my soul.
Not surprisingly, my fandom has seeped over into my kitchen, which I transform into the Hogwarts kitchens every summer during the last week of July. This year, I am focusing on dishes that can be found at Hogwarts, whether they were specifically mentioned in the books or not.
This reimagining of the breakfast served in the Great Hall right before a Quidditch match includes a high-protein quiche to provide a (magical) boost just before the players hop on their broomsticks.
Harry was often too nervous to eat a substantial meal prior to any matches, and Hermione frequently had to remind both Harry and Ron to eat before their matches in the Order of the Phoenix.
It’s perhaps likely that a high-protein breakfast is the actual magic that unlocks Harry’s ability to see the tiny golden speck that is the Golden Snitch in the giant Quidditch pitch in the first place.
Thanks to the House Elves in the kitchens, I’d like to think that after the matches, a brunch would also be served for the students too lazy to wake up before the game—and it is equally as likely this quiche would have been served again to rouse the sleepy-eyed students.
Accio Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make a magical quiche.
- Pie crust: You can DIY or make use of Muggle inventions like pre-made pie crust (though keep in mind, the pre-made stuff may be more prone to shrinking up a bit in the pan!).
- Eggs & milk: Whisked together, the eggs are required for any quiche, but the milk helps keep the yolk suspended and adds fluffiness.
- Fresh spinach: Fresh is better than frozen in this recipe, as it will hold less liquid than a thawed block.
- Mixed color bell peppers: Pick peppers in orange, yellow, and red to represent the house colors at Hogwarts.
- Onions & garlic: Essential savory notes that bring out the magic in the quiche.
- Feta or goat cheese: Adds creamy bursts of cheese throughout the quiche (and the feta aspect helps it hold its shape!).
- Crumbled sausage: Pick your meat! For best results, use a pre-cooked meat like breakfast sausage crumbles or ham cubes.
The MAGIC You’ll Need for a PERFECT Quiche
To make a perfect quiche, there are a few different things to try for the most success. Practice makes perfect, Mr. Potter.
Bake the crust first
Called “blind baking” – this helps to ensure no soggy bottoms! First bake the crust for a few minutes in the pie pan to set the bottom layer of the crust to make it more liquid resistant. It’s also important to make sure the crust is chilled prior to baking to help prevent shrinkage. Then let the pre-baked crust cool completely before adding any filling.
Drain the Spinach
Professor Sprout would be proud of the vegetables coming out of the garden – especially the magical shrinking spinach plants! Sold in the Muggle world too, saute up a full bag of spinach and it will shrink down to the perfect amount to use in a quiche.
First, it’s important to use fresh spinach as it will hold less moisture than frozen-and-thawed spinach. It’s also important to use enough oil or butter to saute the spinach but not add excess liquid to it. It’s a fine line to follow – but if you’ve ever taken potions with Professor Spape, it will be a breeze.
Once the spinach is sauted down, I transferred it to a fine mesh strainer over a bowl and let the spinach drain for about 15 minutes. I used a paper towel every few minutes to press down on top of the spinach as it drained to help press out more liquid on the bottom while simulatenously soaking liquid into the paper towel. This method works pretty well to get the most liquid out of the spinach as possible.
Magical Mincing
Make your house smell amazing by chopping up onions, garlic and peppers. It’s important to dice these veggies into small, evenly sized pieces. I used a Muggle tool called an onion chopper to cheat a bit to get a uniform dice. It works perfectly even though it would perplex Arthur Weasley.
I also recommend using a pre-cooked, pre-crumbled breakfast meat like sausage or diced ham. If you are really feeling your inner Hermione and need to make this from scratch, by all means, do that. But this Muggle will absolutely take some questionable non-magical routes to achieve a dish that tastes like it was made with magic! There are usually pre-cooked options available near the bacon and sausage at most grocery stores I go to, so be sure to scope out what options are available near you.
Baking the Quiche
Undoubtedly the House Elves at Hogwarts can simply snap their fingers to prepare a magical feast such as this one. However, for us Muggles the method isn’t quite so simple. Our quiche will need to be baked – and slowly.
The quiche will puff up a tiny bit as it cooks and it will brown easily if not covered. I used a piece of aluminum foil and lightly tented it over my quiche before popping it into the preheated oven. We will need to bake it long enough so that the quiche is set in the middle but not start to dry out.
I started my bake time at 40 minutes at 350°F and it worked like a charm for a perfectly set center and golden brown crust. Then it does need to cool for at least 30 minutes prior to cutting into it.
In fact, it is almost better to make and bake the quiche a day ahead of time and then reheat and serve for the best results – although I know I personally can’t wait that long so I definitely say dig in when you can!
These quiche leftovers are just as good, if not better, than when it is served up fresh.
Tips for a Magical Quiche
- Blind Baking the Crust: This step is crucial to prevent a soggy bottom. Make sure to chill the crust before baking to avoid shrinkage.
- Draining Spinach: Fresh spinach is best as it contains less water than frozen. Press out as much moisture as possible to avoid a watery quiche.
- Tent with Foil: Tenting the quiche with foil prevents it from over-browning. Remove the foil in the last 10 minutes if you want a golden top.
- Cooling Before Serving: Letting the quiche cool for at least 30 minutes helps it set properly and makes slicing easier.
- Making Ahead: Quiches can be made a day in advance. Reheat gently before serving for an easy breakfast or brunch.
Common Quiche Questions
- Why is my quiche soggy?
- A soggy quiche often happens if the crust wasn’t blind-baked or if the spinach wasn’t drained properly. Make sure to follow these steps carefully.
- Can I use frozen spinach?
- Yes, but be sure to thaw and drain it thoroughly. Fresh spinach is preferred because it has less moisture.
- What other cheeses can I use?
- You can swap feta for goat cheese, cheddar, or even gruyère if you prefer a different taste.
- How long does the quiche last?
- Quiche can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. It’s just as good, if not better, reheated.
- Can I freeze the quiche?
- Yes, quiche freezes well. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and foil before freezing. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the oven.
Once we’re full up on quiche, we’ll stomp on down to the Quidditch pitch where we’ll meet up with fellow students to enjoy the match.
Which Quidditch teams do you route for? And what Harry Potter inspired recipes would you like to see magically brought to life in the future? Let me know in the comments below!
As the final crumbs of quiche are wiped from your plate, take a moment to savor the thought of how this dish could fuel even the most nerve-wracked Quidditch player. Whether you’re hosting a Harry Potter marathon or just need a hearty breakfast, this quiche brings a touch of Hogwarts to your table. It’s the kind of meal that Hermione would insist Harry and Ron eat before a big match—because let’s face it, you need more than a Felix Felicis potion to chase that Golden Snitch. So, grab a slice, kick back, and let your culinary magic transport you straight to the Great Hall. Just don’t forget to save a piece for Dobby!
Quidditch Pitch Quiche | Harry Potter Inspired Recipes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pie crust pre-made, unrolled
- 5 eggs whisked
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 5 oz fresh spinach
- ½ cup mixed color bell peppers minced
- ¼ cup onion diced
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1/4-1/2 cup crumbled sausage cooked
- 4 oz crumbled feta goat cheese
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Set out the pie dough at room temperature for 30 minutes to make it pliable. Lightly grease a round pan or pie pan. Unroll the pie crust and use a rolling pin to further flatten the pie crust. Press the pie crust on the bottom of the pan and up the sides to the edges of the pan. Use a fork to prick the bottom of the pie crust multiple times. Place the pie pan into the fridge and chill for 15 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Blind bake the pie crust for 8-10 minutes, until it is a pale golden color and lightly puffed up. Do not cook fully, or it will start pulling from the edges and shrinking in the pan.
- While the pie crust bakes, melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat until frothy. Add the spinach and sauté until wilted down to about a cup of spinach, about 5-8 minutes. Remove from the pan but do not clean the excess butter from the pan. Turn off the heat so the remaining butter doesn't burn.
- Transfer the cooked spinach to a mesh strainer over a bowl. Drain by lightly pressing down on top of the spinach with a paper towel. Use the paper towel to blot up excess moisture from the spinach. Continue to drain while sautéing the rest of the veggies.
- Turn the heat back on to medium-high and add the peppers and onion to the skillet. Sauté until the onion is tender, about 8-10 minutes. Then stir in the minced garlic and crumbled sausage.
- Continue to cook until the garlic is fragrant and the sausage has browned up, another 5 minutes or so. Add the spinach back to the skillet along with the red pepper flakes. Sauté until the rest of the moisture is evaporated, another 5 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and transfer the mix to a large bowl. Cool for 15 minutes, then stir in the feta cheese. Continue to cool until no longer steaming, about 15 more minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Tear off a sheet of foil large enough to cover the top of the pan with excess.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk until lightly frothy. Pour the liquid into the bowl with the peppers and sausage mix. Stir to combine, then pour the contents of the bowl into the pre-baked pie crust. The filling should come about 3/4 of the way up the sides of the pan.
- Lightly tent the foil over the quiche. Carefully transfer to the oven and bake for 40-50 minutes, until the center of the quiche is fully set and the edges of the crust are just starting to pull away from the sides of the pan.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 30 minutes prior to serving. Serve warm and enjoy before the Quidditch match with a full breakfast feast.
