Description
Delight your holiday guests with these festive Christmas Tree Mini Quiches, featuring fluffy potato cups filled with creamy eggs, topped with vibrant Romanesco broccoli florets and fresh goat cheese. This easy and healthy appetizer combines a crispy potato base with soft egg filling, perfect for your holiday table or any special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Potato Cups
- 700 grams (1.5 lb) peeled starchy potato
- 3 tablespoons flour (use chickpea flour for gluten-free option)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Quiche Filling
- 6 eggs
- 2 tablespoons milk (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 100 grams (3.5 oz) fresh goat cheese
Christmas Tree Decoration
- 1 Romanesco broccoli
- Few grains of pomegranate
Instructions
- Prepare Potato Cups: Peel and finely grate the potatoes using a fine hole mandolin or cheese grater. Place the grated potatoes in a clean towel and squeeze out all excess moisture. In a bowl, mix the grated potato with flour, olive oil, salt, and pepper until well combined. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom and up the sides of greased or silicone muffin trays to form cup shapes. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for 15 minutes to set.
- Cook Romanesco Broccoli Florets: While the potato cups bake, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cut the Romanesco broccoli into small florets resembling pine trees. Add the florets to the boiling water and cook for about 2 minutes or until tender but still crisp. Drain and immediately transfer them to ice-cold water to preserve their bright green color. Set aside for decoration.
- Prepare Egg Filling: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk (if using), salt, and pepper until smooth. Fill each partially baked potato cup halfway with the egg mixture. Return the tray to the oven and bake at 180°C (350°F) for another 15 minutes.
- Add Goat Cheese: Two minutes before the eggs finish baking, sprinkle shredded goat cheese evenly on top of each quiche. This allows the cheese to melt nicely without overcooking.
- Assemble Christmas Trees: Once out of the oven, let the mini quiches cool for 2 minutes, then carefully remove them from the muffin tray. To create the Christmas tree decoration, insert a toothpick into the bottom of each Romanesco broccoli floret with the tip protruding. Place a single grain of pomegranate on the tip to mimic a festive tree topper.
- Serve: Place the decorated Romanesco florets atop the mini quiches and serve warm. Enjoy these charming, flavorful appetizers that are sure to impress your guests!
Notes
- This recipe is naturally gluten-free if chickpea flour is used instead of regular flour.
- For a richer filling, you can add a splash of cream instead of milk.
- The Romanesco broccoli florets add a fresh, slightly crunchy texture as well as a beautiful festive look.
- Allow the mini quiches to cool slightly before removing from the muffin tin to maintain their shape.
- These mini quiches can be prepared ahead and reheated gently before serving.
- The goat cheese can be substituted with feta or another crumbly cheese if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mini quiche
- Calories: 140 kcal
- Sugar: 1.5 g
- Sodium: 140 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
