Asparagus Quiche

Ingredients

For the crust
• 230 g / 8 ¼ oz (about 1 ¾ cups) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 stick (113 g / 4 oz) unsalted cold butter, cut into ½ inch pieces
• 4 tablespoons (60 ml) ice water
• ¼ teaspoon fine salt
For the filling
• 200 g / 7 oz green asparagus (about 10 stalks), washed and bottoms trimmed
• 200 g / 7 oz sour cream (regular or light)
• 3 large eggs
• 1/8 teaspoon fine salt (more, if you don’t use salty cheese like feta)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs (oregano, thyme, parsley), or 2 teaspoons basil pesto
• 55 g / 2 oz (about ½ cup) crumbled feta cheese

Instructions

For the crust (food processor or by hand)
1. Food processor: Process flour, salt and chilled butter cubes in a food processor until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl, and then add the ice cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time. Use a spoon to incorporate the liquid, until the pastry just comes together. To avoid overmixing, don’t do the adding water-part in a food processor. In case the dough doesn’t come together, add 1 additional tablespoon water.
2. If you are a purist and want to do everything by hand: Put flour and salt in a large bowl. Using a knife, a pastry cutter or your fingers, work in the butter into the mixture until it resembles coarse meal. Add the ice water until the dough comes together.
3. Turn pastry onto a lightly floured surface and knead for a few seconds until the ingredients form a ball.
4. Shape the dough into a 7-inch disc; wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour before rolling. Meanwhile prepare the filling.
For the filling
5. Cut the asparagus stalks into 1 ½ inch long pieces (discard woodier ends). Cook the thicker pieces in lightly salted water for 5 minutes – or steam them until tender but still firm, about 5 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water and set aside on a kitchen towel. You do not need to precook the tips and thinner pieces as they will soften in the oven.
6. With a hand wisk, beat the sour cream until smooth. Stir in 2 eggs and salt.
7. Separate the egg yolk and white from the 3rd egg in 2 separate mugs/small bowls. Keep about 2 teaspoons, each of the yolk and the egg white, and add the rest to the sour cream-mixture (you will need it later for brushing).
8. Add most of the herbs and the feta to the filling and stir until combined - keep a tiny amount of feta and herbs to sprinkle on top.
9. Roll out the cool crust between two sheets of wax paper to prevent it sticking to the counter. The dough should be 2 inch larger than the bottom of your pie-pan. If you are rolling the dough between wax paper, you will not have to add any additional flour, nor will you have to flip it. You can also drape it over a pie pan much more easily. Don’t forget to preheat the oven.
10. Place the crust in the pan and brush it with egg white (prevents soaking). Place the chopped and pre-cooked asparagus (about half the amount of all pieces) into pie shell.
11. Carefully pour in the filling, place the remaining asparagus (tips and thinner pieces) atop and sprinkle with some feta and herbs you set aside earlier.
12. Fold down the edge like a shirt collar, so the edge is placed between the pie pan and the dough and carefully press the dough against the sides of the pan. There should be about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick rim of crust, as the filling may rise slightly during baking.
13. Brush the crust with the remaining egg yolk for a nice color. Bake the Quiche at 375 °F for about 40 minutes in the center rack of the preheated oven. When the curst turns golden, remove Quiche from the oven and let rest for 5-10 minutes to settle, then cut and serve with green salad.