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While growing up, my mom made one particular protein and veggie-packed dish that always left my brothers and I fighting for the last piece. Just one serving satisfies protein and veggie requirements for an entire meal! After 30 years, I am still impressed with this dish and amazed that my mom could make veggies taste so good! I have shared this recipe with many friends and clients over the past 10+ years. They have all loved it and now they make it for me!

Even better news: It’s so easy to make and you can easily make it into a vegetarian dish by removing the ham and adding steamed or stir-fried veggies (my favorites include: broccoli, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, and tomatoes (sun-dried are also good). You can make it lactose-free by removing the cheese and milk. Last, you can make it pork-free by substituting turkey bacon (make sure to slice and stir-fry the bacon before adding it).

This dish is versatile! As long as you have the eggs, spinach, and basil, you can add and subtract the remaining ingredients without going wrong! This quiche only takes 15 minutes to prep and 45 minutes to bake. It tastes great hot or cold and is great for breakfast, lunch, OR dinner! 1 dish makes 6+ servings and provides you with leftovers to pack for your busy work-week. Best of all, the ingredients can be purchased just about anywhere for $15-20!

Standard Ingredients (Serves 6-8)

• 2 bags of frozen spinach, partially thawed & drained (16 servings of spinach)
• 8-16 oz cooked deli ham, sliced thin (I prefer low-sodium ham by Black Forrest: Available at Trader Joe’s)
• 1 whole egg
• 4-5 egg whites
• 1 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese. I prefer the Lite Shredded 3 Cheese Blend. Available at Trader Joe’s (Optional)
• 4 oz fresh basil, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
• ¼ cup fat-free milk (Optional)

Method

•  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat 9×13 inch glass baking dish with non-fat coconut oil cooking spray and set aside. Dish size isn’t important as long as the raw ingredients remain 1.5 inches high at most in dish (cooking time might vary as a result of dish size).
• In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well with hands.
• Transfer mixture into baking dish and flatten surface with fork. Bake 35-50 minutes.
• Place a fork or toothpick in the center of dish after 35 minutes of cooking. When the fork or toothpick comes out clean, then the quiche is done.
• Allow dish to cool for 10-20 minutes before cutting
• ENJOY!

Stay fit, stay happy, stay healthy, and stay lean!!!