Pumpkin quiche

1 h
Pumpkin quiche

This pumpkin quiche is a love letter to the warm, comforting flavours of autumn. It features roasted Hokkaido pumpkin and white cheese encased in a crisp, tender pastry. With fresh spinach and a lightly spiced egg mixture, you can enjoy this quiche for a cosy brunch, a soothing lunch, or a delicious dinner. Strap on your apron, and let us get right into it.

Ingredients

Quiche dough

60 g Graham flour
120 g Wheat flour
½ tsp Coarse salt
100 g Cold butter
2 tbsp Water

Filling

500 g Hokkaido pumpkins
1 tsp Sweet paprika
1 tsp Cumin
1 tbsp Olive oil
Salt
Freshly ground pepper
400 g Frozen spinach
150 g White cheese

Egg mixture

4 Eggs
100 g Cream cheese
100 g Creme fraiche
A pinch of freshly grated nutmeg (optional)
1 tsp Salt
Freshly ground pepper

Instructions

Quiche dough

  • Preheat the oven to 200 °C (conventional oven).
  • Put graham flour, wheat flour, and salt in a bowl.
  • Cut butter into small cubes and crumble it into the flour with your fingers.
  • Add water and use your hands to bring the dough together. The dough should be firm but crumbly.
  • Press the dough into a tart tin (around 24 cm in diameter) and up the sides.
  • Pre-bake the base in the oven for approximately 12 minutes.

Filling

  • Preheat the oven to 180 °C (fan-assisted).
  • Halve the pumpkin and remove the seeds. Cut into 1x1 cm cubes.
  • Place the cubes in an ovenproof dish, drizzle with olive oil and season with paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
  • Bake in the oven for approximately 20 minutes.
  • Squeeze the excess water out of the defrosted spinach and spread the spinach over the bottom of the pre-baked tart.
  • Spread the white cheese and baked pumpkin on top.

Egg mixture

  • Whisk eggs, cream cheese, crème fraiche, nutmeg, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
  • Pour the egg mixture over the filling in the tart.
  • Bake the tart in the oven for 35–40 minutes, until it is firm and lightly golden.
  • Let the tart rest for 10 minutes before serving, and enjoy!
Enjoy!

Whisking the eggs, cream cheese, and crème fraiche thoroughly creates a smooth, creamy filling for your pumpkin quiche. To avoid lumps, make sure the cream cheese and crème fraiche are at room temperature. Whisk vigorously until the mixture is uniform in colour, with no streaks of yolk or white visible. If you are using an electric mixer, set it to medium-high speed to incorporate air and get a lighter texture. Adding salt, pepper, and nutmeg at this stage helps distribute the seasoning evenly. Properly beaten eggs trap air, resulting in a filling that sets gently and produces a creamy, sliceable quiche.

Squeezing water from spinach before using it in pumpkin quiche is vital to prevent a soggy bottom. Once spinach thaws, especially frozen spinach, it releases a lot of water. If you do not remove this water, the quiche base becomes wet, affecting its crispness, and the egg mixture will not set properly, making it runny. Additionally, too much water can weaken and mellow the flavours, and no one wants that.

FAQ: Questions about pumpkin quiche

Making a quiche is a true art form, but it is not impossible to master with this recipe. To help you along, we have answered some of the most pressing questions about this pumpkin quiche.

Do you need to roast the pumpkin first?

Yes, you need to roast the pumpkin before using it in pumpkin quiche. Roasting Hokkaido before adding it to the quiche makes it tender and sweeter. Raw pumpkin will not cook thoroughly, which gives you a less appealing texture. By roasting it for about 20 minutes, you improve the texture and taste of your quiche.

How do I know when my quiche is done baking?

You know the pumpkin quiche is done baking when you gently shake the tin and the edges feel firm, while the centre should have a slight jiggle. Not a watery jiggle, mind you. Insert a knife or toothpick near the centre; it should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. For a precise test, use a food thermometer to check that the centre is at least 71 °C, which tends to be the sweet spot. The top of the quiche should be lightly golden and slightly puffed without any wet spots.

How do I store and freeze pumpkin quiche?

First, let the pumpkin quiche cool at room temperature for up to 2 hours after baking before storing it. Once cooled, cover it tightly with foil, cling film, or place it in an airtight container and refrigerate. The quiche stays fresh for up to 3 days. For longer storage, freeze the quiche for up to 3 months. Wrap it in foil and place it in an airtight container or freezer bag to prevent freezer burn and preserve the flavour. When ready, thaw the quiche overnight in the fridge and reheat it covered with foil in an oven at 160 °C until heated through. Alternatively, reheat individual slices in the microwave. You can also enjoy pumpkin quiche cold, straight from the fridge if you prefer.

Nutritional values

Nutritional value, per

2808 Kcal

Fibre 29.1 gram fibers
Protein 84.8 gram
Fat 205.9 gram
Carbohydrates 158.2 gram

Recommended information

Serving suggestion

Summer salad
30 min
Summer salad
(0)

Bake a beautiful autumn pumpkin quiche

We all have favourite dishes that perfectly embody autumn. This pumpkin quiche celebrates the season with an impressive quality in every part of its creation. It looks stunning and tastes even better. Though it requires a bit of baking, the result is a family gathering meal that enhances the cosy atmosphere of this time of year.

Discover more seasonal comfort dishes. Our butternut squash risotto combines tender squash, creamy rice, and Parmesan for a truly indulgent bowl, while the butternut squash lasagne layers silky pumpkin béchamel with earthy mushrooms and melted cheese for a stunning autumn twist on a classic. Also, try the stuffed butternut squash for a vibrant, flavourful main.

A homemade buttery crust

This crust is everything you want: flaky, buttery, and strong enough to hold all that creamy filling without losing its crunch. It is made from graham and wheat flour for a subtle nutty undertone, while the butter provides its signature rich flavour. Any quiche aficionado out there knows just how important the crust is, but we guarantee a tender crumb and a golden-brown finish that delivers pure pumpkin goodness, slice after slice.

Creamy filling with spiced pumpkin, spinach, and cheese

Roasting the pumpkin provides an instant way to extract even more of its natural sweetness by allowing the oven heat to caramelise its edges. The great thing is that the filling never becomes overly sweet or rich because of the seasonings. Spices like paprika and cumin keep everything balanced, imparting warm, smoky notes to the sweet pumpkin.

Part of the pleasure of a well-made quiche lies in how harmoniously the ingredients combine. Magic happens when the tender pumpkin meets the creamy cheese, spinach, and egg filling. The earthy spinach and the salty tang of white cheese balance both the richness and sweetness. The creaminess comes from cream cheese and crème fraiche, providing an irresistible texture to the filling.

Brunch, lunch, or dinner — whenever you want

Brunch with friends? Quick weekday lunch? Cosy dinner for two? Just set the time and place, and let the pumpkin quiche work its wonders. 

Picture a lazy weekend brunch with family or friends. The table is set with steaming coffee, fresh fruit, maybe some pancakes, and this quiche as the centrepiece. Made to be rich, sweet, and wholeheartedly wholesome, what better way to enjoy it than in the comfort of your close ones?

Pair generous slices with a platter of roasted vegetables and a basket of artisanal bread for a relaxed, refined spread at lunch. Elevate it into a dinner party dish with a side of garlic green beans, a simple tomato salad, and perhaps a charcuterie starter for an elegant, autumnal table.

Put your own twist on it

This pumpkin quiche is an ideal base for a bit of culinary experimentation. Consider adding sautéed mushrooms that offer deep, earthy flavours or caramelised onions for a mellow taste. For a splash of colour and a sweet, smoky contrast, roasted red peppers work wonderfully alongside the pumpkin and tangy cheese.

Replace the white cheese with something bolder, like creamy goat cheese for tang, Gruyère for a nutty flavour, or mature cheddar for depth and bite. You can even blend two varieties for extra flavour in every forkful.

Opposite the creamy element is the crunch, which means toasted walnuts or pecans on top are a great choice, while crispy bacon bits pair beautifully with their savoury taste.

https://www.arlafoods.co.uk/recipes/pumpkin-quiche/