"Cook Yourself Thin" is a diet plan based on the Lifetime reality series by the same name. The television show prompted the "Think Yourself Thin" cookbook, which features methods to transform calorie-laden recipes into low-calorie fare with nutritious ingredients. While the grated potato crust and low-fat dairy substitutions of the "Cook Yourself Thin" Mushroom and Spinach Quiche significantly reduce the calorie count of a traditional quiche, with a few cooking modifications and additional seasonings, you can produce a more flavorful quiche without added calories.
Step 1
Spray the pie plate with olive oil cooking spray.
Step 2
Wash the potatoes under cold running water and dry well with a clean kitchen towel.
Step 3
Cut the potatoes into very thin slices with a mandolin or food processor.
Step 4
Arrange an even layer of the potato slices in concentric circles on the bottom and sides of the pie plate. Spray lightly with cooking spray.
Step 5
Bake the potato crust in a preheated 425 degrees Fahrenheit oven for 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are a light golden brown.
Step 6
Remove the crust from the oven and lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 7
Whisk together the three eggs, milk, basil, thyme, cayenne pepper and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
Step 8
Sauté the chopped onion in 1 tsp. olive oil until the onions are translucent. Remove the onions from the frying pan and layer in the bottom of the pie shell.
Step 9
Heat the second teaspoon of olive oil in the same pan and sauté the mushrooms until they are browned and their released moisture has evaporated. Remove from the pan and spread evenly on top of the onion layer.
Step 10
Add the baby spinach to the skillet and stir with 1 tbsp. of water for approximately one minute, or just long enough to wilt the leaves. Allow the spinach to cool, and layer the leaves on top of the mushrooms.
Step 11
Pour the egg mixture over the layered vegetables and top with the grated cheese.
Step 12
Sprinkle the quiche with red pepper flakes and bake on the center shelf of the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until the center is firm when pricked with a toothpick.
Tips and Warnings
- For a richer quiche, you can substitute the skim milk with 1 cup of no-fat evaporated milk, for an additional 100 calories.
Things You'll Need
- Medium-sized skillet
- Medium-sized mixing bowl
- 9-inch oven-proof pie plate
- Olive oil cooking spray
- 1 ½ Yukon Gold potatoes
- 2 tsp. olive oil
- ½ tsp. kosher salt
- ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 8 oz. Portobello mushrooms
- 5-oz. bag of triple-washed baby spinach
- 3 large pastured eggs
- 2 tsp. dried basil
- 1 tsp. dried thyme
- ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
- Red pepper flakes
- 1 cup of skin milk
- 2 oz. grated Pecorino or Parmesan cheese
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