This Crustless Vegetable Quiche is easy to make and only 120 calories a slice! This is an easy breakfast quiche recipe that is perfect to make for any brunch or even for a weekday breakfast.
The left overs are great! This vegetarian no crust quiche recipe is great if you are looking eat lighter.
This week I’ve had a few friends casually talk to me about dealing with grief . . . or rather dealing with people who are dealing with grief. I’m always careful about what I say, because even though I have been through it and then through it some more, I don’t want to say the wrong things. But I feel like it would be almost negligent for me to say nothing.
The question beneath their casual talk is this: What do you do for someone who lost someone or is currently in the process of losing someone? The people who have talked to me recently are talking about THE BIG losses. Children. Spouses. The kinds of loses that are soul crushing. And I know that sounds dramatic, but when you are in it, that is exactly how it feels. Like your soul is crushed and you will never quite be the same.
And you won’t.
I tend to believe that the universe talks to you. Sends people your way who you need to learn something from. And maybe I’m taking it a step too far, but I feel like if I can possibly help one person by writing about this (even if it is paired with a crustless vegetable quiche recipe . . . . maybe especially if it is paired with a crustless vegetable quiche recipe) than I should write.
So this is my advice.
Bear witness.
And this isn’t actually my advice. This is the advice from my old therapist who got me through the death of my mom, through Elliot’s death, and the intensely difficult pregnancies that followed. She said that there is nothing you can actually do to help someone who is grieving. There are no cards that will make them feel better. No plants. No meals. Those things are wonderful, don’t get me wrong. But they won’t actually fix anything.
The greatest gift you can do for someone who is grieving is: Bear witness.
I think that can mean so many things. It can look like so many different things. But I think what it boils down to is allowing the person who is grieving to feel however they are going to feel in whatever moment they are going to feel it for as long as they are going to feel it while letting them know you love them and passing no judgement.
I am going to be brutally honest.
After Elliot died, there were people who did this beautifully. There were people who let us be exactly where we were at. Over and over and over. And there were people, some of the very people we thought would be there for us, who did the exact opposite. And that sucked.
You can’t make it better. Please don’t try. Bear witness.
And remember that the thickest part of the grief comes later. It comes six, nine months down the road. Maybe even years later for some people. It doesn’t mean they aren’t moving on. Grief is a debt that has to be paid (another great line from my great therapist) and people have to be allowed to pay it in their own time.
That’s it.
Woah. Super heavy for a brunch recipe, aye?
Thank you for forgiving me all this talk of grief, friends. It’s a huge piece of who I am and I don’t suspect this will be my last post like this.
Crustless Vegetable Quiche!
You guys, this quiche is so crazy good! And its made with loads of veggies, a little cheese, egg whites, a few eggs, and skim milk, so it’s only 120 calories a slice! I loooooove brunch recipes, but so many of them are totally loaded with calories. I love this lighter option that is still packed with flavor. Give me a slice of this and a cup of coffee and I am a happy happy girl.
Other Light Breakfast Ideas
If you are looking for other light breakfast ideas, try this quinoa breakfast recipe. If you need another easy breakfast, make these cheese and sausage egg muffins or another great quiche make my crustless spinach quiche.
Crustless Vegetable Quiche
Ingredients
- 1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 red pepper diced small
- 3 cups chopped broccoli florets
- 1/2 a yellow onion diced small
- 4 large eggs
- 4 egg whites
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tbsp oregano
- 1/2 tbsp basil
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a nine inch quiche dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Then add the garlic, peppers, broccoli, and onion. Cooking, stirring intermittently over medium heat until the vegetables are soft, about eight minutes.
- While the vegetables are cooking, whisk together the eggs and egg whites. Then whisk in the milk, salt, pepper, oregano, and basil. Stir in the mozzarella and feta cheese.
- Once the vegetables are cooked, pour them into the quiche dish. Pour the egg mixture over it, gently smoothing it out so it is all even. Put in the oven and bake for 40 minutes or until the edge of the quiche starts to pull away from the side. Let set for 10 minutes and then serve and enjoy!
Little Bit says
This recipe looks so good can hardly wait to try it. Would it work with all egg whites? I would also like to reply to your advice on grief, I had often not known what to say to people grieving over the loss of a loved one and there aren’t words to make it better because nothing you say or do will bring that person back. And people who have never suffered that kind of loss will never understand until they do. But those people do their best to comfort their friends who they can’t stand to see in such pain, so they grasp for anything they can to try to comfort you. I have suffered that loss twice now and it will never leave you. You can be driving down the road or walking through the mall and some simple random thing will bring you back to that loss. But remember this the grief will always be there because that person meant so much to you, that’s a measure of how amazing they were. How sad it is if there is no grief for someone when then pass. I always tell people grieving that there are no words I can say to make it better or comfort you but if you ever need me to listen I will always be here for you.
I haven’t tried this recipe with all egg whites, but suspect it will work. You will need roughly two egg whites for every one egg. And your words on grief are spot on. I am so so sorry for the losses you’ve endured.
Theresa says
I cannot tell you how much your article about grief meant to me. I am still in the process as I lost my mother, then father, then brother in quick succession. Still dealing with it, and some days are better than others. It helps me to help others, somehow makes my grief less sharp. Cannot wait to try your recipes!
Oh Theresa, I cannot even imagine. I am so very sorry. I recently came across this book (It’s Okay You Aren’t Ok) and it helped a LOT. I hope with each passing day you feel more peace.
linda m Moreno says
can I substitute a different cheese for the feta?
Yes! Please use a cheese you love. If you like goat cheese, that would be really delicious in this.
Michele says
I made this yesterday for a Thanksgiving brunch and it was delicious. Everyone really liked it. It was my first time making a quiche and it couldn’t have been easier. Thank you!
Rebecca says
This recipe is incredible!!! I made it this morning and it was delicious! I added mushrooms (had them in the fridge!) and did half an orange pepper and half a red pepper, and the results were fantastic. Love your website and recipes!!
This makes me so happy! I’m so glad you like it Rebecca!
Pat Vaughn says
I can’t believe I ended up on this page. I was scrolling through Pinterest and thought your recipe sounded good. Your words were a God send. I have a friend who just lost her significant other right before Christmas. I’m getting this book for her ASAP. Thank you so much for the advice.
Oh, I love it when the universe works like that. I am so incredibly sorry for your friend’s loss. I literally said these words to someone in a similar circumstance yesterday, “Just remember nothing you say or do will make it better, so you can take that pressure off yourself.” Just be there. Wishing you all the best.
Julie Place says
I made this yesterday. It was delicious. The leftovers were used today and just as good if not better. Wonderful recipe. I did sub one cup of broccoli for ham to get my husband to eat the “egg pie”.
Hahahahaha!! Totally screen shotting this comment for when I need a laugh – “to get my husband to eat the egg pie” ???? Thank you so much for coming back to let me know you liked it!
Amy says
I’m not sure if it’s coincidence or providence that this landed in my email today. Whatever the reason, I clicked on the link because my older daughter is vegetarian and I thought that this would be something she’d enjoy. And then I started reading the post. I lost my husband of 22 years on New Year’s Eve. He was only 45 and had a kidney transplant only a few months prior. It was unexpected and it was rough. His birthday is tomorrow and… I found this right when I needed it.
Just had to let you know that it helped ease my pain a little this morning. I hope that you are well and thank you for all the wonderful recipes I’ve collected off your site.
Oh Amy. Words can’t express how sorry I am. And those first milestones are especially so so hard. You really are in the thick of it, and I hope you are giving yourself so much grace. Especially in these crazy times.
I wanted to let you know that you left this comment on my birthday. And even though it wasn’t your intent, it was such a gift, to know my words had helped someone else.
Wishing you a few moments of peace on his birthday and on Mother’s Day.
Amy says
Thank you. Some days I’m good, others I want to fall apart. I try to be as kind to myself as I can, but sometimes it’s tough. And no kidding, things are even more nuts now, but it’s a blessing in a way, i guess, because it gives me something else to focus on.
Happy belated birthday to you and your words really did bring me some comfort, and I’m grateful you found that to be a gift as well. <3
Thanks to my girls, I survived the weekend and even smiled some. We used to joke that they were the gift that kept on giving – not always in a good way either – but they truly are a gift to me right now.
Judy says
Made this for Fathers Day brunch. It was terrific. Easy to make. I prepped it the day before, cooking it the next morning. Delicious. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
I’m so glad you liked it Judy!
Jeanne says
So incredibly sorry for your pain…but so admire your courage. are you able to substitute other veggies?