Ingredients for Asparagus Cream Cheese Quiche

• 175g (6oz) plain flour
• A pinch of salt
• 45g (11⁄2oz) cold lard, diced
• 45g (11⁄2oz) cold butter, diced

For the Filling

• 175g (6oz) green asparagus
• spears
• A little olive oil
• 115g (4oz) cream cheese
• 2 tsp chopped fresh thyme
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 85g (3oz) mature Cheddar
• cheese, grated
• 2 eggs
• 150ml (5fl oz) single cream

Method

1. Sift the flour and salt into a bowl. Add the fat and rub in with the fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Mix with 2 tbsp cold water to form a firm dough. Knead gently on a lightly floured surface. Roll out and use to line a 20cm (8in) flan ring set on a baking sheet. Chill for 30 minutes.
2. Preheat the oven to 200ºC (400ºF/Gas 6). Fill the pastry-lined flan ring with crumpled foil, or line with greaseproof paper and fill with baking beans. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove the foil, or paper and baking beans, and bake for a further 5 minutes to dry out. Remove from the oven. Lower the oven temperature to 180ºC (350ºF/Gas 4).
3. Toss the asparagus in a little olive oil. Cook on a hot griddle pan for 2 minutes each side until bright green and just tender.
4. Spread the cream cheese over the bottom of the pastry case. Sprinkle with the thyme, some pepper, and the Cheddar. Trim the asparagus spears to fit the flan, as necessary. Scatter the asparagus trimmings over the cheese and lay the whole spears attractively on top. Beat the eggs and cream together with a little salt and pepper. Pour into the flan. Bake in the oven until golden and set, about 30 minutes. Serve warm or cold.

This recipe is from the Grown in Britain Cookbook published by Dorling Kindersley with the Soil Association and is used with permission.

Asparagus Cream Cheese Quiche