If you like eggs and hashbrowns, you're going to love this make-ahead dish. It combines potatoes and leeks (a classic combination) with a rich egg custard. Enjoy it as a hearty side dish, a make-ahead breakfast or the centerpiece of a meal. See options to customize this dish in "tips," below.
Preheat oven to 450°F. Grease a 9" or 10" deep-dish pie pan. Set up a strainer over a bowl.
Grate the onions into the strainer, and drain for 10 minutes, pressing out the extra liquid.
When the onions are drained, transfer them to a bowl and combine them with the salt, thyme and flour.
Grate the potatoes into the strainer. Press out any extra liquid, then combine with the onion mixture, mixing to combine.
Pat the mixture into pie pan and up the sides. Bake for 25 minutes to let the steam escape.
After 25 minutes, brush the potatoes with oil, then bake for 15 minutes more, until the edges are golden brown. Remove from the oven and turn the oven temperature to 350°F.
While the crust is baking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the leeks and mushrooms and cook until the leeks are wilted, and the mushrooms give up their liquid and it cooks away (you don't want the vegetables to be juicy). Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Transfer the vegetables to the baked crust, and sprinkle the cheese evenly on top.
Whisk the eggs, milk and Worcestershire together, and pour slowly over the vegetables.
Return the quiche to the oven and bake for another 25 to 30 minutes, until the center is set.
Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm.
Adjust the filling to your liking and what you have on hand: substitute spinach for the leeks, or ham or smoked turkey for the mushrooms. If you add more ingredients to the filling, you may not need all of the egg mixture. Add some, wait a bit for it to sink in, and add again, slowly until full.
