Potato Ham and Spinach Breakfast Pie

This is kind of a cross between a breakfast pie and a galette.

It’s a pie because it’s in a pie pan but the edges are folded in towards the middle like a galette.

I love making galettes because the crust doesn’t have to be picture perfect.

The crust on a galette can be rough around the edges and still look pretty and rustic.

Although I used homemade pie dough in this recipe, the store bought pie dough would also work.

I think a crust with a bit of a shine looks really pretty so whether using homemade or store bought pie dough, brushing a little egg wash over it will add a bit more bling.

Breakfast pies, or galettes are great for using up leftover meat.  And you can even go meatless if you like.

I do love crispy fried potatoes in the filling.  It adds texture and of course tastes wonderful.

It’s kind of like when a breakfast burrito has fried potatoes in it, to me, all the ingredients seem to taste better.

If you haven’t made homemade pie crust before, a galette is a great way to practice because it just involves folding over the edges.  Super easy.

Update; please note that although the edges of the top crust in this recipe are folded inwards similar to that of a galette, a true galette is made free form and without a tart or pie pan; here is a delicious example Mango Blueberry and Ginger Galette).

So let’s check out the ingredients.

For the Pie:  eggs, milk, ham, spinach, potatoes, onion, Swiss cheese, green onion, Roma tomatoes, canola oil (not pictured), butter (optional), salt, pepper and cooking spray

For the Pie Dough:  butter (put it in the freezer about 45 minutes before making the pie dough), flour, salt, sugar, lemon juice, and ice water

Here’s how to make it.

For the Pie Dough:

In a medium-size bowl, add the flour…

…sugar and…

…salt.

Using a small-size grater, grate the butter and add it into the bowl.

Add the water and…

…lemon juice.

Using a pastry cutter or fork,

cut the butter into the flour mixture.

Knead the dough a few times and set it on to a large piece of plastic wrap.

Wrap the dough in the plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

For the Pie:

Preheat the oven to 375 F.

While the pie dough is chilling, in a medium-size bowl, add the potatoes…

…onions…

…pepper and…

…salt.

Stir until the potatoes and onions are coated with the salt and pepper.

Heat a medium-size skillet on medium heat and add the canola oil.

When the oil heats up just a bit, carefully add the potato mixture and stir.

As the potatoes cook, gently stir.

Continue to cook until the potatoes start to brown and get crispy.

Remove the potatoes from the pan and put them on a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside.

After the dough has had time to chill, on a large cutting board or rolling surface, sprinkle flour (or lay out a large piece of parchment paper).  Lay the dough on top of the flour (or parchment paper). Lay a large piece of plastic wrap on top of the dough.  With your hands over the plastic wrap, flatten out the dough into a flat disk.

With a rolling pin, roll out the dough in the shape of a large circle that will fit into a pie pan plus add another 3 inches to the diameter of the circle.

Spray cooking spray in a pie pan.

Add flour to the rolling pin and loosely roll the pie dough over the rolling pin.  Lay the rolling pin over the pie pan and unroll the pie crust over the pan leaving the extra dough to hang evenly off the sides of the pan.

In a medium-size bowl,

add the eggs and milk.  Whisk together and transfer the egg mixture to a large pour measuring cup.

In the pie shell, add an even layer of fried potatoes,

half of the egg and…

…half of the cheese.

…as an option, brown the ham in a skillet with a little butter and…

add the spinach, ham, green onion, the rest of the cheese…

…then the rest of the egg to the pie.

Fold the excess dough that’s hanging over the edges of the pan inwards towards the middle of the pie.

Lay the tomato slices in the middle.

For the egg wash, in a small bowl, add the egg and water. Whisk together and…

… brush over the folded edges of the pie crust.

Bake in a preheated oven until the pie crust turns a golden color and the egg filling is thoroughly cooked (about 50 to 55 minutes).

Serve while hot or…

…store in the refrigerator and…

…warm each piece in the microwave just before serving…

then, enjoy.

You may also like:

Snickerdoodle Skillet Biscuits
Huevos Rancheros
Breakfast Burrito Pitas
Bacon, Kale and Swiss Cheese Egg Scramble