This New Mexico Quiche combines beef with our Beef Chorizo for breakfast in a kicked-up quiche recipe that induces green chilies and queso fresco. It is one of the best quiches around.

Burning Season

This time of year is known as the burning season in the Flint Hills of Kansas. As Texans and New Mexicans, neither Arturo nor I grew up burning pastures. So, this concept was foreign, at least to me, when we moved here almost 11 years ago. However, I have come to appreciate and respect this season, and you have never seen anything prettier than pastures coming back to life after a good burn. It honestly does look like the hills of Ireland.

Fire is Important to the Flint Hills

Without it, the rich green prairie we know today would disappear in a few years. Burning pastures is an effective way to control weeds and the Western Red Cedar population. Without prescribed burning, the prairie we know today would be changed to a forest, and the grass that ranchers graze millions of cattle yearly would no longer exist.

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Interestingly, fire has existed in the Flint Hills since the Native Americans inhabited this area. They observed that the migrating buffalo were attracted to the fresh green grass after a fire started by a lightning strike. With that observation, they began fires to encourage the lush green grass to grow. This intentional use of fire changed the ecology of the Flint Hills over thousands of years. The ecosystem has adapted to routine burning.

Preparation in Burning Pasture

Burning a pasture is not something that ranchers go out and do. There is planning of when to burn, preparation for a safe burn, and consideration for the people who live next to the Flint Hills. Of course, there is smoke with fire, and that smoke will drift. However, ranchers do all they can to prevent that drift from reaching the urban areas near the Flint Hills. They do this by relying heavily on the Smoke Management Plan. This free online tool shows ranchers how likely the smoke from a prescribed burn will impact areas as far away as Kansas City, Lawrence, Wichita, or even Omaha. The plan balances thoughtful ecosystem management of the tallgrass prairie and the comfort of people who have moved into the cities surrounding the Flint Hills region.

Ranchers genuinely care about the land, the cattle grazing that land, and the people living in and around the Flint Hills. So, next time you see the smoke, know that the Flint Hills are being responsibly managed.

Please visit the Kansas Beef Council’s website for information and more impressive videos and photos.

New Mexican Quiche – Beef for Breakfast

It is a great way to serve beef for breakfast. It offers many flavors, combining the richness of red chili and other flavors found in New Mexican dishes.

This New Mexico Quiche uses our Beef Chorizo sausage, which is easy to make and is full of flavor and spice. Combining the spices of red chili, paprika, garlic, and onion powder, it packs a good, rounded flavor profile that works well in this dish and many others.

Can you Freeze the New Mexico Quiche?

YES! The New Mexico Quiche freezes excellently and is easy to make ahead of time for a leisurely, low-key breakfast or brunch.

New Mexican Quiche

8 ounces chorizo beef sausage
8 eggs
½ cup milk
1 (10 inch) pie crust
1 cup frozen breakfast potatoes (cooked) seasoned with ¼ teaspoon chili powder and paprika and one clove garlic
2 whole green chilis, fire-roasted, peeled and diced
¼ cup queso fresco
Salt

In a small skillet, cook the chorizo over medium heat until browned. Break it into pieces with a wooden spoon.

In a deep mixing bowl, whisk the eggs and milk until well beaten.

Pour the egg mixture into the unbaked pie crust.

Evenly spoon the chorizo and potatoes into the egg-filled pie crust.

Top with the green chili and queso fresco.

Bake at 325 for 45 minutes.

Chorizo Beef Sausage

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Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
2 tbsp. paprika
1 tbsp. chili powder
1 tbsp. garlic powder
1 tbsp. onion powder
1 tbsp. cumin
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp oregano leaves
1 tbsp. tomato paste
1/2 tbsp. salt

Instructions

Combine all the seasonings with the ground beef and mix thoroughly.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!