Ultimate Quiche Lorraine Recipes

Steps:

• For the pastry, put 175g plain flour, 100g cold butter, cut into pieces, 1 egg yolk and 4 tsp cold water into a food processor. Using the pulse button, process until the mix binds.
• Tip the pastry onto a lightly floured surface, gather into a smooth ball, then roll out as thinly as you can.
• Line a 23 x 2.5cm loose-bottomed, fluted flan tin, easing the pastry into the base.
• Trim the pastry edges with scissors (save any trimmings) so it sits slightly above the tin (if it shrinks, it shouldn't now go below the level of the tin). Press the pastry into the flutes, lightly prick the base with a fork, then chill for 10 mins.
• Put a baking sheet in the oven and heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Line pastry case with foil, shiny side down, fill with dry beans and bake on the hot sheet for 15 mins.
• Remove foil and beans and bake for 4-5 mins more until the pastry is pale golden. If you notice any small holes or cracks, patch up with pastry trimmings. You can make up to this point a day ahead.
• While the pastry cooks, prepare the filling. Heat a small frying pan, tip in 200g lardons and fry for a couple of mins. Drain off any liquid that comes out, then continue cooking until the lardons just start to colour, but aren't crisp. Remove and drain on paper towels.
• Cut three quarters of the 50g gruyère into small dice and finely grate the rest. Scatter the diced gruyère and fried lardons over the bottom of the pastry case.
• Using a spoon, beat 200ml crème fraîche to slacken it then slowly beat in 200ml double cream. Mix in 3 well beaten eggs. Season (you shouldn't need much salt) and add a pinch of ground nutmeg. Pour three quarters of the filling into the pastry case.
• Half-pull the oven shelf out and put the flan tin on the baking sheet. Quickly pour the rest of the filling into the pastry case - you get it right to the top this way. Scatter the grated cheese over the top, then carefully push the shelf back into the oven.
• Lower the oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Bake for about 25 mins, or until golden and softly set (the centre should not feel too firm).
• Let the quiche settle for 4-5 mins, then remove from the tin. Serve freshly baked, although it's also good cold.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Roll pie dough to fit a 9 inch pie plate. Place bottom crust in pie plate and chill for at least 20 minutes before baking. Line the chilled pie crust with foil and fill halfway up with dried beans, rice, or baking weights. Bake in the preheated oven for 7 minutes. Remove foil and weights and bake until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
• Reduce oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until browned and cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from pan to drain. Blot out some of the oil from the skillet, leaving 1 to 2 teaspoons. Add leeks, onion, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Cook and stir until tender and golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Set aside.
• Whisk eggs, egg yolks, cream, and milk together in a large bowl. Add thyme and stir to combine.
• Sprinkle 2/3 of onion-leek mixture on the bottom of the baked crust. Top with 1/3 cooked bacon and 2/3 Gruyere cheese. Ladle in egg mixture carefully. Sprinkle with remaining onion-leek mixture, remaining bacon, and remaining Gruyere cheese.
• Bake filled quiche in the preheated oven until browned and set, and no longer jiggly in the center, 40 to 45 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

Steps:

• For the pastry crust: Pulse the flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor until combined. Add the butter and pulse until the flour looks like cornmeal. Sprinkle in 3 tablespoons ice water and pulse until the dough begins to come together. Pinch the dough with your fingers; if it doesn't hold together, add up to 2 more tablespoons ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse again.
• Transfer the dough to a sheet of plastic wrap and pat into a disc. Wrap tightly and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour and preferably overnight.
• Lightly flour a work surface, then roll the dough into an 11-inch round, about 1/8 inch thick. Center the dough in a 9-inch fluted tart pan with removable bottom, with an even overhang of dough all around. Press the dough into the edges of the pan and the fluted sides. Roll the rolling pin over the top to cut off the extra dough (discard the extra). Poke the bottom and sides all over with a fork. Chill until completely cold, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F.
• Press a piece of parchment over the chilled crust, then fill with pie weights, raw beans or rice. Put the pan on a baking sheet. Bake until the crust is set and golden around the edges, about 40 minutes. Carefully remove the parchment and weights. Return to the oven and bake until the crust is dry and slightly golden, about 15 minutes more. Let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• For the filling: Combine the butter, onion, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 cup water in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are completely softened and all the water has evaporated, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a separate medium skillet over medium-low heat, stirring, until the fat has rendered and the bacon is crisp, 10 to 15 minutes.
• When the onions have cooked for 30 minutes, add the bacon using a slotted spoon, then stir in 1 teaspoon of the thyme and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Spread the onion mixture in the bottom of the crust and sprinkle with the Gruyere. Whisk together the cream, eggs and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl until combined. Pour the cream mixture over the filling in the crust and top with the remaining 1 teaspoon thyme.
• Bake the quiche on the baking sheet until set and golden, about 30 minutes. Let cool at least 30 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Make the crust: Pulse the flour and salt in a food processor. Add the butter and pulse until it looks like coarse meal. Add 3 tablespoons ice water and pulse until the dough starts to come together. Add up to 1 more tablespoon ice water, a little at a time, if necessary. Form the dough into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let soften 10 minutes. Unwrap the dough on a floured surface. Roll out the dough into an 11-inch round, lightly dusting with flour as needed and turning the dough occasionally. Carefully transfer to a 9-inch pie plate and crimp the edges with your fingers. Prick the bottom of the crust all over with a fork, then refrigerate until firm, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Line the dough with parchment paper and fill with dried beans or pie weights. Put on a baking sheet and bake until lightly golden around the edges, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the parchment and weights and continue baking until golden brown in the center, 20 to 25 more minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Combine the butter, onion and a big pinch of salt in a medium skillet over low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is very tender and golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. While the onion cooks, put the bacon in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and crisp, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate. Add the bacon to the pan with the onion, along with the thyme.
• Spread the Gruyère and onion-bacon mixture in the cooled pie crust. Combine the eggs, heavy cream, chives, nutmeg, cayenne and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl and whisk until combined. Pour into the pie crust. Bake until the quiche is just set and lightly golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool before serving.

Steps:

• In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the bacon until crisp; transfer bacon to a paper-towel lined plate using a slotted spoon; let bacon drain.
• Discard all but 1 tablespoon bacon drippings from pan.
• Add in onion and shallot; stir/saute for 5 minutes or until tender; stir in parsley.
• In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, mustard, nutmeg, salt, and pepper; add in onion mixture and bacon; stir to combine.
• Sprinkle cheese over the bottom of the pie shell.
• Pour egg mixture over all.
• Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 40-45 minutes or until knife inserted into center comes out clean (cover pie crust edges as appropriate if become too brown).
• Let stand for 10 minutes.
• Cut into wedges and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius.
• Roll out the pastry with a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface.
• Grease a tart dish and place pastry inside using the rolling pin.
• Trim the excess with the rolling pin.
• Pinch the sides and press the pastry into pan with your fingers.
• Let pastry chill in the fridge for a minimum of 30 minutes.
• Place baking paper in tart and fill with baking beads.
• Bake until the pastry is half-way cooked. Remove the beads and finish cooking the shell.
• In a pan cook the bacon. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl combine the cream and milk.
• Separate the yolks and add to milk and cream mixture.
• Whisk the egg whites until just about stiff.
• Add the egg whites to the mixture.
• Add pepper, salt and nutmeg as desired, being sure to not over salt as the bacon is quite salty already.
• Whisk until everything is well mixed.
• (Optional: cover the bottom of the shell with the cheese).
• Cover bottom with bacon, spread evenly.
• Add egg mixture and fill to rim of the dish.
• Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 25-30 minute.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Line a nine-inch pie plate with the pastry. By all means build a rim with the pastry and flute it. This is essential for the amount of custard indicated in this recipe.
• Cover the bottom of the pastry with a round of parchment paper and add enough dried beans or peas to partly fill the shell. Bake 10 minutes.
• Reduce the oven heat to 375 degrees. Remove and discard the beans and parchment paper and set the pastry-lined pie plate aside.
• Cook the bacon until crisp and remove it from skillet. Pour off all but one tablespoon of the fat remaining in the skillet. Cook the onion in the remaining fat until the onion is transparent.
• Crumble the bacon and sprinkle the bacon, onion and cheeses over the inside of the partly baked pastry.
• Combine the eggs, cream, nutmeg, salt, pepper and Tabasco sauce to taste. Strain the mixture over the onion-cheese mixture. Slide the pie onto a baking sheet.
• Bake the pie until a knife inserted one inch from the pastry edge comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Remove to a wire rack. Let stand five or 10 minutes before serving.