Pancetta Parmesan And Pepper Quiches Recipes

PANCETTA AND PARMESAN TORTE

Steps:

• Position the rack on the bottom third of the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Press the crust into a 9-inch-diameter tart pan with a removable bottom. Trim the edges; set aside.
• Heat the oil in a heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add the pancetta and saute until crisp, about 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pancetta to paper towels and drain. Beat the cream, milk, eggs, parsley, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl to blend. Stir in the cheese and pancetta. Pour the cream mixture into the crust.
• Bake the torte until the filling puffs and is golden brown on top, about 25 minutes. Let the torte cool for 15 minutes. Cut the torte into 12 thin wedges and serve.

PICNIC QUICHES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the tomatoes in a roasting tin, drizzle with a little olive oil and season. Roast for 25-30 mins until they start to shrink and darken, then remove and leave to cool.
• Dry-fry the pancetta until crisp and golden. Set aside on a plate lined with kitchen paper and leave to cool.
• Meanwhile, make the pastry. In a food processor, pulse the flour and 1/2 tsp salt a few times. Add the butter and whizz for about 20 secs until you have a fine crumb. While the processor is going, add 2-3 tbsp of ice-cold water and 1 egg yolk. Mix until a dough is just formed, but do not over-process. Remove the dough, press it into a lump, wrap in cling film and chill for at least 30 mins.
• Once rested, lightly dust the work surface with a little flour and roll out the dough to a very thin layer, about the thickness of a lasagne sheet. Line each tartlet tin with pastry by cutting a circle around a plate or bowl that's slightly larger than the tins. Press the pastry into the fluted edge, allow the excess to fall over the top edge, and run the rolling pin over the tops of the tins to trim the pastry. Re-roll the pastry off-cuts until you've lined all your tins, then put in the fridge again for 30 mins or until firm.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line the tart cases with baking parchment and baking beans, then bake for 10 mins. Remove the paper and beans, and bake for a further 5 mins until just turning lightly golden. As soon as the cases come out of the oven, brush them all over with egg white. This creates a seal to protect the pastry from becoming wet from the filling, and ensures a crisper pastry case.
• Scatter half the grated cheese and crumble the crispy pancetta into each tart case. Nestle in the roasted tomatoes, then top with the remaining cheese.
• In a jug, beat together the remaining eggs, the cream and some black pepper. Add the basil and beat again to combine. Put a baking tray in the oven to heat up, then put the quiches on the hot tray resting on the oven shelf and carefully pour the egg mix over the filling until the cases are full. Bake for 20-25 mins until golden and puffed up. Allow to cool, then chill in the fridge until ready to serve. Can be made up to a day ahead.

ROASTED TOMATO, BASIL & PARMESAN QUICHE

Steps:

• To make the pastry, tip the flour and butter into a bowl, then rub together with your fingertips until completely mixed and crumbly. Add 8 tbsp cold water, then bring everything together with your hands until just combined. Roll into a ball and use straight away or chill for up to 2 days. The pastry can also be frozen for up to a month.
• Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to a round about 5cm larger than a 25cm tin. Use your rolling pin to lift it up, then drape over the tart case so there is an overhang of pastry on the sides. Using a small ball of pastry scraps, push the pastry into the corners of the tin. Chill in the fridge or freezer for 20 mins. Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6.
• In a small roasting tin, drizzle the tomatoes with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Put the tomatoes in a low shelf of the oven.
• Lightly prick the base of the tart with a fork, line the tart case with a large circle of greaseproof paper or foil, then fill with baking beans. Blind-bake the tart for 20 mins, remove the paper and beans, then continue to cook for 5-10 mins until biscuit brown.
• When you remove the tart case from the oven, take out the tomatoes, too.
• While the tart is cooking, beat the eggs in a large bowl. Gradually add the cream, then stir in the basil and season. When the case is ready, sprinkle half the cheese over the base, scatter over the tomatoes, pour over the cream mix, then finally scatter over the rest of the cheese. Bake for 20-25 mins until set and golden brown. Leave to cool in the case, trim the edges of the pastry, then remove from the tin. Scatter over the remaining basil and serve in slices.

PANCETTA PARMESAN AND BLACK PEPPER POPOVERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375˚F and move rack to the bottom third.
• In a 4 cup measuring bowl microwave the milk at 30 second intervals until it is 125°F, but not boiling. About a minute or so. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with the black pepper until smooth. Slowly whisk in the warm milk, whisking constantly as you don't want scrambled eggs. Add the flour and whisk until the batter is combined.
• Add the popover pan or muffin pan to the 375°F oven for 2-3 minutes to get smoking hot. THIS IS CRITICAL!
• Remove the pan from the oven and spray the pans generously with cooking spray. Fill batter three quarters of the way in each mold/cup. Divide the cooked pancetta evenly and top each of the batter filled cups, then the same with the parmesan cheese. Reserve some cheese to sprinkle on top after baking.
• Bake the popovers until puffed and deep golden brown, about 40 minutes. DO NOT open the door and peak or they will collapse.
• Remove the popovers from the pans, sprinkle with the grated Parmesan cheese and chopped chives as garnish and enjoy warm.