Quiche Lorraine Eating Well Recipes

THE BEST QUICHE LORRAINE

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 14-inch circle. Transfer to a 9-in. springform pan; press firmly against bottom and sides. Refrigerate while preparing filling., In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels. Discard drippings, reserving 1 tablespoon in pan. Add onions to drippings; cook and stir over medium heat until caramelized, 20-25 minutes. Stir in thyme, pepper and nutmeg; remove from the heat. Cool slightly. Stir in cheeses and reserved bacon; spoon into crust. Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, and cream until blended; pour over top. Place springform pan on a rimmed baking sheet., Bake on a lower oven rack until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean, 75-85 minutes. Cool on a wire rack 15 minutes. Loosen sides from pan with a knife. Remove rim from pan.

ULTIMATE QUICHE LORRAINE

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.

QUICHE LORRAINE--EATING WELL

Steps:

• To prepare crust: Position rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 425°F.
• Stir whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Cook, swirling the pan, until the butter is a light, nutty brown, 30 seconds to 4 minutes (depending on your stove). Pour into a small bowl and let cool. Stir in oil.
• Using a fork, slowly stir the butter-oil mixture into the flour mixture until it is crumbly. Gradually stir in enough ice water so that the dough will hold together. Knead the dough in the bowl a few times to help it come together. Press the dough into a disk.
• Place the dough between sheets of parchment or wax paper and roll into a 12-inch circle. Remove the top sheet and invert the dough into a 9-inch pie pan. Remove the remaining paper and patch any tears in the dough. Fold the edges under at the rim and crimp with a fork.
• Line the dough with a piece of foil or parchment paper large enough to lift out easily; fill evenly with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 7 minutes. Remove the foil or paper and weights and continue baking just until lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes more. (The crust will not be fully baked.) Let cool to room temperature on a wire rack. Reduce oven temperature to 350°.
• To prepare filling: Whisk eggs and egg whites well in a large bowl. Add milk, evaporated milk, nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon salt, pepper and cayenne, stirring gently to avoid creating many bubbles.
• To assemble & bake quiche: Sprinkle mozzarella, bacon and scallions over the bottom of the prebaked crust. Carefully pour in the filling. Sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake the quiche until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes before serving hot or warm.