Authentic French Quiche Recipes

SPINACH QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F and set a rack in the middle position. Remove the pie crust from freezer and thaw until just soft enough to easily prick with a fork, about 10 minutes. Prick the bottom and sides all over with a fork (pricking about an inch apart). Bake until fully cooked and lightly golden, 10 to 15 minutes. (Keep an eye on it...if it puffs up while cooking, gently prick it with a fork so it will deflate.) Don't worry if the crust cracks while baking; see my note below on how to fix it before proceeding. Set aside and turn oven down to 325°F.
• Heat the butter in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the shallots until soft and translucent, about 8 minutes. Do not brown. Set aside to cool.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, heavy cream, nutmeg, salt and cayenne pepper.
• Place the cooked pie crust on a baking sheet (this makes it easy to move in and out of oven). Spread the shallots over the bottom of the cooked crust, then sprinkle the shredded Gruyere over top. Scatter the spinach evenly over cheese, breaking up the clumps as best you can. Pour the egg and cream mixture over top.
• Bake at 325°F degrees for 50 to 55 minutes until the custard is set and top is lightly golden. Serve hot or warm.
• Note: I usually defrost the frozen spinach quickly by placing it in a fine mesh strainer and running hot water over it. I then gather the spinach into a ball and squeeze it dry. It takes a few minutes of squeezing and re-squeezing to get all the water out. Be patient...you need the spinach completely dry, otherwise your quiche will be watery.
• Note: Don't panic if your crust cracks -- you can easily fix it. Make a smooth paste by mixing 1 tablespoon of flour with 1 tablespoon of water. Use your fingers to patch up and fill any cracks, then place the crust back in the oven for a minute or so to set. It should be good as new.
• Make ahead: This quiche can be made up to a day ahead of time and refrigerated. To reheat: Cover the quiche with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated 300°F oven for 35 to 45 minutes, or until hot in the center.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cooked quiche can be frozen for up to 3 months. Remove the quiche from the freezer about 24 hours prior to eating and reheat it, covered with foil, in a 300°F oven until hot in the center.

AUTHENTIC QUICHE LORRAINE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F
• Place flour, butter and salt in a food processor and pulse until the mixture becomes a coarse meal. Slowly add the water 1 tablespoon at a time until the mixture comes together like a ball.
• Place on a lightly floured surface and flatten out to form a 12" disc. Fit into a quiche pan. Freeze for 30 minutes.
• Put a piece of parchment paper on the top of the dough, and top with pie weights.
• Bake for 15 minutes.
• Remove from oven, and remove pie weights and parchment paper. Brush bottom and sides with one beaten egg while still hot.
• While the dough is baking, cook bacon slices in a pan until almost crispy. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. When cooled, chop into ½ inch pieces.
• In the bowl of a mixer beat 4 remaining eggs and add heavy cream, pepper, and nutmeg.
• Beat until it begins to thicken, and it is a light yellow color.
• Sprinkle bacon and Gruyere onto the top of the dough. Pour egg mixture on top.
• Bake for about 20 minutes. the quiche should puff up. The quiche should also have a light golden color on the top.

AUTHENTIC QUICHE LORRAINE

Steps:

• Sift flour with 1/2 tsp salt. Cut in 1 stick chilled butter. Mix by hand (use your fingers) until it forms into little chunks about the size of large grains of rice.
• Fork 1 egg yolk with 2 tbsp cold water. Combine with dry ingredients and work by hand until it forms a large ball of dough. Add up to 1 more tbsp of cold water if needed.
• Wrap in plastic-wrap and let sit in a cool place 30 minutes.
• Heat oven to 400. Roll dough until big enough to place in a 10" tart pan.
• Grease tart pan before placing dough in it. Gently move dough to tart pan. Do not stretch it. Trim as needed and use trimmings to patch any tears that may have developed.
• Prick pastry with a fork. Line with foil, shiny-side down, and fill with a little dry rice or beans to ensure that the foil stays in place. Bake 10 minutes.
• Remove rice or beans. Remove foil. Bake 5 minutes more. Allow to cool.
• Reduce oven heat to 300.
• Fry bacon in 1 tbsp butter.
• In a large bowl mix 4 eggs with the cream. Mix thoroughly but do not beat or whip. Stir in bacon, nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Ensure that oven temperature has dropped to 300. Bake 25-30 minutes. Best when served immediately, as it cools quickly.

AUTHENTIC FRENCH QUICHE

Steps:

• Pre-bake pie shell @425 for ten minutes with parmesan covering bottom. this prevents soggy crust. just sprinkle parmesan to cover bottom before pre baking.
• Saute leftovers for a minute or two to warm. mix cheeses to slightly soften in pan with leftovers. if using no leftovers just put cheese in pre-baked pie shell.
• mix eggs, half and half and spices to taste.
• pour egg mixture into pie shell containing leftovers or just cheese.
• bake @425 for 25 mins until toothpick inserted comes out clean.