Dutch Inspired Quiche Recipes

GREEK SALAD-INSPIRED QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. In a 9-in. cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add tomatoes, green peppers and onion; cook and stir until vegetables are tender, 6-7 minutes; drain. Add spinach and garlic; cook and stir until spinach is wilted, 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in feta and olives. , In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, oregano, salt and pepper flakes until blended. Pour over vegetables., Bake until a knife inserted in center comes out clean, 20-25 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

DUTCH INSPIRED QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Line deep dish glass pie plate with pie shell.
• Sprinkle Gouda cheese over the bottom.
• Whisk together room temperature eggs with whipping cream and nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
• Pour some of the egg mixture over the cheese.
• Place baby spinach leaves on Gouda,and top with half the Leerdammer.
• Pour a little more of the egg mixture on the quiche, saving some.
• Top with bacon and the rest of the cheese, then pour remaining egg mixture over all.
• Press the ingredients down into the pie plate to get as much of the egg mixture on it as you can.
• Sprinkle a little more nutmeg, salt, and pepper on top if you wish.
• Bake at 350F for 30 minutes, then top quiche with foil to prevent excess browning.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes more or until quiche is set.
• Allow quiche to rest for 20+ minutes before cutting and serving.

QUICHE LORRAINE

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.

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.