French cuisine has given us many things, pot au feu, bouillabaisse, ratatouille, mussels, and crepes. But the French have also given us another solid standby that you probably don’t think about all that much: quiche. Alright, so technically the English were making quiche before anyone had figured out what to call egg and milk mixed with toppings and baked into a pastry crust, but the French were the ones who popularized it and made it into what it is today.
Quiche can best be summed up as an egg pie, baked in the oven with cheese, veggies, and whatever else you feel like throwing in at a moment’s notice. It can be served hot or cold, and works as a great brunch dish or even for dinner, served with a simple side salad.
In fact, quiche is so simple and quick to make, it really should be a part of every household’s repertoire. You can cook a quiche in less than an hour, and with eggs being relatively inexpensive, it’s a great low-cost meal that works incredibly well when you need something quickly.
How to Make Quiche
A basic quiche requires three ingredients: a pie crust (you can make one from scratch, or you can buy pre-made. For this one, we’re going to assume you have a pre-made crust lying around); eggs; and milk. These three basic ingredients provide the base of the quiche, and everything else is going to be used for flavor and texture. The one we’re making today is going to be as simple as possible: just a bit of cheese and a few veggies and herbs. Let’s get started!
Start by preheating the oven to 375 degrees. Take 1 cup of shredded cheese (whichever type is your favorite – be creative!) and spread it into the bottom of a 9 inch pie crust. Next, dice some vegetables that you want to add into your quiche. Many people add meat into their quiche, and if you do, this is the time to add it in. For ours, we’re going to dice onions and red peppers, and then we’re going to layer them on top of the layer of cheese.
Next, in a medium bowl, whisk half a dozen eggs and 1 cup of milk until completely blended. Toss in a 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 5-6 chopped basil leaves and mix some more. Pour the egg mixture into the pie crust on top of the fillings. Pop it into the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes. You’ll be able to tell when the quiche is done by using the knife test: take a butter knife and stick it into the center. If it comes out clean, your quiche is done. If not, pop it back in and let it cook for another 3-5 minutes before trying again.
Once it’s done, you can either serve it hot or let it cool down to room temperature and serve it later. That’s another thing that makes quiche so great – it’s just as delicious the next day as a leftover, and if you’re planning a dinner party, you can make it in advance.
Overall, learning how to make quiche is a great way to have a solid meal standby when you’re in a hurry and need something quick, delicious, and filling. Do you have a favorite quiche recipe? Share it with us in the comments!
