40 Mouthwatering Easy Christmas Quiche Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How can I improve the flavor of my quiche? ›

Butter the base of your quiche with mustard

This is a cook's secret for many pies and quiches. Using a brush, spread half a spoonful of mustard on your dough once it is placed in its mold (not a thick layer). The mustard subtly enhances the taste without being spicy.

To be considered Quiche Lorraine, the quiche must be made with eggs, heavy cream, bacon, and Swiss cheese. Any quiche that strays from this formula with the omission of bacon or the addition of other ingredients such as ham, sausage, vegetables, etc. is considered quiche, not Quiche Lorraine.

Quiche will have a texture similar to scrambled egg if it is baked at too high of a temperature or too little fat is incorporated into the custard. Follow your recipe closely and be sure to bake your quiche at a lower temperature for the correct amount of time, using the prescribed amount of cream and whole milk.

Quiche Ratio: 1 large egg to 1/2 cup of dairy

A standard large egg weighs two ounces and 1/2 cup of dairy (whole milk) is four ounces, therefore a handy 1:2 ratio! You'll need to increase the amount of eggs and milk based on the size of your quiche, so knowing the basic ratio makes it really easy to scale up or down.

The best quiche consists of a custard that's the perfect ratio between eggs and milk. Using too many eggs in the custard results in a quiche that rubbery and too firm when baked, while not using enough will prevent the custard from setting. Follow This Tip: Remember this ratio: 1 large egg to 1/2 cup of dairy.

You need a par-baked or fully baked crust if you're making quiche, no-bake pie, custard pie, cream pie, pudding pie, or simply want an extra-crisp pie crust. If you're making a pie that doesn't require a baked filling, you still need a baked crust.

Some people like to paint the surface of the pastry base with lightly beaten egg white after the beans have been removed and before returning the dish to the oven as the egg white cooks onto the surface of the pastry and can act as a slight sealant to help to keep the pastry crisp.

Using just heavy cream produces an overly thick filling. Whole milk is great, but a combo of heavy cream and milk is better. Eggs – Use 4 eggs per 1 cup of milk. Some quiche recipes throw in an extra egg yolk or two, but I don't find it necessary with the ratio of ingredients in my recipe.

Purists will tell you that only bacon, cream, and eggs are allowed. Though it is common to find other ingredients like Gruyere cheese, caramelized onions, and even chives. The original quiche Lorraine may not include cheese, but I won't tell anyone if you decide to add one cup of shredded Gruyere to the mix.

Origin: Frittata is an Italian dish whereas quiche is a French dish. Crust: A quiche has crust while a frittata does not. Sometimes, quiche is baked without crust. Base Ingredients: While both frittatas and quiches are made with eggs, quiche is made with an egg custard, which also includes cream or milk.

What rack in the oven is best for quiche? ›

Go for the bottom rack when you bake quiche

As you may have already deduced, that makes the bottom rack the best place for quiche, according to The Kitchn. An ideal quiche is characterized by a moist filling held in place by a crisp crust, but that crispness can be hard to achieve with the wetness of the egg custard.

The custard in a quiche is done between 165°F and 185°F (74°C and 85°C), with some variation coming into temp based mostly on preference. A fast and accurate Thermapen^® is perfect for the job, and will help you make perfect quiche the first time around.

The Filling:

So you need to be pretty heavy-handed with the salt – your uncooked custard should taste distinctly salted before you cook it, otherwise the finished product risks being bland.

After warming the quiche, place it under the broiler for a few minutes to add a little caramelization and color to the top. Go one step further and sprinkle the top with grated Parmesan or a meltable shredded cheese like cheddar or Gruyère before broiling for extra flavor.

And yes, as you'll see, you should always prebake quiche crust to avoid a gummy pastry. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Roll out your homemade or purchased refrigerated dough into a 12-inch circle.