The Perfect Quiche Lorraine Recipe: Joy Of Cooking Classic

Joy of Cooking’s quiche lorraine transforms an ordinary meal into a culinary celebration of comfort and elegance.

French countryside traditions inspire this savory pie that marries creamy textures with rich, robust flavors.

Delicate eggs blend seamlessly with crisp bacon and sweet caramelized onions, creating a symphony of taste in every bite.

Home cooks appreciate its versatility, serving this dish from morning brunch to evening dinner parties.

Professional chefs and kitchen novices find pleasure in crafting this timeless recipe that speaks to rustic European charm.

Simple ingredients come together with remarkable complexity, promising a dining experience that feels both familiar and extraordinary.

Sophisticated yet approachable, this quiche invites you to embrace classic cooking techniques with confidence: prepare to impress your guests.

Quiche Lorraine’s Allure: Why You’ll Love It

• Savor Rich Flavor Layers: Bacon, caramelized onions, and creamy half-and-half create a luxurious taste profile that blends salty, sweet, and smooth elements in every delightful bite.
• Master Foolproof Baking Technique: The detailed blind-baking method ensures a perfectly crisp, golden crust that won't become soggy, making this recipe approachable for both novice and experienced home cooks.
• Enjoy Versatile Meal Option: This classic quiche works wonderfully for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or light dinner, easily impressing guests with minimal effort and maximum flavor complexity.
• Experience Comfort Food Perfection: The combination of eggs, cheese, and bacon delivers a hearty, comforting dish that feels like a warm culinary hug, satisfying hunger and warming the soul with each forkful.

Quiche Lorraine Essentials: Key Ingredients

• Pie Crust: Homemade or store-bought base for the quiche, providing a crispy and flaky foundation.
• Flour: Helps create a non-stick surface when rolling out the dough.
• Parchment Paper: Assists in rolling and preventing dough from sticking.

• Bacon: Crispy meat that adds smoky flavor and rich texture to the quiche.
• Eggs: Creates the custard base and provides structure to the filling.
• Half-and-Half: Adds creaminess and richness to the egg mixture.
• Cheese: Enhances flavor and provides additional creaminess.

• Onions: Adds sweet and savory depth to the quiche.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor of the dish.
• Pepper: Provides a mild heat and complexity.
• Paprika: Adds a subtle warmth and slight reddish color.
• Nutmeg: Offers a warm, slightly sweet undertone.
• Egg White: Creates a barrier to prevent crust from becoming soggy.
• Parsley: Optional garnish for fresh color and mild herb flavor.

Fabulous Quiche Lorraine: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Prepare Pie Crust

Choose between homemade or store-bought pie crust. If making from scratch, roll out the dough to 12″ on a lightly floured surface or between parchment paper sheets.

Step 2: Shape Pastry Dough

Gently press the dough into the tart or deep pie pan using your fingers, ensuring an even coverage.

Step 3: Chill and Preheat

Freeze the prepared crust for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the oven to 350°F and position the rack in the middle.

Step 4: Blind Bake the Crust

If using homemade crust, poke holes in the bottom with a fork. Cover the sides with parchment paper or foil. Place the pan on a baking sheet.

Step 5: Add Pie Weights

Fill the crust 3/4 full with pie weights. Bake for 35-40 minutes until light golden and mostly cooked through.

Step 6: Prepare Crust Protection

Remove weights and parchment. Brush the interior with whisked egg white to prevent soggy bottom.

Step 7: Cook Bacon

Heat a large pan over medium-low heat. Cook bacon until crispy and fat is rendered. Transfer crispy bacon to a separate dish.

Step 8: Caramelize Onions

Use the bacon fat to sauté diced onions until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and add to the bacon dish.

Step 9: Create Custard Mixture

• 4 eggs
• 1 half-and-half
• Salt
• Pepper
• Paprika
• Nutmeg

Whisk for about 1 minute to incorporate air.

Step 10: Assemble Quiche

• Cooked bacon
• Caramelized onions
• Cheese

Pour the mixture into the pre-baked crust.

Step 11: Bake Quiche

Bake at 350°F for 50 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a knife – it should come out clean with a slightly jiggly center.

Step 12: Rest and Serve

Allow the quiche to cool slightly. Optionally garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

Secrets to a Silky, Savory Quiche

• Prevent Soggy Bottoms: Elevate your quiche game by blind baking the crust until golden, creating a crisp foundation that resists moisture from the rich custard filling.
• Chill for Perfection: Refrigerate the prepared pie crust for at least 30 minutes before baking, allowing gluten to relax and ensuring a supremely flaky texture.
• Protect the Edges: Wrap pie crust edges with aluminum foil during initial baking to prevent over-browning and maintain a beautiful golden color.
• Temperature Trick: Start baking at a higher temperature to set the crust, then lower the heat to ensure even cooking of the delicate egg custard.
• Weight It Down: Use ceramic pie weights or dried beans during blind baking to keep the crust flat and prevent unwanted bubbling.

Quiche Lorraine: Storage Made Easy

• Freeze Whole: Protect your entire quiche by wrapping it tightly in multiple layers of plastic wrap and aluminum foil. This method preserves the delicate egg custard and flaky crust without compromising texture, ensuring maximum flavor retention for up to 2 months.
• Refrigerate Smartly: Slide leftover slices into a sealed glass container with an airtight lid. Refrigeration keeps the quiche fresh and prevents moisture absorption, maintaining its original crisp crust and creamy filling for 3-4 days.
• Slice Before Storing: Cut the quiche into individual portions before refrigerating or freezing. Separating servings makes reheating easier, reduces potential waste, and allows for quick grab-and-go meals during busy weekdays.

Fun Twists on Classic Quiche

• Veggie Voyage: Replace bacon with roasted bell peppers, zucchini, and spinach for a colorful vegetarian version. Sauté vegetables in olive oil before mixing into the egg custard for enhanced flavor.
• Seafood Sensation: Swap bacon for cooked crab or shrimp, adding a luxurious maritime touch. Season with fresh dill and use gruyère cheese to complement the seafood's delicate taste.
• Spicy Southwest Spin: Incorporate chorizo instead of bacon, mix in jalapeños, and use pepper jack cheese. Top with fresh cilantro and serve with a side of salsa for extra kick.
• Mediterranean Magic: Use crumbled feta cheese, add sun-dried tomatoes, and replace bacon with crispy prosciutto. Sprinkle with oregano and serve with a light Greek salad on the side.

A Tasty Farewell to Quiche Lorraine

Quiche Lorraine whispers classic French culinary magic through its creamy custard and crisp bacon layers.

French regional cooking shines brightest in this elegant dish that connects generations of home chefs.

Classic comfort meets sophisticated flavor in each precious slice of golden-edged pastry.

Cheese, eggs, and smoky bacon dance together in harmonious celebration of simple ingredients.

Gourmet complexity emerges from humble kitchen staples with surprising grace.

Savor this masterpiece – share its delicious story, snap a mouthwatering photo, drop a comment celebrating your culinary adventure, and spread quiche love with friends who crave authentic French comfort.

Joy Of Cooking Quiche Lorraine Recipe

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4.8 from 10 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Quiche Lorraine brings French countryside charm to your table with creamy eggs, crisp bacon, and buttery pastry. Simple ingredients merge in this classic dish, promising a delightful culinary experience that will transport you to the heart of Alsace.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 4 large eggs
• ½ pound (226 grams) thin strips of bacon, chopped into ½ inch pieces

Dairy and Cheese:

• 1 cup shredded sharp white cheddar cheese (or gruyere)
• 1 ¾ cups (414 ml) half and half (or equal parts whole milk and heavy cream)
• 1 egg white

Pie and Seasonings:

• 1 pie crust (1 frozen crust, or ½ recipe for double pie crust)
• ½ yellow onion, diced
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon finely ground black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

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Instructions

1. Prepare a homemade pie crust or select a store-bought option, ensuring it’s suitable for a tart or deep pie pan.
2. Roll out the pastry dough to approximately 12 inches (30.5 centimeters) on a lightly floured surface or between parchment paper sheets.
3. Gently transfer the dough into the pan, carefully pressing it into the edges and bottom using fingertips.
4. Chill the prepared crust in the freezer for approximately 30 minutes while preheating the oven to 350°F (175°C).
5. Position the oven rack in the center of the oven for even baking.
6. Remove the chilled crust and create multiple fork punctures across the bottom to prevent bubbling.
7. Line the crust with parchment paper or aluminum foil, ensuring slight overhang for easy removal.
8. Place the tart pan on a flat baking sheet for stability and fill approximately 3/4 full with pie weights.
9. Bake the crust for 35-40 minutes until it achieves a light golden appearance and is mostly set.
10. After baking, remove the pie weights and parchment paper, then brush the interior with whisked egg white to create a moisture barrier.
11. In a large skillet over medium-low heat, cook bacon until crispy and fat is rendered, then transfer to a separate dish.
12. Utilize the remaining bacon fat to caramelize diced onions until they become golden and translucent.
13. Remove onions with a slotted spoon and combine with the crispy bacon.
14. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 4 large eggs, 1 3/4 cups (414 milliliters) half-and-half, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon paprika, and 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg for about one minute.
15. Incorporate shredded cheese, cooked bacon, and caramelized onions into the egg mixture.
16. Pour the prepared filling into the pre-baked crust and return to the 350°F (175°C) oven.
17. Bake for approximately 50 minutes, or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean and the filling shows a slight wobble.
18. Allow the quiche to rest and set for 10-15 minutes before serving, optionally garnishing with fresh chopped parsley.

Notes

• Elevate your quiche game by selecting premium ingredients that amplify flavor and texture.
• Fresh, high-quality half-and-half and farm eggs transform this classic dish from ordinary to extraordinary.
• Slow-cooking bacon creates irresistibly crispy bits that distribute delightful smoky notes throughout the custard.
• Caramelizing onions in rendered bacon fat builds complex, deep flavor layers that tantalize taste buds.
• Blind baking the pie crust with an egg white seal prevents soggy bottoms and maintains a perfectly crisp foundation.
• Allowing the quiche to rest after baking lets the custard set and flavors harmonize, ensuring a sublime dining experience.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: British

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 420 kcal
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 540 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 20 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 12 g
• Cholesterol: 180 mg