One of the first French dishes I ever tasted was an authentic quiche Lorraine. My young taste buds embraced the flavors with gusto. At the tender age of 12 I felt like a sophisticated woman for having experienced French food, albeit a simple dish. From that day on, there is and was only one quiche for me: Authentic Quiche Lorraine!
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This soft, melt in your mouth quiche with its heavenly texture gets its name from the Lorraine region of north eastern France. The name Lorraine in turn comes from the medieval kingdom of Lotharingia which was named for its ruler Lothair (grandson of Charlemagne). The cuisine of the Lorraine is simple but delicious and bacon is an integral part. What doesn't taste good with bacon, right?
Is it hard to make quiche lorraine?
Making a quiche Lorraine is really simple business. For one, you only need a few ingredients: eggs, bacon, and cream. I don't make it often enough at home because it's not exactly "health food", but it is so tasty. To get that soft interior texture I highly recommend biting the health bullet and using cream; it makes a difference. I have used lower fat substitutes before, and they just don't work. Besides, you are already using bacon, right? You might as well go for it!
Can I use store-bought frozen crust?
Totally. Now, about the crust. I know most people don't like to make their own crust, and in the interest of time this is totally valid. I like my home made crust better than store bought, but it is not necessary.
Different fillings for quiche lorraine
If you're a vegetarian, this delicious, buttery quiche can still be for you. You can add spinach, mushrooms, caramelized onions, or even vegan bacon or "fake-on" as I jokingly call it. While the classic recipe does call for bacon, it's not a requirement and the quiche lorraine police aren't going to punish you for subbing ingredients.
What do people serve with quiche lorraine?
Quiche lorraine is a great brunch, lunch or dinner dish. It's not a light meal with all of the butter, bacon, and cream but it is a delicious one. Some would consider this dish to be more of an entree. Many people enjoy it with a side of salad greens, roasted potatoes, fresh fruit, or a glass of wine. Why not?
How to make quiche lorraine:
- Gather all your ingredients and have them measured, grated and ready to go. The French call this "mise en place" or everything in place and it is the only way to begin a recipe. Prep all items and then start the procedure, trust me. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- To make the crust place the flour, butter and salt in a food processor.
- Pulse until it looks like a fine meal.
- Add 1 Tbsp cold water and pulse.
- Add more water, 1 Tbsp at time until it forms a ball.
- Drop the dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll out into a 12 inch circle. This should be the correct size for a 10 inch quiche pan.
- Tip: I like to roll the dough over the rolling pin and then lift over the pan.
- Press the dough firmly into the sides of the pan. Press over the edges and remove the excess. Take the scraps and press into the edges so there is no waste.
- Drop a piece of parchment paper onto the dough and then add your pie weights or dry beans. Blind bake for 15 minutes. Beat 1 egg for an egg wash and set aside.
- While the crust is baking cook the bacon in a pan until just slightly crisp. Place the cooked bacon on paper towel to drain then chop into half inch pieces. In a mixing bowl combine 4 eggs, heavy cream, pepper and nutmeg until well blended.
- When the crust has baked promptly remove from the oven, take out the beans and parchment. Brush the egg wash over the hot crust immediately.
- Add the cropped bacon to the crust then the grated cheese. Try to distribute evenly.
- Pour in the egg-cream mixture over the bacon and cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes and the quiche should puff up. If you like a nice brown top, turn the broiler on and keep a close watch.
Enjoy an authentic quiche Lorraine for a lunch or dinner. It's even good enough to take to work the next day, providing there are leftovers.
Frequently asked questions:
- How long can I store the finished quiche? It is best to eat this fresh baked. It will last for 3 days in the refrigerator but the crust will start to get a bit softer. Wrap the tart with foil or plastic wrap while in the refrigerator.
- Can I freeze quiche lorraine? Yes, allow it to completely cool first. You can freeze it in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in freezer plastic or foil for up to 3 months. Allow it to completely thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Can I reheat the quiche in the oven from the refrigerator? Yes, preheat the oven to 200°F and heat for 15-30 minutes until warm in the center. A smaller portion will take less time. If half of the tart is left it will take less time to heat up the center.
- Is quiche meant to be eaten hot or cold? You'll be surprised to know that quiche is meant to be eaten at room temperature. You can warm it up but it's not meant to be piping hot when you eat it.
If you want to explore some other French-style recipes here are a few to bookmark for later or pin on Pinterest. The French patisserie fruit tart is easy to make and the cream filling just divine with a topping of fresh fruit of your choice and then glazed. If you are a soup lover then you have to try homemade French onion soup and learn a little about the history of the dish too. My all time favorite chicken dish has to be chicken tarragon that is cooked so tender and served with a creamy rich sauce.
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Authentic Quiche Lorraine
Ingredients
Dough
- 1 cup flour plus 2 Tbsp.
- 5 Tbsp. unsalted butter cold, cut into pieces
- ¼ cup water cold
- ⅛ tsp. salt
Instructions
Prepare the crust:
- 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.
Prepare the filling:
- 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.
Assemble the quiche and bake:
- 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.
Nutrition
Originally published January 2018 and updated January 2021.
Abby @ WinsteadWandering
I love breakfast any time of day, so I'm a huge fan of dishes like quiche. Yours is gorgeous!
Analida
Thank you Abby! Quiche Lorraine is one of my favorite things to eat.
Sharon
Love the back story of the Quiche Lorraine. I can agree 100% that bacon does make everything a little bit better. This looks simply delicious.
Analida
I am so glad you like bacon! 🙂 I always find fascinating that most dishes have a history behind them. Thanks for the compliment, and for commenting.
Gloria
I love quiche. It is perfect for brunch, lunch or dinner. I will admit I have NEVER made one from scratch. This recipe sounds like a great place to start.
Analida
Quiche is one of my favorites things Gloria. And, yes it is perfect for brunch, lunch, or dinner. Give it a try, it is very easy to make from scratch. 🙂
Kate
This sounds wonderful-and so perfect for an Easter brunch! And I has probably mentioned this before, but I am in love with those white dishes. They are so beautiful!
Analida
Thanks Kate! I can't remember where I got those dishes. I am so glad you like them.. Yes, quiche Lorraine is perfect for Easter brunch. 🙂
Matt Kearns
Oh man I love a good quiche recipe, and I can't wait to try this one. Cheese and bacon...that's all you need!
Analida
LOL Matt, you are so right! 🙂 Let me know how you like it.
Karyl Henry
What a simple dish! I never realized quiche was so easy to make. And I love that you use Gruyere...it has such a wonderful flavor and creaminess. And everything is better with bacon!!
Analida
Hi Karyl! Yes, quiche is super easy to make. Indeed everything is better with bacon. 🙂
Kathryn @ FoodieGirlChicago
Quiche Lorraine has got to be my favorite quiche! It's perfect for breakfast, brunch or even dinner! You can just never go wrong with the combo of bacon and gruyere!
Analida
Hi Kathryn! Yes, quiche is perfect for any meal. Isn't that awesome? Bacon and gruyere, you are right, you can't go wrong! 🙂
Veronika's Kitchen
I am a big fan of quiche! What a wonderful recipe that is quite easy to make! Will definitely save it for future)
Analida
Hi Veronika, it is so easy to make. I hope you have a chance to make it sometime.
Lois. O
Even though I don't eat eggs, I know a couple of friends who would love to try this recipe out! I might try it out with some egg replacers just to see if I can make it as good as yours looks.
Analida
Hi Lois! i would love it if you can pass this recipe along to your friends who do like eggs. Yes, try it out with an egg substitute. 🙂
Jyothi
The fact that this recipe is authentic and so simple is amazing to know. A good quiche is that which has cheese and bacon 😀 That's it! What else do you need!
Analida
Yes, Jyothi, cheese and bacon is key! 🙂 Nothing else is needed. Thanks so much for commenting. HAve a nice day!
Christine
Love Quiche Lorraine! I've never made it, though. This would be such a fun and delicious recipe to try!
Analida
Christine, it is so easy to make. It is perfect for breakfast, lunch, brunch, or dinner! 🙂
marnie
Lovely thank you, except authentic quiche lorraine doesn’t have cheese in it whatsoever, In Lorraine you will find it vehemently defended that it is cheese free. Regardless it still looks divine but trying it without cheese is just as awesome.
Judith
I added some caramalised onion. Waiting to see what it tastes like when I take it out of the oven.Otherwise I copied the exact recipe.
Analida
That sounds fantastic!
Christian
Why "unsalted butter" and a pinch of salt? 😃
Analida
Thanks for the question. The main reason is you can control the amount of salt by using unsalted butter and adding in salt. Also, for those on a restricted diet can eliminate it. Enjoy!
Frances
Good recipe. But I wish it was in grams. How the heck do you measure butter in tablespoons?
Analida
I found this chart for butter converted from tablespoon to grams:
Tablespoon Grams
1 tablespoon 20g
3 tablespoons 60g
5 tablespoons 100g
10 tablespoons 200g
Enjoy!