I’m very used to making quiche, this leek shallot mushroom quiche in particular. Which is a french, fancy sounding word for tart. The kind that has a buttery crust and rich filling which involves a binding cream and eggs mixture.
Today in our French Fridays with Dorie group we are making mushroom and shallot quiche, to which I added leeks and chives. Why? Because they were there and they really go perfect together. The thing about quiche is pretty much like frittata or risotto: it’s the perfect way to clean your fridge of odds and ends. Vegetables and cheeses, deli meats, anything and everything can go into a quiche.
Quiche is the perfect thing for a lunch together with a salad, for a picnic, for a buffet table and, if you make them bite size, it’s the ultimate appetizer to eat while you mingle holding a cocktail in your other hand.
My go-to tart dough has only four ingredients, flour, salt, butter and ice water.
Here Dorie uses a recipe that adds an egg to those ingredients. The result is a great dough. It is lighter but still rich and flaky, rolls like a dream and, my favorite part, bakes perfectly with absolutely not a bit of shrinking anywhere.
That is, provided you first let it rest for three hours after it comes together, and then at least half an hour in the freezer after it it fit into the pan.
That is, provided you first let it rest for three hours after it comes together, and then at least half an hour in the freezer after it it fit into the pan.
The filling is simple and I never follow quantities. I just melt butter and some olive oil, and throw in coarsely chopped leeks, shallots, add salt and pepper, cook it a bit, then add chopped mushrooms and thyme, more salt and pepper and it’s done when the mushrooms are brown and all their water has evaporated. You know how they can be, watery to make you cry. But if the heat is high, that is not a problem.
It is very important not to use watery ingredients when making quiche, as the result will be soggy. And soggy is no good. Nobody likes a soggy tart.
The final part is the binding cream. Cream and eggs. Sometimes a bit of milk. Just mix it together without beating, some salt and pepper and pour it over the filling that is already in the tart shell. Some chives and grated cheese (gruyere or fontina) and into the oven until it turns a golden, shiny color. And then eat it with pleasure.
That said, I made my version thin. It is a lot of butter and cream after all.
My absolute favorite quiche is one I make with caramelized onions and soft goat cheese. Irresistible.
You can find the original recipe here.
Daivd Lyod says
February 7, 2013 at 09:38Beautiful photos once again and using your sweet little mini tins again!
I gotta say, some things just should not be fat free!. read more
Mack says
November 23, 2012 at 13:53“Vegetables and cheeses, deli meats, anything and everything can go into a quiche.” Good choice in choosing mushroom as one of the veggies to include in your quiche. 🙂 It contains calcium, which is essential for an individual’s bone development, and iron, which offers protection from anemia.
Mack Shepperson
Marissa | Pinch and Swirl says
November 6, 2012 at 16:02Interesting about the addition of an egg and resting time resolving the ever-frustrating shrinkage. Looks beautiful Paula.
Jora says
November 5, 2012 at 19:52Beautiful quiche. Your crust looks so flaky. I love how adaptable quiche is. I swapped spinach for the mushrooms and it still turned out great. Your goat cheese and caramelized onions version sounds excellent; they are such a great pair.
Maggie says
November 5, 2012 at 14:07Yum! Your quiche looks beautiful! I am jealous of your lovely crust – mine always shrink even though I feel like I am following the directions to a T. Oh well, still tastes great! 🙂
Maggie says
November 5, 2012 at 14:06Yum! Your quiche looks beautiful! I am jealous of your lovely crust – mine always shrink even though I feel like I am following the directions to a T. Oh well, still tastes great! 🙂
Cocoa and Lavender says
November 4, 2012 at 13:18Paula – your photos are beautiful! I could just about eat the entire quiche myself… what a wonderful combination of ingredients. And, although it is exactly how I make risotto and quiche and pasta sauces, I never realized that I was cleaning out my fridge! They is brilliant. Thanks for another beautiful recipe. ~ David