Barefoot Contessa Quiche Lorraine Food

QUICHE LORRAINE

Steps:

• Make the Shortcrust pastry, recipe below, leaving to chill for 30 minutes before using.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line the tart pan with the pastry dough, and bake 'blind'.
• Filling: Heat the oil in a frying pan and cook the bacon until crisp. Remove and drain on paper towels. Then sweat the onions gently in the same oil for 10 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, whisk the eggs in a medium-sized bowl, add the cream, parsley and chives, cheeses, and cool bacon and onions. Mix well and add seasoning.
• Pour the filling into the pastry base and return to the oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the center has set. Serve warm with a green salad and relish.
• Put the flour, salt, and butter in a food processor and whiz or pulse briefly. Add half the beaten egg and continue to whiz. You might add a little more egg, but not too much as the mixture should be just moist enough to come together. If making by hand, rub the butter into the flour until it resembles coarse bread crumbs. Then, using your hands, add just enough egg to bring the dough together.
• With your hands, flatten out the ball of dough, until it is about 3/4-inch thick, and then wrap in plastic wrap or place in a plastic bag and leave in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or, if you are pushed for time, in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Makes 1 crust (about 14 ounces).

QUICHE LORRAINE

Steps:

• For the pastry: Combine the flour and the salt on your work table. Add the butter and work it into the flour until the consistency is coarse. Stir and work in the egg and the water until the dough becomes a ball. Coat the work surface with a little flour and let the dough rest for at least 5 minutes.
• For the quiche: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch pie dish. Spread the pastry out to cover the bottom and sides with your fingers (use flour to help, push dough from middle to sides of dish). Let the pastry stand a bit higher than the dish edge. Bake the pastry for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven before the pastry shrinks, (adjust sides if needed). Place the ham and cheese in the pan. In the meantime, beat the eggs and half-and-half with a fork in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Pour the egg mixture into the pan and bake for 30 minutes, until the center is firm. Serve warm with a salad, if desired.

THE BEST QUICHE LORRAINE

Steps:

• For the pastry crust: Pulse the flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor until combined. Add the butter and pulse until the flour looks like cornmeal. Sprinkle in 3 tablespoons ice water and pulse until the dough begins to come together. Pinch the dough with your fingers; if it doesn't hold together, add up to 2 more tablespoons ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse again.
• Transfer the dough to a sheet of plastic wrap and pat into a disc. Wrap tightly and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour and preferably overnight.
• Lightly flour a work surface, then roll the dough into an 11-inch round, about 1/8 inch thick. Center the dough in a 9-inch fluted tart pan with removable bottom, with an even overhang of dough all around. Press the dough into the edges of the pan and the fluted sides. Roll the rolling pin over the top to cut off the extra dough (discard the extra). Poke the bottom and sides all over with a fork. Chill until completely cold, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F.
• Press a piece of parchment over the chilled crust, then fill with pie weights, raw beans or rice. Put the pan on a baking sheet. Bake until the crust is set and golden around the edges, about 40 minutes. Carefully remove the parchment and weights. Return to the oven and bake until the crust is dry and slightly golden, about 15 minutes more. Let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• For the filling: Combine the butter, onion, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 cup water in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are completely softened and all the water has evaporated, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a separate medium skillet over medium-low heat, stirring, until the fat has rendered and the bacon is crisp, 10 to 15 minutes.
• When the onions have cooked for 30 minutes, add the bacon using a slotted spoon, then stir in 1 teaspoon of the thyme and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Spread the onion mixture in the bottom of the crust and sprinkle with the Gruyere. Whisk together the cream, eggs and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl until combined. Pour the cream mixture over the filling in the crust and top with the remaining 1 teaspoon thyme.
• Bake the quiche on the baking sheet until set and golden, about 30 minutes. Let cool at least 30 minutes before serving.

QUICHE LORRAINE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450°F.
• Sprinkle bacon, cheese and onion in pastry-lined pie pan.
• Whisk eggs slightly, Beat in remaining ingredients.
• Pour mixture into pie pan.
• Bake for 15 minutes at 450°F.
• Reduce oven temperature to 300°F.
• Bake an additional 30 minutes.
• Quiche is done when knife inserted 1 inch from edge comes out clean.
• Important--let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

CLASSIC QUICHE LORRAINE

Steps:

• In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the bacon until crisp; transfer bacon to a paper-towel lined plate using a slotted spoon; let bacon drain.
• Discard all but 1 tablespoon bacon drippings from pan.
• Add in onion and shallot; stir/saute for 5 minutes or until tender; stir in parsley.
• In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, mustard, nutmeg, salt, and pepper; add in onion mixture and bacon; stir to combine.
• Sprinkle cheese over the bottom of the pie shell.
• Pour egg mixture over all.
• Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 40-45 minutes or until knife inserted into center comes out clean (cover pie crust edges as appropriate if become too brown).
• Let stand for 10 minutes.
• Cut into wedges and serve.

CHEF JOHN'S QUICHE LORRAINE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Roll pie dough to fit a 9 inch pie plate. Place bottom crust in pie plate and chill for at least 20 minutes before baking. Line the chilled pie crust with foil and fill halfway up with dried beans, rice, or baking weights. Bake in the preheated oven for 7 minutes. Remove foil and weights and bake until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
• Reduce oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until browned and cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from pan to drain. Blot out some of the oil from the skillet, leaving 1 to 2 teaspoons. Add leeks, onion, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Cook and stir until tender and golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Set aside.
• Whisk eggs, egg yolks, cream, and milk together in a large bowl. Add thyme and stir to combine.
• Sprinkle 2/3 of onion-leek mixture on the bottom of the baked crust. Top with 1/3 cooked bacon and 2/3 Gruyere cheese. Ladle in egg mixture carefully. Sprinkle with remaining onion-leek mixture, remaining bacon, and remaining Gruyere cheese.
• Bake filled quiche in the preheated oven until browned and set, and no longer jiggly in the center, 40 to 45 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

CHEESY QUICHE LORRAINE

Steps:

• Cook chopped bacon in a heavy skillet with a little butter or olive oil until browned.
• Remove the bacon from the skillet to a glass or paper plate lined with a couple paper towels.
• Butter a 9" glass pie dish.
• Spread bacon and then the grated Gruyere in the pie plate.
• Whisk together the eggs, creme fraiche, salt, and pepper.
• Pour over the bacon and cheese, using a fork to gently distribute the bacon and cheese evenly.
• Bake the quiche in a water bath in a 350F oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
• Serve hot or at room temperature.
• Note: A water bath is simply placing the dish to be cooked in a larger dish, then filling the larger dish with water to about 1" from the top of the smaller dish, then bake.
• I get the water ready to pour, place the uncooked quiche in the larger dish and then into the oven, and THEN pour the water in.
• Be very careful pulling this out of the oven.
• Move slowly so the hot water doesn't slosh about.
• Don't pull your oven rack out with the dish on it unless your rack moves very smoothly or the water will slosh.

QUICHE LORRAINE

Steps:

• Make crust: In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add flour, butter, and salt. Mix at lowest speed until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. With the motor still running, slowly add egg yolks one at a time, then the cold water; continue mixing until the dough comes together, 10-15 seconds. Turn dough onto a flat work surface and bring it together with your hands. Dust surface and dough with flour, then shape into a disk about 8 inches in diameter and ½ inch thick. (Optional: Use a rolling pin dusted with flour to help you flatten the dough.) Wrap disk in plastic and refrigerate for 2 hours and up to overnight. (Dough can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days or in the freezer for up to 2 weeks; defrost in the refrigerator before continuing with recipe.)
• Shape dough: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Remove dough from refrigerator. Use a pastry brush to grease the bottom and sides of the tart pan with softened butter.Unwrap the dough and place on a lightly floured work surface. Use a rolling pin to flatten the dough into a circle; every few rolls, rotate the dough a quarter-turn to even out the thickness and shape, dusting with flour as needed. Center the tart pan on the circle of dough: the dough should extend at least 2 inches past the edge of the pan, all the way around, in order to line the walls of the tart pan. Transfer dough to tart pan: Gently fold dough in half, then in half again. Center the tip of dough wedge in the middle of the pan and gently unfold. Use your fingers to ease the dough against the sides of the pan and help it lie flat against the bottom; avoid stretching or tearing. Leaving a ¼-inch overhang, trim the excess dough with a paring knife. Shape excess dough into a ball and use it to push the dough into the fluted walls of the pan. Fold and press the overhanging dough over the rim; this will help the dough hold its shape as it bakes.
• Parbake crust: Line dough with a circle of parchment paper; fill pan with baking beans or pie weights. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Meanwhile, make an egg wash by whisking an egg with a tablespoon of water. Set aside. After 20-25 minutes, remove parbaked crust from oven; remove the parchment paper and baking beans. Use a serrated knife to trim away the crust along the top of the tart pan so it's flush with the edge; now that the dough is partially cooked, it won't shrink as it cooks further. Brush the bottom and sides with the egg wash and place back in the oven, 5 more minutes. Crust is parbaked when it's firm but hasn't taken on color; the sides should be pulling away slightly from the pan. Set aside to cool. Increase oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
• Filling: Trim root end of the leeks. Slice in half lengthwise, then slice into ¼-inch half-moons. Trim root end of the endives, then remove outer leaves. Slice in half lengthwise, then slice into ¼-inch half-moons. Slice bacon into ¼-inch strips (or "lardons"). In a large sauté pan set over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Add bacon, leeks, endives, a few turns of pepper, and a pinch of salt. Stir and sweat until vegetables are soft but not brown, 8-10 minutes. Towards the end of cooking, turn heat to low and add chopped garlic. Stir to combine, turn off heat, and set aside.
• Custard: In large bowl, add eggs, egg yolks, salt, and pepper; whisk together. Then slowly add cream while whisking; continue whisking until smooth. Set aside. Dice cheese into ½-inch cubes. Set aside.Assemble quiche: Place tart pan on a wire rack fitted into a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spoon the vegetable-bacon mixture into the tart crust and spread in an even layer; top with diced cheese. Mince about 2 tablespoons of chives and set aside. Ladle custard into the tart pan until it covers the filling and almost reaches the top. Gently shake the pan to settle the custard and eliminate air pockets. Pour remaining custard (about ¼-½ cup) into a measuring cup or small pitcher. Sprinkle quiche with half the minced chives, reserving the rest for garnish. Place quiche on oven rack; then add enough remaining custard to fill the crust to the very top without overflowing. Bake for 20 minutes. (Total baking time will be 50 minutes.)
• After 20 minutes, rotate the pan 180 degrees and lower the temperature to 275 degrees F. Continue cooking until custard is set, another 25-30 minutes. Turn on broiler. Place quiche on a rack about 6 inches from heat source. Broil until top is a light golden brown, 1-2 minutes. Note: Keep an eye on it the entire time to prevent burning!
• Remove quiche from oven and let cool in the pan, at least 30 minutes. Before serving, lightly brush top with olive oil. Remove tart ring. If you want to remove the bottom of the tart pan, gently run a knife between it and the crust before sliding it out. Garnish with reserved chives (optional). Serve warm or at room temperature. (To reheat a cold quiche: Bake at 200 degrees F for 20 minutes.)

BEAUTIFUL QUICHE LORRAINE

Steps:

• Combine the cheese and flour and sprinkle into the pie shell.
• Spread the ham evenly over this.
• Combine the eggs, milk, salt and mustard.
• Beat until smooth and pour evenly over the cheese and ham.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes, or until the custard is set.
• Serve warm, garnished with chopped parsley.
• To freeze: Prepare recipe through step 4. Wrap well with saran wrap and then foil. Freeze.
• To serve: Thaw in fridge overnight. Bake as directed.