Quiche Au Fromage
Dairy
One recipe for basic pastry
6 large eggs
⅔ cup heavy cream or creme fraiche
1 cup milk (preferably whole)
8 oz gruyere, emmenthal, or other Swiss-type cheese
¼ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
Roll out the pastry to fit a 10-1/2 inch glass or metal pie plate (not removable bottom). Crimp the edges, poke the bottom with a fork or the tip of a sharp knife, and place the pastry in the freezer for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 425°. Line the pastry with aluminum foil and pastry weights and bake in the bottom third of the oven until is golden at the edges, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and remove the aluminum foil and pastry weights. Return to the oven to bake until the bottom is golden, an additional 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and reserve.
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, and the milk until thoroughly blended. Season with the salt and pepper, then add the cheese and stir until it is blended. Turn the mixture into the pre-baked pastry, and spread out the cheese evenly over the bottom of the pastry. Sprinkle the top with nutmeg, and bake in the center of the oven until the filling is golden and puffed, and is completely baked through, about 30 minutes. To test for doneness, shake the quiche -- if it is solid without a pool of uncooked filling in the center, it is done. You may also stick a sharp knife blade into the center of the filling and if it comes out clean, the quiche is baked through. Remove the quiche from the oven and serve immediately.
Bacon and Cheese Quiche:
Remove the rind from 4 oz good-quality slab bacon, and cut it into thick slices, then cut the slices in half, lengthwise, and crosswise into 1/4-inch thick slices. Place these in a heavy pan over medium heat and cook the bacon until it is crisp. Drain it on a paper-towel-covered plate, and sprinkle it over the pre-baked pastry before adding the custard.
Onion and Cheese Quiche:
Peel and halve a medium-sized yellow onion. cut it in quarters then slice the onion paper-thin. Melt one tablespoon butter in the bottom of a heavy skillet over medium heat, add the onions and stir, season lightly with salt, cover, and cook until the onions are very tender and translucent, and just slightly browned at the edges, 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat, and spread over the pre-baked pastry before adding the custard.