What is quiche? Is it French? What’s in it? Can it be frozen? All those quiche questions and more will be answered, just read on.
When I was a kid, I had an allergy to eggs. It wasn’t super severe, so I was still able to have something like a cake, but I couldn’t eat, say, scrambled eggs. Fortunately, I eventually overcame it.
People have sometimes been confused when I explain the terms of this allergy, and, look, maybe my parents made it up out of an overabundance of caution, or I was only actually allergic when I was an infant, but the point is, I never had any egg-forward dishes until I was in college.
It took me a while to learn to love eggs, but one eggy food that I liked immediately was quiche. It’s hearty, savory, flavorful, and versatile. But how much do we know about it? What is a quiche? Where is it from? What is inside it (besides eggs)? Let’s crack into some answers.
What is quiche?
Quiche is a form of savory tart. And what is a tart? It’s a type of pie with an open top, which is to say, without a pastry covering. A quiche has a pastry crust and a filling made of egg and cream or milk, as well as some other ingredients. The most famous variety is the quiche Lorraine (more on that later).
What is in quiche?
When it comes to quiche ingredients, the sky’s the limit. You’ll almost certainly want a pastry crust and a mixture of eggs and cream, but from there you can add pretty much anything you want—but it’s pretty much always savory.
Some popular quiche ingredients include leeks, mushrooms, spinach, onions, smoked salmon, bacon, and cheeses of all varieties. Taste Of Home has a list of even more fun options for quiches you can make at home.
Is quiche French?
Mais oui! Yes, quiche is a quintessentially French food. However, its origins lie in Medieval Germany. The word “quiche” is believed to have come from the German word for cake, “kuchen.” This dish was particularly popular in a region of Medieval Germany that would eventually be taken over by the French and renamed Lorraine. Thus, the quiche Lorraine.
What is quiche Lorraine?
Inarguably the most famous quiche variant, a quiche Lorraine is a quiche made with bacon, ham, or lardons, along with cheese (usually Gruyère or Swiss or sometimes cheddar), and often caramelized onions. Originally, though, it was only made with eggs, cream, and lardons—stuff farmers had somewhat easy access to. It got its name because it is associated with the Lorraine region of France, where it was first made.
Can quiche be frozen?
One of the great things about quiches is that they can be easily frozen. This means that you can grab a quiche right now from the frozen food aisle at your grocery store and heat it up later. In fact, I had some mini quiches for breakfast this morning. If you’re making your own quiche, it should last in the freezer for around three months without sacrificing quality.
How long does quiche last in the fridge?
Leftover quiche is great because it can be served cold or reheated. But, of course, all good things must come to an end. Be sure to eat your refrigerated quiche within three to five days for best results.
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!