These mini quiches were a big hit with my kids. I served them for lunch during half term and the girls ate three each! Even Seán who takes a lot of persuading to try something new ate two! This recipe will also make one large quiche and can easily be made Gluten free. Season carefully as you already have salt in the bacon. If you are feeling adventurous try a different filling as listed below or if you are feeling indulgent use half cream, half milk.

Pastry

175 grams / 1    cups plain flour (All Purpose)

85 grams / 6 tablespoons butter

Pinch salt

2-3 tablespoons of cold water

Filling

3 rashers of back bacon chopped or bacon lardons

2 eggs beaten

60 grams/ ½ cup cheddar cheese grated

150 millilitres /  cup milk

Salt and freshly ground pepper if needed

 

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F.

Sieve the flour and salt into a bowl. Add the butter and rub into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs. Sprinkle on the water and stir the mixture with a knife until it comes together. Add more water if necessary. Press the pastry into a ball, the bowl should be clean. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry until it is 3 millimetres / ¼ inch thick. Cut out pastry circles and place in a greased muffin tin with a 98 mm/3 7/8 inch cookie cutter which is approximately the size of a pint glass. The pastry needs to come up the sides of the muffin tin so that it holds the liquid.

Fry the bacon until crisp. Mix together the eggs, cheese, milk, bacon and seasoning.  Spoon the mixture into each pastry case. Bake in to oven until the pastry is golden and the filling is set. Cool slightly in the pans before removing.

Cheat by using a store bought pastry. The results are just the same

Make these quiches gluten free by substituting the flour and baking powder with a GF variety. I like Dove’s Farm brand. Remember to include ¼ teaspoon of Xanthan gum. As the discs are small you shouldn’t have a problem with cracking but roll between 2 sheets of cling film if you wish.

Alternative Fillings:

Baby plum tomatoes and Camembert cheese- Just half the tomatoes and slice the cheese

Vegetable Quiche – your families favourite vegetables, precooked firstly of course

Garden vegetable with feta: broccoli, spring onion and baby asparagus. Sauté the spring onion and asparagus firstly

Cheese and onion

Broccoli cheese and tomato- steam the broccoli firstly

Chicken and asparagus- use cooked chicken and sauté the asparagus

Chicken and leek- use cooked chicken and fry off you leeks, consider using baby leeks if making these as mini quiches.

Smoked salmon and broccoli- steam the broccoli firstly

Bacon, leek and mushroom. Fry these off before you add the milk and cheese

Cheese and tomato- Dice the tomato, no need to precook.

Carrot and courgette (zucchini) Grate the vegetable first