Cheese and Bacon Quiche
This recipe is an all-time favorite. . . and why wouldn’t it be? Crisp bacon, Swiss cheese, and a light egg custard – all baked up in a flaky, buttery tart shell
. Sliced into wedges, it can be served hot or cold any time of day.
Ingredients
- 10 slices bacon fried crisp and crumbled
- 1 Tart Shell partially baked* (click on the link to see my recipe)
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups light cream or half and half
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- 1 1/4 cups Swiss cheese grated
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425º F. Sprinkle the crumbled bacon over the bottom of the partially baked tart shell .
- Combine the eggs, cream, salt nutmeg and cayenne pepper. Beat to mix thoroughly.
- Sprinkle the grated cheese over the bacon and ladle the custard over it.
- Bake for 15 minutes at 425ºF.
- Lower the heat to 350ºF and bake for an additional 30 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center of the quiche comes out clean.
Notes
*To partially bake the tart shell, make the pastry according to the directions. Prick the bottom of the shell with a fork. Bake at 425 for 8 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before filling it with the quiche ingredients.
Variations:
Spinach Quiche
Omit the bacon and use only ½ cup grated Swiss. Add 1 cup cooked, chopped spinach – well drained, and 2 Tablespoons minced onion – which has been sautéed in 1 Tablespoon of butter. Onion Quiche
Omit the bacon and add 2 onions, thinly sliced, which have been sautéed in 3 tablespoons of butter. Goat Cheese and Herbs
Omit the bacon, Swiss, and nutmeg. To the egg mixture, add ½ teaspoon grated lemon zest, 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme, 2 tablespoons chopped scallions and 2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley. Slice 4 ounces of fresh goat cheese (chevre) into quarter-inch rounds. Spread the goat cheese slices evenly over the bottom of the pastry. Beat the custard once more and carefully pour it over the cheese slices. Bake at 375 ºF for 30 to 35 minutes until the top is golden and the custard is set. Cool for 10 minutes before slicing. For a more rustic look, crumble the cheese instead of slicing into rounds.
Omit the bacon and use only ½ cup grated Swiss. Add 1 cup cooked, chopped spinach – well drained, and 2 Tablespoons minced onion – which has been sautéed in 1 Tablespoon of butter. Onion Quiche
Omit the bacon and add 2 onions, thinly sliced, which have been sautéed in 3 tablespoons of butter. Goat Cheese and Herbs
Omit the bacon, Swiss, and nutmeg. To the egg mixture, add ½ teaspoon grated lemon zest, 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme, 2 tablespoons chopped scallions and 2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley. Slice 4 ounces of fresh goat cheese (chevre) into quarter-inch rounds. Spread the goat cheese slices evenly over the bottom of the pastry. Beat the custard once more and carefully pour it over the cheese slices. Bake at 375 ºF for 30 to 35 minutes until the top is golden and the custard is set. Cool for 10 minutes before slicing. For a more rustic look, crumble the cheese instead of slicing into rounds.