What is a Quiche?
A quiche is a pastry crust dish that can be served hot or cold. It consists of eggs, milk, cream, butter, salt, and pepper mixed with other ingredients such as spinach, onions, ham, and cheese.
A quiche may have originated in Brittany, France, during the 14th century.
The word “quiche” is an adaptation of the term “quiche Lorraine means” which “Lorraine pie”. The dish is similar to the British boiled egg dish called custard tart or custard pie.
The quiche is so popular because it is an easy dish to make, and it is hearty, sweet, savory, and also delicious. So delicious, in fact, there are many types of quiche you can make.
The most well-known type of quiche is the quiche Lorraine, which contains cheese (usually Swiss), milk, eggs, and pork (bacon or ham). Other well-known types include broccoli and cheddar cheese; mushroom; spinach; southwestern chicken; and sun-dried tomato and goat cheese.
When Can I Eat a Quiche?
The quiche is a great choice for breakfast, brunch, or dinner and can be served alone or with a side dish such as salad or fruit. It also makes a wonderful addition to other dishes such as the appetizer tray, soup/salad combo, sandwich, pasta dish, or even a picnic.
A perfect example is the quiche Lorraine, which you can serve with fruit or vegetables to make a light meal, or have it as an appetizer with crackers and salad.
Do You Eat A Quiche Hot or Cold?
A Quiche is a pastry crust dish that can be served hot or cold. It can also be served alone, as an appetizer, or it can accompany other dishes.
One condiment that can be eaten along with pie is mayonnaise, which complements the quiche by providing acidity and saltiness. Honey, apple sauce, and cinnamon also taste good with a quiche, while cranberry sauce and sweetened condensed milk go well with a quiche Lorraine.
Another condiment you might want to consider for a quiche is pesto. You can mix pesto with a quiche or spread it on top.
What Does A Quiche Taste Like?
Quiche is usually savory, with a combination of eggs, cream, and cheese as its base ingredients. It has a thick crust that varies from hard to soft depending on the recipe used. The outside is flaky, and the inside is soft. The crust provides a textural contrast from the tender, creamy interior of the quiche, making for a delicious meal.
A quiche tastes like its most popular ingredients including bacon, ham, spinach, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, etc.
What Is The History Of A Quiche?
Quiche is a baked egg and milk-based dish that is made with either pastry or crêpes as the crust. It has been around for centuries, and it can be found in many parts of Europe as well as America.
It’s unclear, now, why this dish was first produced, but one theory is that its origins may be from France during the 19th century. This dish does not appear to have any clear connections to the word “cheese” and there are three potential theories:
The first theory is that it may have come from the German term “Kuchen”, which is a shortening of ‘kuchenwerk’ meaning ‘cake work’. The French would instead say ‘gâteau’ or ‘gateau’.
An alternative theory is that it came from the Latin word for cake, “coquina”.
The final and most likely theory comes from the Limousin dialect in France. This area makes a dish called ‘escabeche’, which can be described as a pie with eggs scrambled inside.
One of the first mentions of this dish was seen in the work of Charles-Louis Montesquieu during 1728, but it is likely that quiches existed before this time. What’s interesting about this early mention is the fact that he makes no reference to cheese, which suggests that it may have been a new dish at the time. However, by 1781 it was prominent enough to be mentioned in Diderot and d’Alembert’s “Encyclopédie”.
Quiches are eaten all over the world, but each country seems to have its own variation on the original recipe. One of these is known as a Spanish Tortilla, and it is made without pastry or crêpes, instead of using potatoes as a crust. It has become so popular and commonplace that many people fail to realize how different it actually is!
Quiches can also be found with sweet fillings such as chocolate and fruit, but the most popular option seems to be the more savory option.
What Are The Traditional Ingredients Used In A Classic Quiche?
Eggs, milk, salt, butter, flour, and cheese.
Eggs are the main ingredient in quiche. They provide the protein and fat for the meal. Milk provides vitamins that help to promote strong bones and teeth in children. The salt adds flavor to the dish without adding any extra calories.
The flour helps to create a light crust on top of the quiche while butter is used to make it crispy. Finally, cheese finishes off this delicious dish with its rich flavor.
What Cheese Can I Use In A Quiche?
A quiche Lorraine typically calls for a very specific cheese: Gruyère.
Gruyère is a firm, raw cow’s milk cheese with a nutty flavor and smooth texture. It melts beautifully in the oven, allowing for that flaky crust to achieve the perfect golden brown. Many other French kinds of cheese can be used in place of the Gruyère, such as Emmental and Comté.
Can I use Gouda instead of Gruyere in a Quiche?
Yes. Gouda is an aged, firm Dutch cheese that is milder, saltier, and less sweet than Gruyere. It is perfect for recipes that require hard cheese, such as quiches or macaroni and cheese.
Gouda is an aged, firm Dutch cheese that is milder, saltier, and less sweet than Gruyere. It is perfect for recipes that require hard cheese, such as quiches or macaroni and cheese.
The production of Gouda typically requires cows’ milk to be curdled with acid (usually rennet). The soft white whey protein curds are then heated to give them their familiar orange color before being pressed into molds or formed into balls, which are then smoked for flavor or left unsmoked.
Originally the term “Gouda” was applied only to cheeses made in the town of Gouda but now applies generally across all Dutch cheeses, making it difficult to determine where they are actually made.
Hence, if you cannot find Gruyere in your local grocery store or specialty cheese shop, Gouda is a great alternative. Gouda is a delicious cheese to use in a quiche as it is well-aged to bring out the flavors of the ingredients without overpowering them. Gouda adds a nice balance to quiche recipes.
Which Other Cheese Can I Use?
Some other cheeses that are similar to Gruyere (because they are hard and mild), yet can be used as a substitution for Gruyere include:
Conclusion
There are many kinds of cheese worth considering when making your cheese. If by some crazy coincidence you cannot find any of these cheeses, Gruyère is always worth the wait for the perfect quiche!
Did you find any cheese that is perfect for a quiche that didn’t make it to this list? Did you make a quiche with one of our substitutes?
Let me know in the comments below! We love to hear from you!