The best cheese & onion quiche by Ina Paarman recipe (2024)

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The best cheese & onion quiche by Ina Paarman recipe (1)

September is Heritage month in South Africa and the focus is all around where we come from. This translates into the types of recipes I grew up with that make me remember my late mother. I wanted to make something using Cheddar and butter that immediately transported me back to my childhood and a recipe my mom would make. This cheese and onion quiche is one of those dishes and is the best. Nothing complicated, just the sweetness of butter-braised onions and the sharpness of mature Cheddar baked into a quiche, which was so very popular in the seventies.

The best cheese & onion quiche by Ina Paarman recipe (2)

My mom died when I was 18 so I couldn’t get her recipe nor could I find it in any of her recipe books she kept, but when I think of iconic South African cooks and heritage recipesI immediately turn to one of my many Ina Paarman cookbooks for inspiration.In her book ‘Cook with Ina Paarman’ which I have owned for as long as I can remember, she has a recipe for cheese & onion quiche and it’s exactly how I remember my mom’s version tasting. I’m not sure if she would have added cheese to her quiche pastry, but since you want to make this as cheesy as possible it is the right way to go.

The pastry is, in fact, the same recipe Ina uses for her cheese straws, so whatever is left over from making the quiche (it makes a little more than the recipe requires) – bake up a few straws. I added finely chopped rosemary and thyme to give the pastry and the quiche a slight herbaceous note.

The best cheese & onion quiche by Ina Paarman recipe (4)

The best cheese & onion quiche by Ina Paarman recipe (5)

The best cheese & onion quiche by Ina Paarman recipe (6)

Kerrygold is an Irish butter and cheese producer that make the most delicious products using milk from cows that freely graze on all that lush green grass. It’s packed with creaminess and is of top quality like all their products which are produced in Ireland and imported to over 90 countries in the world. I am obsessed with aged Cheddar and there are 24 months aged Cheddar is the one I go for. It’s also the one I used in this recipe because the cheese is such a central flavour component of this quiche, you don’t want to skimp and use anything but the best. Kerrygold products do not contain any artificial additives and only use natural ingredients“Because Taste is Everything”

The best cheese & onion quiche by Ina Paarman recipe (7)

The best cheese & onion quiche by Ina Paarman recipe (8)

The best cheese & onion quiche by Ina Paarman recipe (9)

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The best cheese & onion quiche by Ina Paarman recipe (10)

Recipe – makes one 25cm quiche (slightly adapted from Ina Paarman)

The best cheese and onion quiche

A delicious recipe for cheese & onion quiche by South African legend Ina Paarman.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:20 minutes mins

Cook Time:35 minutes mins

Ingredients

Cheese Pastry

  • 250 g flour
  • pinch of cayenne
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp chopped herbs rosemary & thyme – optional
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 150 gm Kerrygold butter
  • 1 cup 100g grated Kerrygold 24 month mature Cheddar
  • 1 egg yolk
  • ¼ cup cold water

Cheese & onion quiche filling

  • 2 large brown onions chopped
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp Kerrygold butter
  • 1 – 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • 2 large free-range eggs
  • ½ cup crème fraiche
  • ½ cup milk
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp ground white or black pepper
  • 1 cup grated 24 months mature Kerrygold Cheddar

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 180C / 350 F.

  • You can make this by hand using a pastry cutter or in a food processor.

  • Sift the flour and add this to the bowl of the food processor with the salt and cayenne and give it a 3-second mix.

  • Add the rest of the ingredients except the water and process briefly until just blended.

  • Add the cold water while the motor is running and until the mixture just comes together into a dough. Tip this onto a well-floured surface and knead briefly to form a ball of dough.

  • Roll this out to about 3mm thick and line the base of a 25cm quiche tin (this will be a little over half the dough). Allow some of the dough to hang over the sides and then trim. It will shrink back during baking. Prick the surface area of the pastry with a fork.

  • Blind bake the pastry case by scrunching up a piece of baking paper and then placing this on top of the pastry. The scrunching makes it easier to reach into the corners. Fill the case with any dried bean, rice or pasta (or pastry beans if you have these) and then bake for 10 minutes.

  • Remove from the oven and remove the paper and filling. Return the pan to the oven and bake for a further 5 – 8 minutes until it has crisped up and starts turning a golden brown.

  • While the pastry is baking blind, make your filling for the quiche.

  • Heat the butter and olive in a non-stick frying pan and once it starts bubbling add the onion and sauté them for about 10 minutes over low heat and until the onions are soft but not brown. Do not caramelize them. Add the garlic and set aside

  • In a bowl whisk the eggs with the crème Fraiche, milk and spices.

  • When the pastry comes out of the oven, sprinkle ¾ of the cheese across the base then spread the onion mix on top of that. Gently pour over the egg mixture and finally sprinkle the remaining cheese over the quiche.

  • Bake for 35 minutes until golden brown and firm.

Notes

Put the filled quiche onto a larger baking sheet in case there are any spills.

Quiche can be eaten cold or at room temperature. serve with a green salad to make a perfect light lunch.

Servings: 1 quiche

Author: Sam Linsell

*This post is proudly sponsored by Kerrygold

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The best cheese & onion quiche by Ina Paarman recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is milk better than heavy cream in quiche? ›

Heavy Cream and Milk – For the best tasting quiche, use a combination of whole milk and heavy cream. (Or simply use half-and-half.) Using just heavy cream produces an overly thick filling. Whole milk is great, but a combo of heavy cream and milk is better.

What is the formula for quiche? ›

Quiche Ratio: 1 large egg to 1/2 cup of dairy

You'll need to increase the amount of eggs and milk based on the size of your quiche, so knowing the basic ratio makes it really easy to scale up or down. For a standard 9-inch quiche: Use 3 large eggs (6 ounces) 1 1/2 cups of whole milk or cream (12 ounces)

How do you keep cheese from sinking in a quiche? ›

Another tip is to run a chopstick around the quiche so the solid ingredients in the filling don't all sink to the bottom. "For us the aim is to get the outside golden and the inside just set like scrambled eggs," he says.

What is the best cheese to use for quiche? ›

Often associated with French cuisine, quiche is a savory egg custard baked in pie crust. The base comprises eggs, milk, and cream, cheese, and any variety of ingredients are added for flavor. This cheese quiche uses cheddar, and Swiss cheese is a nice addition.

What is the milk to egg ratio for quiche? ›

The key to a foolproof quiche is the ratio of eggs to liquid – 2:1. I used 3 eggs and 1 1/2 cups liquid ( a mix of whole milk and heavy cream) – this is enough for a deep dish crust. This is definitely a recipe to have in your repertoire.

Should quiche be cooked at 350 or 375? ›

BAKE in center of 375°F oven until center is almost set but jiggles slightly when dish is gently shaken and knife inserted near center comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes.

Can I use milk instead of cream in my quiche? ›

While it is not as traditional for quiches such as quiche Lorraine, you can use milk instead of heavy cream for quiche. While the results are not *as* rich as if heavy cream is used, I find that by the time you factor in the cheese and eggs, the quiche is not at all lacking in indulgence.

Do you need to prebake pie crust for quiche? ›

Some recipes like quiches recommend partially cooked pie shells because the baking time wouldn't be long enough to fully cook the dough otherwise. Pre-baking a crust can ensure that your pie or tart crust will be fully baked and browned, and not soggy.

Can you put too many eggs in a quiche? ›

Using too many eggs in the custard results in a quiche that rubbery and too firm when baked, while not using enough will prevent the custard from setting. Follow This Tip: Remember this ratio: 1 large egg to 1/2 cup of dairy.

Should you beat eggs for quiche? ›

BEAT eggs, milk, thyme and salt in medium bowl until blended. Carefully POUR over filling in pie shell. BAKE in center of 375°F oven until center is almost set but jiggles slightly when dish is gently shaken and knife inserted near center comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes.

Why does my quiche sink when I take it out of the oven? ›

Excess moisture is one reason why quiches collapse in a watery pool on your plate. Vegetables and meats like ham give off tremendous amounts of water when they're cooked. Therefore, if you're using vegetables in your quiche, it's imperative that you cook them first.

Why is there liquid at the bottom of my quiche? ›

If the bottom crust doesn't set before the filling soaks in, it's going to be gummy. A metal pie pan placed on a preheated surface will set the bottom crust quickest; once cooked, the liquids from the filling above won't soak in, and as a result: no soggy bottom.

Should vegetables be cooked before putting in quiche? ›

Cook the Veggies First

"Vegetables will take longer to cook than your egg custard, so always sauté onions, steam broccoli, etc. before you add them to your egg mixture to ensure every bite of quiche will be perfectly cooked," says Kristin Beringson, executive chef at Henley in Nashville.

Can you prep quiche the night before? ›

Quiche is one of the greatest make-ahead breakfasts I can think of. Meant to be served at room temperature—or even slightly chilled—you not only can make quiche ahead, you have to! That's one of the reasons it's so great for a celebratory morning breakfast.

Is it better to bake with milk or heavy cream? ›

Key Takeaways. Milk can work as a substitute for heavy cream in some cooking applications, but often requires flour, cornstarch, or butter to help thicken and enrich the dish. Whole milk or half-and-half make the best replacements. Do not use low-fat or skim milk as substitutes in recipes calling for heavy cream.

Can I use 2% milk instead of heavy cream for quiche? ›

For gluten-free crust, try making a sweet potato crust. The Custard: For your custard to set properly in the oven, use this easy ratio: 1 part dairy to 2 parts eggs. Classic custards use heavy cream, but 2% milk contains a fraction of the saturated fat and is still plenty rich.

Why add milk to quiche? ›

The French are known for using cream, whole milk, and butter when cooking, and making a traditional French quiche is definitely not the right time to deviate and opt for margarine or skim milk. By choosing whole milk over one with a lower fat content, the baked quiche will have a light texture, per The Kitchn.

Is milk or heavy cream better for eggs? ›

Well it depends on what you're aiming for. The more fat you use the more tender, soft and fluffy the eggs will be. A little helpful hint – the more fat you use the more room for error you will have with the heat of the pan.

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