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's the difference between quiche and quiche lorraine? ›

To be considered Quiche Lorraine, the quiche must be made with eggs, heavy cream, bacon, and Swiss cheese. Any quiche that strays from this formula with the omission of bacon or the addition of other ingredients such as ham, sausage, vegetables, etc. is considered quiche, not Quiche Lorraine.

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.

Why isn't my quiche creamy? ›

Figuring out your proportions couldn't be simpler – for each egg you use, you need half a cup of milk. Too little dairy, and your quiche will be dry instead of creamy. Too much, and it won't set properly.

What is a substitute for heavy cream in a quiche recipe? ›

Recommended substitutes: Whole milk, evaporated milk, coconut milk, onion cream.

Why does my quiche always have a soggy bottom? ›

Wet pie fillings + raw dough are a tricky combination. 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 you Prebake crust for quiche? ›

And yes, as you'll see, you should always prebake quiche crust to avoid a gummy pastry. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Roll out your homemade or purchased refrigerated dough into a 12-inch circle.

What is not a traditional ingredient in quiche Lorraine? ›

Purists will tell you that only bacon, cream, and eggs are allowed. Though it is common to find other ingredients like Gruyere cheese, caramelized onions, and even chives. The original quiche Lorraine may not include cheese, but I won't tell anyone if you decide to add one cup of shredded Gruyere to the mix.

Is quiche healthy or unhealthy? ›

Is quiche healthy? Quiche is bad news when it comes to a healthy diet. It's usually made with cheese and cream in the filling as well as butter in the pastry case, so it's often high in saturated fat and calories. Ingredients like bacon will add salt and more saturated fat.

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.

How can I improve my quiche? ›

Blind Bake the Crust

The crispy, flaky crust is one of the best parts of a quiche. "But to achieve that tasty outer layer, you need to bake your naked crust a little before adding the egg mixture," says Zakari Davila, executive chef at Willa's in Tampa, Florida. This prevents it from getting soggy.

Should vegetables be cooked before putting in quiche? ›

It is important to cook the veggies first before adding them to the pie shell, as they may add too much moisture to the quiche if added raw, and they may not cook all the way through by the time the eggs are set if you don't cook them first.

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

Heavy cream and heavy whipping cream are best for recipes that require a thick and creamy texture, or for making whipped cream. Whole milk: Use whole milk in recipes that call for milk or when you want to add richness and flavor to a dish without making it too heavy.

Why add milk to quiche? ›

The best quiche ratio is 1 large egg to 1/2 cup of dairy. The ratio of the fat content from the dairy and the protein from the eggs determine the custard's final texture. The egg proteins bond to form a soft gel-like texture, while the dairy gives the quiche a creamy flavor.

Is milk or heavy cream better for eggs? ›

Milk can dilute the flavor of scrambled eggs, but adding crème fraîche or heavy whipping cream can bring out the depth of flavor you're trying to achieve. Additionally, milk is known for turning scrambled eggs into chewy chunks, while cream does a better job of holding everything together nicely.

Does milk curdle more than cream? ›

Dairy products with higher fat content, such as whipping cream and heavy cream, are less prone to curdling. Restaurants use heavy cream for making sauces and soups because unlike milk, it can be boiled without curdling.

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