Quiche with Bacon

From the Essential Pépin tv series, Episode 123: Eggs-quisite

The dough for this quiche is made with butter and lard (or vegetable shortening). The result is very flaky, with the taste of the lard complementing the bacon in the filling. The dough is not precooked but is prepared in the home style, by baking it filled, as my mother and aunt used to do. The quiche may not be as elegant as one made in a precooked shell, as chefs do in fancy restaurants, but it’s faster and easier to make it this way — and it’s very good too. —Jacques Pépin

Serves 6 to 8

PASTRY
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
3 tablespoons lard or vegetable shortening
1/4 cup cold water

FILLING
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
5 slices bacon, cooked in a microwave oven or skillet until crisp and broken into pieces
1 1/2 cups diced (1/2-inch) Gruyère or Emmenthal cheese (5 ounces)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

FOR THE PASTRY: Work the flour, salt, butter, and lard or shortening together in a bowl until you have a coarse mixture. Sprinkle on the water and gather the dough together into a ball.

Roll the dough out with a rolling pin into an 11- or 12-inch circle and use it to line a 9- to 10-inch tart pan or pie pan. Refrigerate until you are ready to fill the quiche shell.

FOR THE FILLING: Beat the eggs in a bowl only until well mixed. Stir in the milk, cream, salt, and white pepper.

Scatter the bacon and cheese over the dough. Place the pan on a cookie sheet and pour in the egg mixture.

Bake for 1 hour, or until the filling is set and browned on top. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly; the quiche is best after it has rested for at least 15 to 20 minutes.

Cut into slices and serve lukewarm.

More Essential Pépin television episode information