Quiche and why we need to talk about it
There’s been a lot of talk around the quiche recently. It may not have gone unnoticed that it was the official dish of the King’s Coronation Big Lunch. And the quiche recipe was available to everyone. It was served up at street parties all over Britain during the Coronation celebrations.
Whilst some people may not be a fan of it as a dish, we here at Parties to Go love it. And here’s why we can’t get enough of this eggy tart.
The history of quiche
It’s a common misconception that quiche is a classic French dish. However, historical records indicate that it originated in the medieval kingdom of Lothringen, Germany, in the 1500s. Lothringen was later invaded, then occupied by the French and renamed Lorraine.
The word ‘quiche’ is from the German word ‘kuchen’, meaning cake. However, it doesn’t resemble a cake nowadays. With the French invasion came their own take on and enhancement of the quiche, and they also renamed it Lorraine – quiche Lorraine was born.
The original recipe was a lot simpler than it is now. Lorraine was originally an open pie with a filling of egg, cream custard, and some smoked bacon to give the pie some flavour. The crust was also once made from simple bread dough. Only many years later, when cheese was added to the mix and puff pastry used for the crust, the dish finally became the quiche we all know and love today.
Over the years, many versions have been served using vegetables, meats and fish making quiche one of the most loved and versatile dishes out there.
Why we love it
There’s so much to love about quiche. From humble origins to being a familiar sight on a cold (or hot) buffet table, it has a special place in our hearts. It’s also one of the most popular dishes on our menu. So, what is it about quiche that we actually love…
Its versatility
We’ve already said it, but quiche is so flexible. Add whatever combination of vegetables, meat, fish or dairy to your egg or egg substitute mixture and off you go. Go for a traditional quiche Lorraine, easy cheese and onion version or a broccoli and cheddar combination. Or, if you’re feeling like something a little more unusual, how about a crab, feta and chard blend, goat’s cheese and beetroot combo, or ham and Boursin with quail eggs?
It’s easy
Aside from its versatility, we love it because it is super easy to make. It is basically like an omelette mixture in a pastry case – so, what’s not to love? Ok, if you make your own pastry as we do, you may say it’s not that easy, but with so many brands of ready-roll pastry available, there’s no need to make it if you don’t have time. You can even buy ready-made shells.
Quiche stops food from going to waste
If you’re left with vegetables that didn’t get used or some leftover ham or sausage after cooking for the week, you can use it to make a quiche. Leftover veg and meat are perfect for our favourite dish and stop you from filling your bin with perfectly good food.
It adapts to any diet
This versatile dish can cater for all diets – even those who don’t eat eggs and dairy. Quiche can be made with vegetables, meats and fish, and any combination of the above. Along with whatever seasoning, herbs and spices you fancy to pack your dish full of flavour. So whether you are vegetarian, pescatarian or a meat-eater, there is a recipe for you.
Many delicious egg-free recipes are available if you’re vegan or have an egg or dairy intolerance. Use tofu and soy cream as an alternative, and be as creative with the ingredients as you want. And if you need a gluten-free version, try substituting plain flour for Chickpea flour. It gives the quiche a beautiful texture and is perfect for vegan recipes.
Real men do eat quiche
Despite Bruce Feirstein alluding to quiche being associated as a ‘feminine’ food in his best-selling tongue-in-cheek book exploring masculinity and related stereotypes, we can assure you this couldn’t be more wrong. Bursting with flavour, it’s a taste sensation. With its crunchy pastry case and softer filling, quiche is loved by people worldwide, men included. According to a former royal chef, King Charles loves ‘anything with eggs and cheese’, and you’ll be hard-pushed to find a male chef that doesn’t have a quiche recipe or two in their portfolio. Plus, we know when we serve our quiches, they are enjoyed by all guests regardless of gender.
What quiches do Parties to Go serve up?
As a favourite of ours, quiche makes a regular appearance at many of our events. From our famous leek and gruyere combination to the more traditional quiche Lorraine. We are also happy to cater to your tastes and make one to suit your event. If you’d like to find out how we can help cater to your needs, whatever the occasion, please get in touch.
