Photography by Brett StevensChives lend this classic quiche Lorraine a subtle onion flavour and a splash of colour. 200g piece speck (see note) 80g (2/3 cup) grated gruyère (see note) 3 eggs 250ml (1 cup) milk 330ml (1 1/3 cups) crème fraîche or pouring cream 2 tbs chopped chives Green salad and radishes, to serve 225g (1 1/2 cups) plain flour 110g butter, roughly chopped 1 egg, beaten 1 egg yolk, beatenTo make pastry, process flour, butter and a pinch of salt in a food processor until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Using a fork, whisk egg with 1 tbs iced water in a small bowl. With the motor running, add egg mixture to the food processor and process until mixture starts to form large clumps. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface, then knead very briefly until dough comes together. Shape into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes for pastry to rest.
Preheat oven to 200C. Roll out dough on a floured sheet of baking paper to a 3mm-thick, 35cm round. Using a 33cm plate, trim pastry to a 33cm round.
Grease a 4.5cm deep, 25cm springform pan (see note). Gently roll the pastry around the rolling pin, then roll it into the pan. Lightly press pastry into pan and, if necessary, trim the edge using a small knife.
Line the pastry with baking paper and fill with dried beans or rice. Bake for 20 minutes, then remove beans and paper. Brush pastry all over with egg yolk, then bake for a further 15 minutes or until light golden. Remove pastry from the oven and set aside to cool. Reduce oven to 170C.
Trim the rind from the speck, then cut into 5mm-thick slices. Cut slices into 5mm-thick, 2cm strips (lardons). Heat a large frying pan over medium heat. Add speck and cook, stirring, for 6 minutes or until light golden. Drain on paper towel.
Scatter speck over pastry shell, then scatter over the gruyère. Whisk eggs together in a large bowl, then add milk and crème fraîche, and whisk to combine. Season with salt and pepper, and stir in chives. Pour mixture into the pastry shell and bake for 45 minutes or until filling is set and light golden; it should still wobble slightly in the centre. If the filling has not set, return quiche to the oven and bake for a further 5 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes.
Slice into wedges and serve with green salad and radishes.
Speck, available from selected delis and butchers, is German-style smoked bacon. Substitute good-quality smoked streaky bacon. Gruyere is a firm yellow cow's-milk cheese that originates from Gruyeres in Switzerland. It's available from supermarkets and delis.
Many 25cm springform pans are actually marked and sold as 26cm pans, even though the base measures only 25cm. To be sure you’re using the right pan, it's best to measure it.
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MasterChef - November 2010, Page 114
Recipe by Leanne Kitchen
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