Savory Kale, Tomato & Bacon Quiche: The Ultimate Recipe for Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner
A quiche is more than just a dish; it’s a delightful culinary experience perfect for any meal. This particular quiche, bursting with vibrant kale, juicy tomatoes, and crispy bacon, offers a symphony of flavors. It’s not just tasty, it’s truly full of flavor and makes for a satisfying lunch or an impressive main course alongside a fresh green salad.
As the festive holiday season winds down and routines begin to settle back into place, finding comforting and nourishing meals becomes a top priority. After days filled with joyous celebrations, delicious feasts, and perhaps a little too much indulgence, a wholesome and hearty dish like this Kale, Tomato, and Bacon Quiche is exactly what you need. It’s a fantastic way to transition back to everyday life, offering a taste of gourmet comfort without being overly complicated to prepare.
During the recent holidays, amidst all the special occasion cooking, I found immense joy in baking this particular quiche. It served as a wonderful variation from the usual Christmas and New Year’s Eve party spreads, offering a savory contrast to lighter festive fare. Its rich, satisfying profile and delightful textures were such a hit that I simply couldn’t wait to share this exceptional recipe with all of you. It’s a testament to how simple, quality ingredients can come together to create something truly memorable and deeply delicious for your family and friends.
Why This Kale, Tomato & Bacon Quiche Will Become Your New Favorite
This quiche isn’t just a recipe; it’s an invitation to savor a perfectly balanced meal that truly hits all the right notes. The thoughtfully selected combination of ingredients creates a robust flavor profile and engaging textures that appeal to a wide range of palates. Let’s delve into what makes this particular quiche stand out as a must-try:
- Rich, Savory Bacon: Crispy pieces of savory bacon are scattered throughout the quiche, providing a delightful smoky flavor and a satisfying textural contrast to the creamy filling. Bacon brings that irresistible umami punch that elevates any dish from good to unforgettable.
- Nutrient-Packed Kale: Fresh, vibrant kale adds a beautiful earthy note and a wealth of essential nutrients. Its slightly bitter undertones perfectly complement the richness of the bacon and cheese, making this quiche both deliciously satisfying and surprisingly wholesome.
- Sweet & Tangy Tomatoes: Halved cherry tomatoes burst with sweet and tangy juices during baking, adding delightful pops of freshness and a vibrant color that brightens up every single slice. They skillfully cut through the richness of the egg and cream, creating a harmonious and balanced flavor experience.
- Creamy Egg Custard: The velvety smooth egg and cream mixture forms the luxurious heart of the quiche, expertly binding all the delicious ingredients together. It’s seasoned to perfection, ensuring every single bite is moist, flavorful, and utterly comforting.
- Flaky, Golden Crust: A simple, homemade quiche crust provides the ideal foundation for this masterpiece. It bakes to a beautiful golden perfection, offering a tender yet slightly crisp edge that perfectly encases the decadent filling, adding another layer of texture.
- Incredibly Versatile: Whether you’re planning a sophisticated brunch, a casual family lunch, or a comforting weeknight dinner, this quiche effortlessly fits the bill. It’s equally delicious served warm or at room temperature, making it an ideal choice for gatherings, picnics, or simply as a wonderful everyday family meal.
The Perfect Meal for Any Occasion
One of the greatest attributes of this Kale, Tomato, and Bacon Quiche is its incredible adaptability and suitability for almost any meal or gathering. It effortlessly transitions from a rustic breakfast staple to an elegant dinner centerpiece, making it a truly versatile addition to your culinary repertoire. Imagine serving a warm, generous slice alongside a crisp green salad tossed with a light vinaigrette – a complete, satisfying, and effortlessly sophisticated meal. For those seeking a heartier option, it pairs beautifully with a bowl of creamy roasted red pepper soup or a vibrant side of seasoned roasted root vegetables.
This quiche also excels as an excellent option for meal prepping. Dedicate a little time to bake it on a Sunday, and you’ll be rewarded with delicious, ready-to-eat portions throughout your busy week. It’s fantastic for packing in lunchboxes for work or school, or for a quick, wholesome dinner on those hectic weeknights when time is of the essence. The flavors tend to meld and deepen over time, meaning that leftovers are often just as enjoyable, if not even more so, than the freshly baked quiche.
Thinking of hosting a potluck, a special holiday gathering, or a casual get-together? This quiche is sure to be a crowd-pleaser and a guaranteed conversation starter. Its appealing presentation, combined with its universally loved flavors, makes it a reliable and much-appreciated choice that caters to many tastes and dietary preferences (with minor adjustments for vegetarians, for example). It’s a dish that unmistakably communicates “home-cooked comfort” with every single bite.
Essential Tips for Baking Your Best Quiche
Achieving quiche perfection is simpler than you might think, especially when you understand a few helpful tips and tricks. These insights will ensure your Kale, Tomato, and Bacon Quiche turns out beautifully every time, with a flaky crust and a perfectly set, flavorful filling.
The Quiche Dough Secret: Chilling is Key
Our recipe proudly features a simple, homemade quiche dough that yields a wonderfully tender and flaky crust – a hallmark of any truly great quiche. The most critical step in preparing this dough is adequate chilling. After you’ve mixed your flour, a pinch of salt, olive oil, and ice-water to form a cohesive dough, it absolutely needs at least half an hour in the refrigerator. This crucial resting period allows the gluten to relax, which is essential for preventing the crust from shrinking excessively in the oven and, more importantly, ensures you achieve that coveted tender, melt-in-your-mouth flaky texture. Do not be tempted to skip this step – it’s a small investment of time that pays off immensely for a perfect quiche base.
When you’re ready to roll out the chilled dough, aim for a circular shape that is roughly 4 cm (about 1.5 inches) larger on each side than your quiche dish. This extra overhang is not merely for aesthetics; it provides enough dough to create a beautiful, decorative crimped edge and helps prevent the sides from slumping down during the baking process, ensuring your quiche maintains its elegant form.
Preparing the Flavorful Filling: A Symphony of Ingredients
The filling is undoubtedly where the magic of this quiche truly happens. Begin by gently sautéing the finely chopped shallots until they become fragrant and beautifully translucent. This step builds a foundational layer of sweetness and depth. Next, add the minced garlic and stir-fry for just about a minute until it’s aromatic – be careful not to burn it, as burnt garlic can turn bitter.
When incorporating the kale, stir-fry it briefly with a small amount of water. This process gently wilts the kale, significantly reducing its volume and ensuring it cooks evenly within the quiche without introducing excess moisture that could lead to a soggy filling. The goal is tender, not mushy, kale.
For the creamy custard, the egg and cream mixture should be thoroughly whisked until well combined and light in texture. It’s vital to season this mixture adequately with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, as this is where much of the quiche’s overall flavor will come from. And, of course, the Italian herbs add that classic aromatic touch, tying all the savory elements together. The matured, grated cheese not only adds a sharp, savory note but also helps the filling set beautifully, creating a rich, cohesive texture.
Baking to Golden Perfection: Patience and Precision
Preheating your oven to the correct temperature is absolutely vital for even baking and a perfectly golden crust. Our recipe calls for 220 degrees Celsius (425 degrees Fahrenheit) for a conventional oven. If you are using a convection oven (with an air fan), remember to decrease the temperature by approximately 20 degrees Celsius (30 degrees Fahrenheit) to prevent overbrowning and ensure the quiche cooks through without drying out. Ensure your oven is fully preheated before placing the quiche inside.
When you assemble the quiche, layer the ingredients strategically: start with the wilted kale at the bottom, then evenly spread the grated cheese and minced bacon over it, before carefully pouring over the delicate egg and cream mixture. Finally, artfully arrange the halved cherry tomatoes on top and sprinkle with an additional touch of Italian herbs. This layering method ensures that the ingredients are distributed evenly throughout each slice and that the tomatoes get a lovely roast on top, intensifying their flavor.
Bake the quiche for approximately 30 to 40 minutes. The visual cues for doneness are a beautifully golden-brown top and a center that is set. You can gently test for doneness by giving the dish a slight shake; if the center still wobbles significantly like liquid, it needs a few more minutes in the oven. A knife or toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean. Once baked, allow the quiche to rest for a few minutes before slicing, which helps the filling set even further and makes for cleaner cuts.
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Need more inspiration?
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📖 Recipe
RECIPE CARD
Andréa
Pin Recipe
Equipment
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A conventional oven is used. When using a convection oven (with air fan) decrease the temperature with 30 °F / 20 °C
Ingredients
Quiche dough
- 130 gram flour
- pinch salt
- 60 ml olive oil
- 60 ml ice-water, water with ice cubes
Quiche filling
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 shallot , finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic
- 300 grams kale , sliced in thin strips
- 6 eggs
- 350 ml cream
- 200 grams cheese , matured, grated
- 100 grams bacon, minced
- 200 grams cherry tomatoes , halved
- 2 teaspoons Italian herbs
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
Quiche dough
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Mix the flour and salt in a food processor (with the knife).
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Add the olive oil.
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Pulse and then add ice water to.
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Pulse once again, to release the dough from the wall.
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Remove from the bowl and roll the dough into a circle about 4 cm larger on each side than your quiche dish.
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Cover the bowl with the dough.
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Put at least half an hour in the refrigerator.
Quiche filling
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Preheat the oven to 220 degrees Celsius.
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Heat a frying pan with the oil.
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Sauté the onion for three minutes until translucent, then squeeze the garlic on top.
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Stir-fry for 1 minute, then add the kale with one glass of water.
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Cook the kale for five minutes until slightly wilted.
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In a bowl, thoroughly mix the eggs with the cream until smooth.
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Line the bottom of your quiche dish with the cooked kale. Evenly spread the grated cheese and minced bacon over the kale.
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Carefully pour the cream/egg mixture over the ingredients in the quiche dish.
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Evenly spread the halved cherry tomatoes over the quiche, sprinkle the Italian herbs on top, and place the quiche in the preheated oven.
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Bake the quiche for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the center is firm when gently shaken.
Nutrition
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Storing and Reheating Your Delicious Quiche
One of the many benefits of this Kale, Tomato, and Bacon Quiche is that it’s just as delicious, if not more so, the next day. This makes it an ideal candidate for planned leftovers, effortless meal prep, or simply having a quick, wholesome option readily available. To ensure its freshness and flavor are maintained, follow these storage and reheating tips:
To store, first allow the quiche to cool completely to room temperature on a wire rack. This prevents condensation from forming and making the crust soggy. Once cooled, cover the entire quiche tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Alternatively, you can slice the quiche into individual portions and transfer them to an airtight container. Properly stored, it will keep beautifully in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, making it perfect for grab-and-go meals throughout the week.
For reheating, individual slices can be conveniently warmed in the microwave for 1-2 minutes until thoroughly heated through. However, for the very best results, especially if you want to regain some of that lovely crust crispness, we recommend reheating slices in a preheated conventional oven or a toaster oven. Set your oven to 175°C (350°F) and bake for about 10-15 minutes, or until the quiche is warmed through and the crust has achieved a slight crispness once more. Be mindful not to over-reheat, as this can unfortunately dry out the creamy filling.
Did you know you can also freeze leftover quiche? This is a fantastic way to extend its shelf life even further! Wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap, then again in a layer of aluminum foil, and place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. Frozen quiche can be stored for up to 2-3 months without significant loss of quality. To reheat from frozen, you have a couple of options: you can either thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat as described above, or reheat directly from frozen in a preheated oven at a slightly lower temperature, around 160°C (325°F), for 20-30 minutes, or until it’s thoroughly heated and bubbly.
Embrace the Joy of Homemade Quiche
There’s something incredibly satisfying and heartwarming about baking a quiche from scratch. The comforting aroma that fills your kitchen, the visual appeal of a beautifully golden crust, and the eager anticipation of that first rich, savory bite are all part of the wonderful experience. This Kale, Tomato, and Bacon Quiche offers all of that and so much more. It’s a versatile dish that provides unparalleled comfort, wholesome nourishment, and a touch of culinary elegance to any table, whether it’s a casual weekday or a special weekend gathering.
Whether you’re sharing it with cherished family members, impressing esteemed guests, or simply indulging in a quiet, satisfying meal at home, this recipe is meticulously designed to bring immense joy and deliciousness to your life. We wholeheartedly encourage you to try it, perhaps even experiment with your favorite types of cheeses for a unique twist, or add a pinch of red chili flakes if you appreciate a subtle hint of heat. Make this recipe truly your own, and above all, don’t forget to share your wonderful creations with us! Happy baking!