Hearty & Flavorful: The Ultimate Kale, Tomato, and Bacon Quiche Recipe
A quiche is a versatile delight, perfect for a satisfying lunch or a comforting main meal served alongside a fresh green salad. This particular recipe features a vibrant combination of nutrient-rich kale, juicy tomatoes, and savory bacon, delivering a truly tasty and flavor-packed experience.
The festive glow of the Christmas holidays may have faded, and the rhythm of daily life is slowly resuming. After weeks filled with joyful celebrations, delicious food, and cherished moments with loved ones, easing back into the routine can sometimes feel a bit challenging. Even the kids, initially less than thrilled about returning to school, quickly found their spirits lifted by the excitement of reconnecting with friends and classmates. This period of transition often calls for meals that are both comforting and nourishing, helping us to maintain the warmth of the holidays while providing the energy needed for new beginnings.
Throughout the holiday season, despite the abundance of festive treats, wholesome cooking remained a staple in our home – after all, we still needed to eat! It was during this time that I experimented with and perfected this delightful Kale, Tomato, and Bacon Quiche. It offered a wonderful, savory contrast to the usual array of Christmas and New Year’s Eve party foods. The outcome was so incredibly delicious and satisfying that I simply couldn’t wait to share this recipe with you all. It’s a dish that brings together simple, quality ingredients to create something truly special, making it an ideal choice for a family meal or a lovely brunch gathering.
The Enduring Appeal of a Classic Quiche
Quiche, a quintessential French tart, has captivated palates worldwide with its rich, savory custard filling nestled in a flaky pastry crust. Its charm lies in its incredible versatility and comforting nature. Whether served warm or cold, for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner, a good quiche always hits the spot. It’s a dish that can be as simple or as sophisticated as you desire, adapting beautifully to a myriad of ingredients and flavors. From traditional Quiche Lorraine to vegetarian-friendly options, the possibilities are endless. This particular kale, tomato, and bacon quiche offers a delightful twist on the classic, incorporating fresh, wholesome ingredients that elevate its taste and nutritional profile.
Why This Kale, Tomato, and Bacon Quiche Will Be Your New Favorite
What makes this Kale, Tomato, and Bacon Quiche truly stand out? It’s the harmonious blend of robust flavors and textures that create a deeply satisfying meal. Each ingredient plays a crucial role in delivering a memorable culinary experience:
- Nutrient-Rich Kale: Often hailed as a superfood, kale adds an earthy depth and a wealth of vitamins and minerals to the quiche. When sautéed lightly, its slightly bitter edge mellows, becoming a fantastic base for the other flavors. It also contributes a lovely texture and vibrant green color, making the quiche not only healthy but also visually appealing.
- Sweet & Juicy Tomatoes: Halved cherry tomatoes burst with natural sweetness and a hint of acidity, cutting through the richness of the bacon and cream. They provide a beautiful pop of red, adding freshness and moisture to every bite. Their presence transforms this from a simple quiche to a more complex, bright dish.
- Savory & Smoky Bacon: Crispy, salty bacon bits are the heart of this savory pie. They infuse the entire quiche with a smoky, umami flavor that is undeniably addictive. The bacon provides a delightful textural contrast to the soft custard and tender kale, ensuring every forkful is exciting. If you’re looking for a chicken quiche alternative, this bacon quiche delivers similar savory satisfaction.
- Creamy Egg Custard: The foundation of any great quiche is its silky-smooth egg and cream custard. This recipe ensures a perfectly set, yet tender, filling that binds all the ingredients together beautifully. The mature grated cheese melts into the custard, adding a sharp, tangy note and extra richness.
Together, these ingredients create a robust and full-bodied quiche that is perfect for any occasion. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy vegetables, with the bacon providing just enough indulgence to make it feel like a treat. This hearty kale quiche is not just a meal; it’s an experience.
Crafting the Perfect Quiche: Tips for Success
Making a homemade quiche, especially a kale quiche or bacon quiche, doesn’t have to be daunting. With a few key tips, you can achieve a perfect result every time:
- The Dough is Key: While store-bought pastry can work, making your own quiche dough truly elevates the dish. Our recipe uses a simple, oil-based dough that results in a wonderfully flaky and tender crust. Ensure you don’t overwork the dough and allow it to chill properly in the refrigerator. This rest period is crucial for the gluten to relax, which prevents shrinkage during baking and makes the dough easier to roll out. Blind baking the crust before adding the filling is also highly recommended to prevent a soggy bottom.
- Don’t Overcook the Kale: When preparing the kale for your filling, a quick stir-fry is all it needs. You want it tender but not mushy, retaining some of its texture and vibrant color. This ensures it doesn’t get lost in the creamy custard.
- Balance the Filling: While it’s tempting to pack in as much filling as possible, aim for a balanced distribution. The eggs and cream need space to create that perfect custard. Ensure your ingredients like bacon and tomatoes are spread evenly, so every slice of your tomato quiche is consistently delicious.
- Achieving the Right Custard Consistency: The ratio of eggs to cream is vital for a firm yet delicate custard. Mix the eggs and cream thoroughly but gently to avoid too much air, which can lead to cracks. Seasoning the custard well is also important to enhance the overall flavor of your savory pie.
- Know When It’s Done: A quiche is typically done when the center is just set but still slightly wobbly. The crust should be golden brown, and the filling puffed up. Overbaking can lead to a dry, rubbery texture. Use a conventional oven and decrease the temperature by 30°F (20°C) if using a convection oven, as stated in the recipe.
- The Importance of Resting: Once out of the oven, let your quiche rest for at least 10-15 minutes before slicing. This allows the custard to fully set and makes for cleaner slices, ensuring your beautiful kale, tomato, and bacon quiche holds its shape perfectly.
Serving Suggestions and Delicious Variations
This Kale, Tomato, and Bacon Quiche is incredibly versatile and pairs wonderfully with a variety of sides. For a light lunch, a simple green salad with a vinaigrette dressing is all you need. The freshness of the salad beautifully complements the richness of the quiche. For a more substantial dinner, consider serving it with a hearty bowl of soup, such as a creamy tomato or a simple vegetable broth. It also makes an excellent centerpiece for a brunch spread, alongside fresh fruit, pastries, and coffee.
Feeling adventurous? This recipe is highly adaptable. Here are a few ideas for variations:
- Vegetarian Option: Omit the bacon and add sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or roasted bell peppers for a delicious vegetarian kale and tomato quiche. You could also include feta cheese for a salty kick.
- Different Cheeses: Experiment with various cheeses like Gruyère, cheddar, or even a blend of Italian cheeses to alter the flavor profile.
- Herb Swaps: Instead of Italian herbs, try fresh thyme, rosemary, or a sprinkle of chives for a different aromatic touch.
- Added Protein: If you prefer chicken, consider adding shredded cooked chicken to make it a chicken quiche, or replace bacon with cubed ham for a classic ham and cheese quiche.
This quiche is also fantastic for meal prep. Bake it on a Sunday, and you’ll have delicious slices ready for quick lunches throughout the week. It reheats well in the oven or microwave, maintaining its incredible flavor and texture. Embrace the ease and deliciousness of this savory pie!
Did you make this delicious recipe? Tag #byandreajanssen via Instagram! I love to see what your creation looks like and regularly share the most beautiful photos of you! Did you like this recipe? Then leave a rating on the recipe card! Your feedback helps other home cooks and me enormously.
Need more inspiration?
- You can find video recipes on my YouTube channel.
- And don’t forget to save the recipes on Pinterest, so you can easily find them again next time!
📖 Recipe
RECIPE CARD
Andréa
Pin Recipe
Equipment
-
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
-
Mix the flour and salt in a food processor (with the knife).
-
Add the olive oil.
-
Pulse and then add ice water to.
-
Pulse once again, to release the dough from the wall.
-
Remove from the bowl and roll the dough into a circle about 4 cm larger on each side than your quiche dish.
-
Cover the bowl with the dough.
-
Put at least half an hour in the refrigerator.
Quiche filling
-
Preheat the oven to 220 degrees Celsius.
-
Heat a frying pan with the oil.
-
Fruit the onion three minutes and then squeeze the garlic on top.
-
Stir-fry for 1 minute, then add the kale with one glass of water.
-
Bake the kale five minutes.
-
In a bowl mix the eggs with the cream.
-
Cover the bottom with the kale. Spread the cheese and bacon on this.
-
Pour the cream / egg mixture onto the quiche.
-
Spread the tomatoes over the quiche, sprinkle the herbs on top and place the quiche in the oven.
-
Bake the quiche 30 to 40 minutes (until it is firm and light brown).
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!