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Budget Quiche Lorraine

Crisp shortcrust pastry filled with smoky bacon, egg custard and grated cheddar. Good hot, better cold in a lunchbox. About 72p per portion.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4 portions
Course: dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: british, French

Ingredients
  

  • 375 g block shortcrust pastry (value range)
  • 200 g smoked bacon bits, chopped
  • 3 eggs
  • 150 ml milk
  • 100 g value cheddar cheese, grated
  • salt and pepper

Method
 

  1. Heat the oven to 190°C (170°C fan). Roll the pastry out on a floured surface until it is about the thickness of a pound coin and line a 20 cm round or square tin, letting the excess hang over the edges.
  2. Line the pastry with baking paper and fill with baking beans, dried rice or a scrunched up sheet of foil. Blind bake for 15 minutes, then remove the paper and beans and bake for another 5 minutes until the base looks dry.
  3. While the pastry bakes, fry the bacon bits in a dry pan for 5 minutes until the edges crisp. There is usually enough fat in them that you will not need oil.
  4. Beat the eggs and milk together in a jug, stir in the grated cheese and plenty of black pepper, then mix in the bacon.
  5. Sit the tin on a baking sheet, pour the egg mixture into the pastry case and carefully slide it into the oven. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the filling is set with a slight wobble in the middle and the top is golden.
  6. Let the quiche cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then trim the overhanging pastry with a sharp knife and slice. Eat warm or let it cool completely and keep it in the fridge for lunchboxes.