Vegetarian Mini Quiche Lorraine

Mini quiches are perhaps the perfect picnic food. Thanks to ready roll pastry, these are so easy to make and bring to a party or picnic. To cater for as many friends as possible, I’ve used Quorn Smoky Ham Free Slices in these individual vegetarian versions of the classic quiche Lorraine.

Vegetarian quiche lorraine

Everyone will love you if you bring a tin of these homemade mini quiches to your jubilee street party or the next picnic with friends.

My vegetarian version has all the flavour of the classic French dish but they work for the vegetarians and religious diets too. Don’t worry about the traditionalists. I’ve used some fabulously smoky Quorn Smoky Ham Free Slices that the meat eaters will love too!

Using ready-rolled puff pastry, these Quorn mini quiches are incredibly easy to make, yet so much better than shop bought. Enjoy warm from the oven or cold. They reheat well too.

These mini quiche lorraines are effortless, fuss free and great for the whole crowd. You’ll want to make them again and again!

What is quiche lorraine?

Quiche lorraine is a dish from Lorraine in the north east of France, a savoury flan consisting of a pastry crust filled with a egg custard, containing bacon or lardons.

In the UK, we tend to add cheese too. It is probably what you think of as the classic quiche.

There are as many different versions as people who cook the dish. Some skip the cheese, some add onions.

The puff pastry I’ve used is not traditional, but I prefer it for a mini quiche. Feel free to use a short crust in its place.

Quorn party food

Quorn have a great range of vegetarian and vegan party food, making your event easy for all to enjoy. Perfect for a Jubilee event, as well as picnics over the rest of the summer!

The full range includes these Vegan Smoky Ham Free Slices, Vegan Chicken Free Slices, Vegan Pepperoni-Style Slices, Mini Cocktail Sausages, Picnic Eggs, and Sweet Chilli, Creamy Korma and Garlic and Herb bites.

You can serve the full range as part of a picnic buffet. Serve them simply or incorporate them into your favourite dishes.

Quorn have stacks of Jubilee recipes, alongside these homemade mini quiches, so why not experiment? Find the whole range in the chiller cabinet of your supermarket.

Why make vegetarian mini quiches?

• Thanks to ready-roll pastry these are so easy to make.
• Easy to eat one-handed. These bite-sized quiches aren’t going to fall to pieces so are perfect for picnics and parties.
• They are so much better than shop bought. Once you realise how easy it is to make a quiche, you will never go back to buying them.
• Effortlessly impressive.
• Ideal to make the day before.
• Using Quorn Vegan Smoky Ham Free Slices gives a fully flavoured quiche that everybody can enjoy.

Mini quiche ingredients

If you have not made quiche, before you are going to be amazed at how few ingredients you need.

• Eggs – Two regular eggs

• Milk – Any milk

• Cream – Double or heavy cream.

• Onion – You can also use a shallot

• Chives – These add colour and flavour. You can leave them out or substitute a finely chopped spring onion if you don’t have any.

• Cheese – Choose your favourite. I like a nice rich vegetarian cheddar.

• Veggie Ham – I have used Vegan Smoky Ham Free Slices from Quorn for a classic quiche. You can substitute their Vegan Chicken Free Slices or Vegan Pepperoni if you want to ring the changes.

• Puff Pastry – Ready rolled puff pastry is the easiest to use here. I made puff pastry once when at school, and I am NEVER going to make it again.Far too much fuss when ready made is so good and so easy. I prefer the all butter versions but use your favourite. If you like you can also use shortcrust pastry.

How to make vegetarian mini quiche lorraine – step by step

Before you start, read my step-by-step instructions, with photos, hints and tips, so you can make this perfectly every time.

Scroll down for the recipe card with quantities and more tips at the bottom of the page.

Step One – Preheat the oven to 200°C / Gas Mark 6. Peel and finely dice the onion. Sauté in a little butter over a medium heat for a few minutes, until translucent and fragrant.

Step Two – Chop up the Quorn Vegan Ham Free Slices and fry until slightly darker in colour.

I find this enhances the smokiness and gives it a little more bite, for contrast with the very soft egg filling. If you like your ham really smoky, you can add a teaspoon of soy sauce and cook for another minute.

Step Three – Add the cream, milk and eggs to a jug and whisk until well combined.

Add the cooked onion, ham free pieces, cheese and chives. Season well with pepper and salt, and stir together.

Step Four – Unroll the puff pastry sheet and cut circles.

Pro Tip
Ready roll puff pastry is one of my favourite ingredients, as it is so versatile and useful.

Let it come to room temperature before using, and it will unroll easily. If you get any little cracks on the surface, roll it back up and let it warm up some more.

If the pastry starts to feel sticky and won’t peel off the backing paper, pop it back in the fridge for a few minutes to firm up.

Step Five – Lightly and gently press each of the circles of pastry into a deep bun or fairy cake tin.

If you make a hole in the pastry when doing this, patch it with a scrap of the pastry trimmings. You don’t want the filling to escape, causing your mini quiche to stick to the tin.

Step Six – Fill each of the pastry cases about three quarters of the way with the cream mixture. Give the mixture another stir before you do this, and use a spoon to nudge some onion and Quorn Smoky Ham Free Slice pieces into each case.

Take care not to overfill, so the mini quiches don’t overflow when baking.

Put into the oven and bake for 20–25 minutes until puffed and golden.

Step Seven – Allow the vegetarian mini quiches to cool for a few minutes in the baking tin. This allows both the pastry and filling to firm up, making them easier to handle. Then pop them out and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.

If you are eating them the same day, pack your vegetarian mini quiche lorraines into a tin once cool. Otherwise pack into an airtight box and keep in the fridge.

Serving suggestion

All your favourite picnic and party foods! I like to include some salads – green, tomato, and potato, as well as snack and deli foods. Include your favourites from the Quorn deli range to make sure everyone can dig in.

Variations

• Substitute another Quorn deli product for the Vegan Smoky Ham Free Slices.

• Vary the herbs: use spring onions for a sharper bite.

• Use a different cheese – crumbled blue cheese is delicious and will pair well with the smoky flavour of the Vegan Smoky Ham Free Slices.

• Add different herbs and vegetables.

Storage

If eating the same day cover, or pop in a tin.

Fridge – Keep in an airtight box for up to three days.

Freezer – Keep in an airtight box for 2–3 months.

Reheating – Allow to defrost and stand on a baking tray. Then heat in the oven for 5 minutes at 180°C / Gas Mark 4 / 350F. Avoid the microwave, as it will make the pastry soggy.

Hints and tips

• Allow the pastry to come to room temperature, and do not over handle it. Try to handle pastry with cold hands. If it feels sticky, pop it back in the fridge for a few minutes to firm up.
• To prevent the mini quiches sticking to the baking pan, make sure there are no holes in the pastry, and do not over fill them. The filling expands as it cooks and you do not want it to overflow.

FAQS

You may also love

More delicious recipes, and British classics to go with your jubilee picnic!

• Homemade Salad Cream – the classic to add to all salads, and homemade is so much nicer

• Sandwich Spread – the perfect retro sandwich filling

• Tomato and Mozzarella Salad – with marinated mozzarella

• Pesto Salad Dressing – fresh, vibrant and easy to make

• Carrot Salad – an easy French classic with grated carrot

• Classic Blondies – an easy traybake to feed a crowd, all made in one bowl

Recipe for Vegetarian Quiche Lorraine commissioned by Quorn. All opinions our own.