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Gran’s Incredible Ham and Cheese Quiche

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(This post has been updated from the original January 2014 version to provide a better experience for you)

Gran’s ham and cheese quiche recipe is the stuff of legends! Packed full of flavour, easy to make and no blind baking required! It honestly couldn’t be easier to create a ham and cheese quiche in your very own kitchen.

Gran's ham and cheese quiche in a white baking dish on a green plate. Set on a white floral table cloth with a pastry blender, teacups and a saucer in the background.

For as long as I can remember my Gran has spoilt us with delicious, homemade treats. It’s amazing what this lady can do with a few, simple ingredients! By a country mile, one of her greatest and most renowned bakes has to be this ham and cheese quiche.

Any time there is a family get together there are actually queues outside the door and, sometimes, even fights over it. It’s that good! It doesn’t matter what anyone else makes, the quiche will be gone first. It’s a guarantee and for good reason! (Although my Mum’s caprese salad recipe comes pretty darn close!)

Gran's ham and cheese quiche in a white baking dish on a green plate. Set on a white floral table cloth with teacups and a saucer in the background.

It’s the same with her amazing cheese scones recipe and pickled beetroot too! If you want to know how to pickle beetroot yourself, you should definitely check out her recipe!

As my Gran is so completely wonderful, she allowed me to invade her kitchen and commandeer the recipe for you lovely lot. Aren’t you lucky?!

If you feel a little daunted by tackling this ham and cheese quiche recipe, you might like to work through baking for beginners first. It’ll really boost your confidence!

A slice of Gran's ham and cheese quiche and a side salad on a white plate set over a larger green plate. Set on a white floral table cloth with a teapot, cups and saucers in the background.

What cheese is best in quiche?

Gran says to use a strong cheese for the best flavour. A good cheddar or strong Red Leicester works well, but her top recommendation is Grandma Singletons.

Gran's ham and cheese quiche in a white baking dish on a green plate. Set on a white floral table cloth with a pastry blender in the background.

Can you make quiche the night before?

You can absolutely my quiche the night before! All you need to do is allow it to cool completely then cover in foil and refrigerate until needed.

A slice of Gran's ham and cheese quiche and a side salad on a white plate set over a larger green plate. Set on a white floral table cloth with cups and saucers in the background.

Can I use milk instead of heavy cream for quiche?

Gran uses milk as her first port of call anyway and it’s always turns out beautifully! So long as you have a good egg to milk ratio (like in my Gran’s recipe) it should turn out fine. No cream needed.

Gran's ham and cheese quiche in a white baking dish on a green plate. Set on a white floral table cloth with teacups and a saucer in the background.

What you need to know

Here’s where I’m going to share all of my Gran’s wisdom with you so you can make her quiche perfectly first time.

Gran's ham and cheese quiche in a white baking dish on a green plate. Set on a white floral table cloth with a pastry blender, teacups and a saucer in the background.

Ingredients

Here’s everything you need to know about the ingredients.

Pastry

  • Flour – Gran uses self raising flour believe it or not. I thought it was odd too but go with it – I promise it works! Don’t have any in? See how to make self raising flour.
  • Trex – Instead of butter, Gran swears by using vegetable fat in the form of Trex. (Shortening in the US.)
  • Salt – Never skip adding the salt, it’s important for the overall flavour.
  • Water – Tap water is fine! No need to buy anything special here.

Filling

  • Mustard Powder – This is great for flavour but also creates a little barrier between the unbaked pastry and the filling. Do not substitute this for regular mustard, it needs to be powdered.
  • Ham – You can use any ham you like. Tinned ham, sliced wafer thin ham, end cuts… all will work great.
  • Cheese – Use a strong cheese for the best flavour. Grandma singletons is best but a mature cheddar or strong Red Leicester will work too.
  • Eggs – Gran uses large eggs but whatever size you have should be fine as you’ll top it up with milk anyway.
  • Milk – Full fat gives a richer flavour but semi skimmed would also work great.
  • Salt and Pepper – Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper are preferred but any type will do! Just don’t leave it out.
A slice of Gran's ham and cheese quiche and a side salad on a white plate set over a larger green plate. Set on a white floral table cloth with cups and saucers in the background.

How to make Gran’s ham and cheese quiche – recipe summary

Pastry

  1. Rub flour, Trex and salt together into fine crumbs, then add water and mix until it forms a dough.
  2. Roll out then press into a dish.
  3. Trim the excess and chill until needed.

Filling

  1. Rub mustard powder over the bottom of the pastry case.
  2. Spread out the ham then top with the grated cheese.
  3. Beat 3 eggs in a jug and top up to 250ml with milk.
  4. Season with salt and pepper and pour over the cheese.
  5. Bake for 30-40 mins.
Gran's ham and cheese quiche in a white baking dish on a green plate. Set on a white floral table cloth with a pastry blender in the background.

Recipe tips

Here are some wise words from Gran that should guarantee your ham and cheese quiche success!

  • Don’t waste money buying expensive ingredients, use up what you have. Particularly with the ham – any type will work. Tinned, end cuts or even wafer thin slices. You could even switch it out for cooked bacon.
  • Again, use what you have in when it comes to the cheese too. Although Grandma Singletons cheese is Gran’s favourite!
  • Chill the pastry case while you’re getting the filling ingredients ready to prevent shrinkage.
  • Don’t forget to add the layer of mustard powder! It not only tastes great but creates a barrier between the unbaked pastry and quiche filling.
  • Use a pastry blender (affiliate link) to make quick work of rubbing the pastry ingredients together.
Gran's ham and cheese quiche in a white baking dish on a green plate. Set on a white floral table cloth with teacups and a saucer in the background.

Gran’s Incredible Ham and Cheese Quiche – Step by Step Picture Recipe

(For a printer friendly version, see the recipe card at the end of this post)

Ingredients

Here is what you will need to serve 8.

Pastry

  • 110g (3/4 Cup + 1/8 Cup) Self Raising Flour
  • 55g (1/4 Cup) Trex/Vegetable Shortening
  • Generous pinch of Salt
  • Cold Water

Filling

  • 200g (7 oz) Ham, roughly chopped
  • 140g (1 + 2/3 Cup) Strong Cheddar Cheese, grated
  • 1/2 tsp Mustard Powder
  • 3 Free Range Eggs
  • 50ml (1/4 Cup) Milk (approx)
  • Salt & Pepper

Essential equipment

  • 8″/20cm Round Baking Dish
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Pastry Blender (affiliate link) *
  • Flat Knife
  • Rolling Pin
  • Measuring Jug

*not essential but very handy!

Pastry instructions

Gran says the first thing you need to do is get a cuppa and a biscuit. Apparently it’s mandatory. (I’m not going to argue!)

A tin of biscuits and a cup of tea on Gran's kitchen worktop

Preheat your oven to 220°C/Fan 200°C/428ºF. Grease and flour the base and sides of your dish.

In a large mixing bowl, measure out the flour (110g | 3/4 Cup + 1/8 Cup) and the Trex (55g | 1/4 Cup) then add the salt (generous pinch).

Using a knife, roughly cut until the Trex is smaller in size. If you have a pastry whisk – in a light, sweeping motion, whisk until ‘breadcrumbs’ are formed. Alternatively, use your forefingers and thumbs to lightly rub together until the same result is achieved.

Flour, Trex and salt in a mixing bowl on a kitchen worktop

Using a splash of cold water at a time, add into the centre of the bowl and mix with a flat knife. Continue to add a little at a time until it just comes together. Press into a ball ready to roll out.

shortcrust pastry in a mixing bowl on a kitchen worktop

Lightly dust your work surface with flour and roll out the pastry to about 3mm thick or until larger than the base and sides of your dish.

Gran rolling out the pastry with a rolling pin on a kitchen worktop

Carefully lift the pastry over the dish and lightly press into the edges.

Gran pressing the pastry into the baking dish on a kitchen worktop

Cut the excess pastry off on the outside edge of the ‘lip’. This will help prevent the pastry shrinking as much when you bake it later. Pop the dish into the fridge whilst you prepare the filling ingredients. (Keeping the pastry cold will help reduce shrinking.)

Gran trimming off the excess pastry with a knife

Filling instructions

Chop up your ham (200g | 7 oz) into chunks and grate the cheese (140g | 1 + 2/3 Cup) if you haven’t already.

Here comes Gran’s twist on the classic – spread mustard powder (1/2 tsp) evenly all over the base. Trust me, I’m a granddaughter. Do it.

Gran spreading mustard powder over the base of the pastry case

Now top it with all that ham…

Lots of chopped ham in a baking dish lined with an unbaked pastry case

And the cheese…

Lots of chopped ham and grated cheese in a baking dish lined with an unbaked pastry case

Then in a jug, beat together the eggs (x 3) and top it up to 250ml/1 Cup with milk. (It should be approx 50ml | 1/4 Cup but don’t worry if it’s a little more or less.) Season well with salt and pepper. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the quiche.

Seasoned egg and milk mixture being poured over the quiche on a kitchen worktop

Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 30-40 minutes until a deep golden colour on top.

Gran's ham and cheese quiche in a white baking dish on a green plate. Set on a white floral table cloth with a pastry blender, teacups and a saucer in the background.

What happened next…

Now my Gran is from a waste not want not generation, living through war rations and everything. While I was busy snapping pics of her beautiful quiche, she was in the kitchen using up those leftover bits of pastry.

You know, those little scraps that we all just throw away? Yep! She only went and made some custard tarts for pudding!

I love this lady so much. Seriously Gran, you are an absolute legend, and now everyone can experience a little taste of your awesomeness with this beautiful ham and cheese quiche recipe. Thank you!

3 homemade egg custard tarts on a white floral plate with a dessert fork set over a white floral table cloth.

Other recipes you might like…

Gran's ham and cheese quiche in a white baking dish on a green plate. Set on a white floral table cloth with a pastry blender, teacups and a saucer in the background.

Have you made this recipe?

Have you made Gran’s incredible ham and cheese quiche? I’d love to know if you have! Send me your pics, comments and questions on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or email me at emma@kitchenmason.com.

A slice of Gran's ham and cheese quiche and a side salad on a white plate set over a larger green plate. Set on a white floral table cloth with a teapot, cups and saucers in the background.

Loved this recipe? Pin it!

Gran's ham and cheese quiche in a white baking dish on a green plate. Set on a white floral table cloth with teacups and a saucer in the background.
Gran's ham and cheese quiche in a white baking dish on a green plate. Set on a white floral table cloth with teacups and a saucer in the background.

Gran's Ham and Cheese Quiche - Printable Recipe

Yield: 8
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Gran's ham and cheese quiche recipe is the stuff of legends! Packed full of flavour, easy to make and no blind baking required! It honestly couldn't be easier to create your own.

Ingredients

  • 110g (3/4 Cup + 1/8 Cup) Self Raising Flour
  • 55g (1/4 Cup) Trex/Vegetable Shortening
  • Generous pinch of Salt
  • Cold Water

For the filling

  • 1/2 tsp Mustard Powder
  • 200g (7 oz) Ham, roughly chopped
  • 140g (1 + 2/3 Cup) Strong Cheddar Cheese, grated
  • 3 Free Range Eggs
  • 50ml (1/4 Cup) Milk (approx)
  • Salt & Pepper

Essential equipment

  • 8″/20cm Round Baking Dish
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Pastry Blender *
  • Flat Knife
  • Rolling Pin
  • Measuring Jug

Instructions

For the pastry

  1. Lightly grease and flour your baking dish and preheat the oven to 220°C/Fan 200°C/428ºF. Rub together the flour, Trex and salt in a mixing bowl until it forms crumbs. (Using a pastry blender will make this easier.)
  2. Add 1 tsp of cold water at a time and mix with a flat knife until it comes together into a dough.
  3. Roll out to 3mm with a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface.
  4. Carefully lift into your dish and press into the edges.
  5. Trim the excess pastry off on the outside edge of the dish (this will help avoid too much shrinking) and chill until needed.

For the filling

  1. Spread the mustard powder evenly over the base of the pastry case.
  2. Put the ham in and spread out evenly.
  3. Sprinkle the grated cheese evenly over the top.
  4. Beat the eggs in a jug and top up to 250ml (1 cup) with milk. Season with salt and pepper then pour it evenly over the quiche.
  5. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 mins until cooked through and a deep golden colour.

Notes

* Not essential but very handy.

See 'Recipe Tips' section in main post for lots of Gran's helpful tips!

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 247Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 107mgSodium: 606mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 14g

Nutritional information on kitchenmason.com should only be used as a general guideline, I am not a certified nutritionist. Please always check labels for allergens where applicable.

Did you make this recipe?

I'd love to hear about it! Please leave a comment on the blog or tag me on Instagram.

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Amanda

Saturday 4th of December 2021

Amazing! Thank you and your Gran for a quick, yummy and scrumptious quiche. Used leftover Thanksgiving ham, extra sharp cheddar. Served with a salad and dinner was great!

Emma

Sunday 5th of December 2021

Hi Amanda. Aww that’s really kind of you to say, thank you so much! I’ll be sure to let my Gran know, it’ll make her day :) Emma x

Shelley

Friday 30th of April 2021

We don’t have Trex or Grandma Singletons in Texas. So can we use Crisco and Sargent?

Emma

Friday 30th of April 2021

Hi Shelley. I believe Trex and Crisco are the same sort of thing (vegetable fat) so yes on that front. I’m not sure what Sargent is? So long as it’s quite a strong, sharp cheese it should work great :) Emma x

Jeanette

Sunday 28th of March 2021

A big thank you to you Emma and your Gran. I have used this recipe and it’s absolutely scrumptious. This is on our ‘out of lockdown’ family party buffet request list. Fingers crossed 🤞🤞 everyone gets to experience this too 🥰🥰🥰

Emma

Monday 29th of March 2021

Hi Jeanette. Aww you're so very welcome!! I'm super happy you love this recipe as much as I do and I hope, once we're finally out of lockdown, (feels like forever doesn't it?!) you're family will all love it too! Thanks so much for sharing this, you've made my day :) Emma x

Wishpicker

Friday 26th of February 2021

Doesn’t your Gran ‘blind bake’ the quiche pastry base before putting all the fillings into it? If she doesn’t, that makes baking this quiche so much easier and faster, which is brilliant! I do hope that you will be able to answer me, and let me know if she does or doesn’t ‘blind bake’ her quiche pastry cases. Thank you.

Emma

Saturday 27th of February 2021

Hi Rosie, of course I’m able to answer you :) You are absolutely correct, in this recipe - my Gran does not blind bake her pastry! It’s such a fab recipe, my whole family squabble over it when she makes it haha! Emma x

Frugal Hausfrau

Sunday 10th of August 2014

Wow! I think I love your Gram! Those pudding custards! And what a gorgeous Quiche!

Miss KitchenMason

Sunday 10th of August 2014

She is a legend haha, I love my gran :)

Frugal Hausfrau

Sunday 10th of August 2014

And I can't wait to try a little mustard powder in my next quiche!

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