Delia Smith Courgette Quiche

This Delia Smith courgette quiche is a classic savoury bake with a crisp pastry base and a soft, creamy filling. The courgettes add a gentle sweetness that pairs beautifully with cheese and eggs, creating a light but satisfying texture. It is straightforward to make and ideal for confident beginners. From start to finish, the quiche takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes including baking and cooling.

Ingredients

For the pastry

• 200g plain flour
• 100g unsalted butter, cold and diced
• 2 to 3 tablespoons cold water

For the filling

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 medium courgettes, grated
• 3 large eggs
• 200ml double cream
• 100g mature cheddar cheese, grated
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

How to Make Delia Smith Courgette Quiche

• Prepare the oven: Preheat the oven to 200°C or 180°C fan. Place a shelf in the middle so the quiche cooks evenly.
• Make the pastry: Rub the butter into the flour until it looks like fine breadcrumbs. Add cold water a little at a time and bring together into a soft dough.
• Line the tin: Roll out the pastry on a floured surface and line a greased 23cm tart tin. Prick the base and chill for 15 minutes.
• Blind bake: Line the pastry with parchment, fill with baking beans, and bake for 15 minutes. Remove beans and bake for 5 minutes more.
• Prepare the filling: Fry the grated courgettes gently in olive oil, then drain well. Whisk eggs and cream, stir in cheese and courgettes, and season.
• Bake the quiche: Pour the filling into the pastry case and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until lightly golden and just set.
• Cool: Leave the quiche to cool slightly before slicing so it holds its shape.

Tips

How do I stop the quiche from being watery?

Drain the cooked courgettes thoroughly and avoid adding extra liquid to the filling.

Can I make the pastry ahead?

Yes, the pastry can be made a day ahead and kept wrapped in the fridge.

How do I know when the quiche is cooked?

The centre should be just set with a slight wobble and lightly golden on top.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve with a crisp green salad
• Add new potatoes for a fuller meal
• Enjoy cold as part of a picnic spread

Storage

Room temperature

Keep for up to 6 hours, well covered.

Refrigerator

Store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Freezing

Freeze slices for up to 2 months. Defrost overnight and reheat gently.

Nutrition

• Calories: 380 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 24g
• Protein: 13g
• Fat: 26g
• Saturated fat: 14g
• Sodium: 420mg

Nutrition values are estimates and may vary.

FAQs

Delia Smith Courgette Quiche

Recipe by Milli RoseCourse: MainCuisine: BritishDifficulty: Easy

Servings

8

slices

Prep time

25

minutes

Cooking time

45

minutes

Total time

80

minutes

Calories

380

kcal

1

hour 

10

minutes

A classic Delia Smith courgette quiche with crisp shortcrust pastry and a creamy cheese and egg filling. Perfect for lunch, picnics, or a light supper.

Ingredients

• 200g plain flour

• 100g cold unsalted butter, diced

• 2–3 tbsp cold water

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 2 medium courgettes, grated

• 3 large eggs

• 200ml double cream

• 100g mature cheddar, grated

• Salt and black pepper

• Butter, for greasing

• Plain flour, for dusting

• Baking parchment

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 200°C or 180°C fan. Grease a 23cm loose based tart tin.
• Rub the butter into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs, then add cold water and bring together to form a dough.
• Roll out the pastry, line the tin, prick the base, and chill for 15 minutes.
• Blind bake for 15 minutes, remove parchment and bake for 5 minutes more until pale golden.
• Gently fry the grated courgettes in olive oil for 3 to 4 minutes, then drain well.
• Whisk eggs and cream together, then stir in cheese and courgettes. Season lightly.
• Pour filling into the pastry case and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until just set.
• Cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

• Drain courgettes well to avoid a soggy filling.
• Do not overbake, the centre should have a gentle wobble.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.