Salmon Quiche is lovely made with fresh salmon, even better with hot smoked salmon but you’ll knock it out of the park with smoked salmon!!Â
The filling is super easy to make so it really comes down to the crust – ready made pie shell, store bought shortcrust pastry or homemade quiche crust. Whichever you choose, this quiche is a totally Easter-worthy recipe!
Salmon Quiche
I used to make Salmon Quiche with fresh salmon, thinking that it was “better” like most from-scratch things are. While still delicious, I have to confess that when it came down to choosing a quiche to make for brunch, I’d always make Quiche Lorraine in all its bacon-loaded glory over Salmon Quiche – unless there were non-meat eaters present.😂
Then I made it with smoked salmon.
BOOM! Wow, what a difference it made. Smoked salmon is cured with salt like with Salmon Gravlax so every single piece is well seasoned all the way through. So you get great flavour with every single bite and it leaches flavour into the custardy quiche filling too. It’s so SO good!!!
In case you’re wondering – once cooked, smoked salmon looks just like “normal” cooked salmon. See? 🙂
Filling ingredients
All the usual suspects here – eggs, cream, a bit of cheese (it’s not intended to be cheesy, just adds a bit of richness + flavour). Just a note on a few of the ingredients:
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Smoked salmon – as mentioned above, this will yield the best overall flavour in the quiche but raw salmon or hot smoked salmon will also work great;
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Leek – slightly more delicate texture than onion, but onion will work fine too (or eschallots / French shallots ie the baby onions)
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Asparagus –Â optional, I like it for added texture and aesthetics (without it, the quiche is just all yellow and pink!)
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Dill – classic herb pairing with salmon but there’s other options such as chives or green onions. Parsley would be fine too, for little green bits in the quiche, but won’t really add flavour.
Quiche Crust
If time is of the essence or if you’re not confident making pastry, feel free to use one of these options:
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ready made pie crust – already fitted in foil pie dish, thaw and bake per packet;
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refrigerated pie crust – unroll and fit into tart tin or pie dish, bake per packet;
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store bought shortcrust pastry – see directions in this Quiche Crust recipe; or
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crustless quiche! No crust = super speedy (plus low carb). Just switch the ham and cheese in that recipe with the salmon etc in this recipe.
But one day, try your hand at a homemade quiche crust! It’s shortcrust pastry made with butter, and it has flavour and the signature flaky texture unlike any store bought pastry. 🙂
The Quiche Crust recipe has a video and I use the quick method using a food processor which works 100% perfectly. You’ll see in the Salmon Quiche video below just how flaky and crisp yet tender the crust is – just as it should be!
Making Salmon Quiche
Quiche crust decided, the rest of the quiche is outrageously easy – especially given we’re using smoked salmon here. I think the step photos below are a good illustration of how to make it – and there’s also the recipe video.
I know people get really pedantic about not overcooking quiches, but because of the generous amount of cream I use in my quiche recipes, it’s actually pretty hard to overcook my quiche filling to the point that it’s not custardy. 🙂 I’ve overcooked it by 20 minutes when I missed the timer and it wasn’t much different on the inside, though the top was VERY deep golden!
The thing with quiche is that it’s so dang easy, yet people are always sooo impressed. Because quiche crust aside, it’s really just a matter of whisking together eggs and cream, then adding whatever “stuff” you want in your quiche.
Right? 🙂
Try this recipe with roasted vegetables one day – like the mix used in Baked Frittata (which is pretty much a healthier crustless quiche).
If you’re making this quiche for a lovely brunch and want a side salad to impress, try this Apple Salad with Candied Walnuts and Cranberries. I’ve gotten some great feedback on this salad lately – people are especially tickled by the “plumped” cranberries!! 😂 ~ Nagi x
More Quiche and quiche-like things
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Quiche Lorraine – the classic
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Italian Sausage Quiche – full of Italian flavours!
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CRUSTLESS Quiche – custardy, golden and fabulous (plus super speedy & low carb)
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Hash Brown Crust Quiche Lorraine – that hash brown crust!
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Baked Vegetable Frittata – the easy way to make frittata
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Spanish Tortilla (Omelette)Â – with potato!
Watch how to make it
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Salmon Quiche
Ingredients
Quiche Crust - choose one (Note 1):
- 1 homemade quiche crust (shortcrust pastry)
- 2 sheets frozen shortcrust pastry
- 1 x 9" refrigerated pie crust , fitted in a 9" pie dish or tart tin
- 1 ready made pie shell (23cm / 9", fridge or frozen)
Quiche Filling:
- 15g / 1 tbsp butter , unsalted
- 1 leek , white part only halved and finely sliced (Note 2)
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 8 - 10 asparagus spears
- 5 eggs (~55 - 60g / 2oz each)
- 1 1/2 cups (375ml) cream , full fat (Note 3)
- 1/4 tsp salt + pinch pepper
- 2 tbsp fresh dill , roughly chopped (Note 4)
- 200g / 7 oz smoked salmon , cut into 4cm / 1.7" pieces (Note 5)
- 3/4 cup (75g) gruyere cheese , grated (Note 6)
Decorations (optional)
- Dill sprigs and extra smoked salmon
Instructions
Quiche Crust (Note 1):
- Homemade quiche crust or frozen shortcrust pastry - prepare and bake the crust per Quiche Crust recipe.
- Refrigerated pie crust - unroll, fit into a 9" pie dish or tart tin. Bake per packet directions.
- Prepared pie shell (ie comes in foil dish) - bake per packet directions, scale Filling down to 4 eggs (Note 1).
Filling:
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F (160C/320F fan forced).
- Place cooked quiche crust on a tray.
- Asparagus - break woody ends off (Note 7). Cut into 3.5cm / 1.5" pieces, separate tips from stems (tips for decorating).
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add leeks and garlic, saute for 2 minutes or until leeks are translucent, don't let them go golden.
- Stir in asparagus stems (don't cook), then remove from stove.
- Cool slightly then scatter across base of quiche crust.
- Whisk together eggs, cream, dill, salt, pepper in a bowl.
- Scatter 2/3 of the salmon across quiche, folding/twisting pieces rather than laying flat.
- Top with cheese, pour over egg mixture.
- Top with remaining salmon and asparagus tips.
- Bake for 40 minutes or until top is light golden and centre is set but still slightly jiggly when you poke it.
- Rest for 10 minutes before carefully removing from tin and slicing.
Recipe Notes:
- Homemade quiche crust (shortcrust pastry) or store bought frozen shortcrust pastry, fitted into 9"/23cm tart tin or pie dish - prepare and bake per this Quiche Crust recipe, make filling per this recipe.
- Refrigerated pie crust (US/Canada, the type that is unrolled) - fit into 9"/23cm tart tin or pie dish, bake per packet then make filling per this recipe.
- Prepared pie shell - ie the ones that already come fitted in a foil pie dish (frozen or fridge) - smaller than standard quiche tins so you'll need less filling. For most, scale recipe down to 4 eggs. If using Pampas brand (Australia), scale down to 3 eggs.
- Deep dish (this is what I use) - 23cm / 9″ diameter, 3.5 – 4 cm / 1.5 – 1.7″ deep. Use Filling quantities as written.
- Normal quiche tins - slightly shallower, about 23cm / 9″ diameter, 2.5 – 3cm / 1 – 1.25″ deep. Scale recipe down to 4 eggs (click on Servings and slide down).
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
Not the sort of bird Dozer’s used to seeing at the dog park!!
PS It’s a Hospital Chopper but don’t worry, there wasn’t an emergency at the dog park! The park is located next to a hospital which has a chopper landing pad which was getting work done to it.
Hi Nagi,
The recipe looks delicious! I wonder if I can obtain the same results with home-made gravlax instead of smoked salmon. The latter is available in the shops in my country only after being imported from abroad and factory-made, which detracts from its taste.
Yes gravlax will work perfectly Arie!! N x
One of my families new favourites! With home made base. They think I’m a good cook, thanks to you!
Hi Nagi, I have made this quiche before and it turned out just perfect but this time I used different cream, thickened cream and it has not set, I have taken it out of the oven after giving it extra time as I was worried it might get too overcooked. So I am resting for 10 minutes hoping it will set. I thought the cream would be ok as in the Notes it says thickened cream can be used but I will be sticking to pure cream next time as my first attempt at this recipe turned out excellent. I have given the recipe 5 stars as it is the best tasting quiche ever and I used Smoked Trout & tons of dill.
Hi Nagi, We had this tonight and it was superb. Thank you so much for your wonderful recipes. Would you be able to post a spinach quiche recipe please? Hugs to Dozer!
Will tinned asparagus work as well when fresh isn’t in season?
Yes, I’ve made it with tinned before 🙂 N x
I just did it and looks so delicious super easy I can imagine taste great……
I often use your recipes and am glad you’re encouraging cooks to try out the pastry. I cook pretty much everything from scratch and I loved how you said how impressed people and yet it’s so easy. I got my own chooks so quiche is always in my freezer or in the table, thrown I. Whatever I have from the garden it left over. Thanks!!
Can l make this without the crust, like a frittata?
Great recipe! I make it for large brunch gatherings. Bake them a day in advance and reheat as guests are arriving. Perfect with the smoked salmon!
Will the pastry be ok made the day before and refrigerated
Made this twice already (with homemade pastry) was delicious! Everyone loved it, will be making again! Thanks for the recipe.
This quiche is delicious. I didn’t have asparagus so I put sliced tomato on top. Yummy
Can I use Puff pastry instead? if so how do i stop the pastry from sticking to pie dish (not using removable base) and when i blind bake, the foil with weights always seems to stick to the pastry and rips it out. do i also have to grease foil? or baking sheet will do the trick? need your great advise. thanks
Hi Ming, just grease the pie dish to prevent any pastry sticking. Use baking paper instead of foil to stop the pastry sticking to it when blind baking 🙂 N x
If you’re using readymade puff pastry no need to precook the pastry. Grease the pie dish, roll out pastry to fit then add quiche filling then cook in oven! Easy and quick!
Just another winner that I can add to my collection of recipetin eats. Thanks Nagi & Doser for just delicious food. Easy to make with stunning results. Yum xxx
Nagi, this salmon quiche is delicious and it looks impressive! I skipped the asparagus and made the quiche pastry and it was really good. Thanks!
Smoked salmon quiche was to die for Nagi. Thanks for sharing yet another fabulous recipe. I very rarely cook anything other than what is on your site. I made this recipe exactly as stated and for the first time ever, I made my own quiche base from your recipe also. Everyone loved it. I served it with your delightful our apple and candied walnut salad, although I used pecans instead. Both went so well together. You are my life saver. I love your blog. Thankyou so much 😀
Delicious quiche, which I served with your apple, cranberry and walnut salad. I also used your recipe to make the shortcrust pastry. Unfortunately it seems I forgot to grease my quiche tin, and the pastry got pretty ripped up taking the quiche out of the tin. My bad! But it was delicious, and my guests didn’t seem yo notice the messy crust. Will definitely make this again. Thanks Nagi.