French Country Ham Quiche

🌿 FROM SCRATCH SENSATIONS

Seasonal cooking, thoughtfully made from simple ingredients.

French Country Ham Quiche

A rustic ham and cheese quiche inspired by the flavors of the French countryside.

Today, let’s take a little journey to the French countryside, where simple ingredients, seasonal cooking, and unhurried meals have long been part of everyday life.

This ham quiche was inspired by the pages of Sunset Country French Cooking, a cookbook filled with rustic tables, garden meals, crusty bread, fresh vegetables, and the kind of food that feels both elegant and approachable. It is not a strict vintage recreation, but rather a from-scratch recipe inspired by that same country French spirit.

A good quiche asks very little of the cook, yet somehow gives back a meal that feels special enough to gather around.

From the Cookbook Shelf

The inspiration for this recipe came from a vintage copy of Sunset Country French Cooking. Its pages celebrate the charm of French country meals: generous tables, fresh vegetables, simple salads, good bread, and dishes that feel just as comfortable at a family lunch as they do at a leisurely garden supper.

Quiche fits beautifully into that kind of cooking. It makes good use of what is already in the kitchen — a bit of ham, a handful of cheese, fresh vegetables, eggs, milk, and cream — and turns them into something golden, satisfying, and quietly elegant.

For this version, I used ham, cheese, broccoli, scallions, and a few simple seasonings tucked into a pie crust and baked until the center was just set and the top lightly golden.

Cover of Sunset Country French Cooking, the cookbook that inspired this French country ham quiche. — *Sunset Country French Cooking* inspired the rustic, leisurely spirit of this ham quiche.

French country table scene with quiche, salad, bread, flowers, and wine. — The pages of the cookbook suggest the kind of meal I love most: simple food, thoughtfully served, and enjoyed without hurry.

What Went Into the Quiche

pie crust
ham
broccoli
scallions or yellow onions
Swiss cheese
cheddar cheese
Parmesan or Romano cheese
eggs
milk and cream

View Recipe: French Country Ham Quiche

Serves: 6 to 8

Ingredients

1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust
1 cup diced cooked ham
½ cup chopped broccoli
¼ cup sliced scallions or yellow onions
¾ cup shredded Swiss cheese
½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
¼ cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
4 large eggs
¾ cup whole milk
½ cup heavy cream
½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Pinch of nutmeg, optional

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°F.
Place the unbaked pie crust into a 9-inch pie plate and crimp the edges as desired.
Scatter the ham, broccoli, scallions, and cheeses evenly into the pie crust.
In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, salt, pepper, and nutmeg until smooth.
Pour the egg mixture over the ham, vegetables, and cheese.
Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the center is set and the top is lightly golden.
Let the quiche rest for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.

LIBK Note: This quiche is flexible and forgiving. Use the cheeses you have on hand, and feel free to adjust the vegetables with the season. Serve with a simple salad, fruit, and a small pitcher of dressing for a lovely luncheon or light supper.

Inspired by Sunset Country French Cooking.

📜 Download & Print Recipe

Kitchen Notes

I love recipes like this because they feel special without being fussy. A quiche can be served warm from the oven, at room temperature, or even enjoyed later as leftovers. It is the sort of dish that belongs at brunch, lunch, supper, or packed into a quiet afternoon meal with salad and fruit.

The French country inspiration here is less about perfection and more about feeling: a table set simply, a few good ingredients, something golden from the oven, and enough time to sit down and enjoy it.

This is exactly the kind of cooking I return to again and again — practical, beautiful, and rooted in making something good from what is already available.