Quiche is a classic French tart consisting of pastry crust filled with savory custard and various other ingredients like cheese, meat, seafood or vegetables. It makes for a satisfying meal or snack and is commonly served in French cuisine. But what do the French typically eat alongside a slice of quiche? Here’s an overview of some classic French accompaniments for quiche.
Salad
A fresh green salad is one of the most ubiquitous pairings with quiche in France. The tartness and crunch of the salad greens complement the rich custard filling of the quiche. Simple vinaigrettes made with wine vinegar or lemon juice are typical salad dressings. Some classic French salad greens to serve with quiche include:
- Frisée
- Mâche
- Chicory
- Radicchio
- Arugula
- Bibb or Boston lettuce
Beyond just greens, the French may add other ingredients to the salad such as grated carrots, tomato wedges, cucumber slices, radish slices or croutons. Cheese, nuts, roasted vegetables or smoked meats are also popular quiche salad toppers.
Soup
It’s common practice in France to start a meal with a serving of soup. Many French soups pair nicely with quiche for a light meal. Some soup options include:
- French onion soup
- Creamy potato soup
- Pureed vegetable soups like tomato or butternut squash
- Chicken or turkey vegetable noodle soup
- Seafood bisques
The warm broth and blended soup consistency complement the dense quiche custard. A soup course before the quiche can make for a nice progression of flavors.
Tartines
Tartines are essentially open-faced sandwiches made from bread that’s grilled or toasted. They make an excellent complement to quiche. Some popular tartine combinations include:
- Goat cheese, honey and walnut tartine
- Smoked salmon, dill and cream cheese tartine
- Prosciutto, fig jam and arugula tartine
- Brie cheese and roasted pear tartine
The bread provides a neutral, starchy counterpoint to the richness of the quiche filling. Tartines can be made from rustic country bread, crusty baguette slices or even brioche.
Charcuterie
Charcuterie refers to cured or otherwise preserved meats in French cuisine. A selection of charcuterie meats makes for a protein-packed accompaniment to quiche. Some popular options include:
- Prosciutto
- Salami
- Mortadella
- Jambon de Bayonne (Bayonne ham)
- Saucisson sec (French dry-cured sausage)
- Pâté and rillettes (potted meat preparations)
The saltiness of charcuterie balances nicely with quiche’s richness. An assortment of charcuterie choices allows for a shared starter course.
Cheese
France is renowned for its cheese productions. Cheese makes for a classic quiche pairing as both dishes have French origins. Some cheeses commonly served alongside quiche include:
- Brie
- Camembert
- Goat cheese (chèvre)
- Gruyère
- Emmental
- Roquefort (blue cheese)
Cheeses can be served before the quiche as an appetizer or after it as a course or dessert. French cheeses nicely complement quiche’s custard and crust.
Country Bread
In France, quiche is often treated as a dish for casual family meals rather than fine dining. Simple slices of crusty country loaf bread are a customary accompaniment. Bread can be used to soak up any quiche drippings on the plate. Some excellent bread choices include:
- Baguette
- Ficelle
- Boule
- Pain de campagne
Bread provides an inexpensive, filling side item to balance the quiche’s richness.
Wine
What French meal would be complete without wine? The acidic dryness of wine cuts through quiche’s creamy custard. Some wines that pair well with quiche include:
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Rosé
- Beaujolais Nouveau
- Champagne
Lighter reds also pair nicely with quiche if it contains meat or vegetables. Cheese quiche goes well with a Viognier or Pinot Noir. Wine is the quintessential beverage to wash down bites of quiche for the French.
Fruit
Fresh fruit makes for a bright, palate-cleansing accompaniment to rich quiche. The French may enjoy seasonal fruit like:
- Berries in the summer
- Grapes in the fall
- Pears and oranges in the winter
Fruit can be enjoyed as-is, blended into fruit salads, baked into fruit tarts or flambéed tableside. The zesty sweet-tartness balances quiche’s heavy creaminess.
Conclusion
From light starters to hearty sides, the French have many classic pairings for serving alongside a wedge of savory quiche. Salads, soups, charcuterie, cheese, bread and wine are staples. The choices complement quiche’s signature custard and provide diners with a satisfying, well-rounded meal.