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Classic Cheese flan
Discover how to make a classic school dinners cheese flan, also known as cheese pie, with this easy recipe. Cheese flan is similar to a quiche but less fiddly to make and with fewer ingredients – all you need is ready-made shortcrust pastry, eggs and cheese, onions optional.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Serves 6
- Vegetarian
- Freezable
Preparation
- Total time
- 40 Mins
- Preparation time
- 15 Mins
- Cooking time
- 25 Mins
1 large onion or 2 medium shallots, peeled and finely sliced (optional)
1 tbsp unsalted butter (optional)
375g ready-to-roll shortcrust pastry
2 large eggs
150ml milk
200g extra-mature Cheddar, grated
Salt and pepper
Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/Gas Mark 4.
For the onions (optional)
Add the butter to a frying pan over a low-medium heat. Add the onion slices and a pinch of salt and fry gently for about 10-15 minutes, until softened and just starting to caramelise. Keep the heat low so they don't burn, stirring regularly.
For the flan
While the onions are cooking, line the base and sides of a pie/tart tin with shortcrust pastry. Prick the bottom, cover with parchment and add dried beans/baking beans/baking weights and blind bake for 10 minutes until it is light golden. Remove from the oven and pace to one side.
Whisk together the eggs and milk in a large bowl or jug. Stir in the grated cheese and season with salt and pepper.
Spoon the onions onto the flan base (if using), spreading them out so they form a thin layer. Pour the cheese and egg mixture over the top.
Bake for about 25-30 minutes until the top is golden and just set.
Serve warm, with a crisp green salad (or tinned tomatoes if you really want that classic school dinners vibe!).
You will need
23cm-round pie dish or flan tin
Baking beans/weights (optional)
Balloon whisk
Tips
Hands up if you remember this school dinner favourite! Cheese flan, or cheese pie as is it often known, is a classic school dinner dish made with just a handful of ingredients (perfect for feeding a horde of hungry kids on a budget!). It was often served with tinned tomatoes or a tomato sauce.
Variations
- Crisp up some bacon lardons and fold into the filling before cooking
- Wilt some spinach in a pan and fold into the filling alongside some sautéed red peppers
- Heat frozen peas in microwave then fold in before cooking
- Slice cherry tomatoes and cook them inside the flan for little bursts of flavour
- Top with some fresh rocket for a fresh peppery taste
- Sauté mushrooms then fold through before cooking for a hearty version
Reviews
Ellie W(111)386884
★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars.Super easy & just like the 70’s school dinners. Yummy
Reviewed on 28/11/22
Lucy S(20)
★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars.Such a cheap and easy midweek meal - totally takes me back to my school days, and the kids like it, too!
Reviewed on 26/03/21
