Not a fan of this (Bridgerton) quiche
The book: The Duke and I (the first Bridgerton novel) by Julia Quinn
Genre: Romance
Published: 2000
The bake: Sweetcorn quiche with watermelon salsa
What’s the story?
To me the story follows the age-old formula of girl meets boy, girl likes boy, boy also likes girl but there is an obstacle to their relationship. Caution is thrown to the wind and love blooms, but still, the obstacle looms. Will they be able to overcome the obstacle and live happily ever after?
Daphne Bridgerton is the girl in this formula, and the broodingly handsome Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings the dashing Romeo. The backdrop to the formula is the Regency era, so lots of pomp and ceremony and elegance. And balls and fancy teas, and carriage rides. And of course, proper courtship. This means nothing more than the most chaste of kisses before wedding rings are firmly in place.
Daphne longs to be married, and Simon, one of her brother Anthony’s best friends, seems like THE ONE. But he harbors a secret that prevents him from commitment. Of course, these two are meant for each other, but they have to overcome a lot of struggles on their road to wedded bliss. This includes three angry Bridgerton brothers, Lady Whistledown’s sharp quill (more on her below) and a bride who is utterly clueless on her wedding night….
Why read it?
I have to confess, I only read this novel because the whole world seems to be glued to Netflix watching the series based on these books. I wanted to go back to the source material and see the story in its purest form. All the hype is certainly understandable, we (especially women) all love a bit of romance and all that entails.
I called the story formulaic, and it is – but there’s a reason for formulas. They work. They sell. And they entertain. However, this book did not blow my hair back. It’s too much like a glorified Mills & Boon, which I’ve just never enjoyed. Quinn’s writing style is certainly entertaining and at times very funny, and her characters are believable.
I especially love the mysterious lady Whistledown, a society lady anonymously penning a gossip rag about the ton, or members of high society at that time. Nobody is spared from her observations, and every chapter starts with an extract from her latest publication about the characters.
If you’ve watched the series and can’t wait for series 2, then by all means also read The Duke & I. If you are curious, like me, about the inspiration behind the series, then also, pick up the book. However, if you are just looking for a good read, I can recommend far better books to get lost in!
Pair it with: The Bridgerton – sweetcorn quiche with watermelon salsa
Strangely, for a food writer, I have a long list of things I don’t like eating. Top of the list is corn, in any shape or form. I don’t eat popcorn, sweetcorn, nachos, corn on the cob, or polenta. Yes, weird, I know. So, I decided to pair a sweetcorn quiche with The Duke and I, and I call it The Bridgerton. Why? Because I know I’m in the minority when it comes to Bridgerton AND corn! Most people (judging by the popularity of the series) can’t get enough of Bridgerton. And I get very strange looks when I tell people my strong feelings about corn….
Something else I don’t like is watermelon. It’s just a tasteless waste of time in my opinion! The same goes for celery… So I decided to make a watermelon salsa to go with The Bridgerton. If you like these kinds of things, it should add a nice fresh kick to balance the richness of the quiche (my husband and friends assure me it’s delicious!).
The Bridgerton: Sweetcorn quiche with watermelon salsa
6-8
servings30
minutes35
minutesIngredients
- For the crust:
110 g soft butter
1 cup flour
110 g mature Cheddar, grated
- For the filling:
2 large eggs
15 ml corn flour
2,5 ml salt
2,5 ml nutmeg
2,5 ml Dijon mustard
375 ml (1 can) sweetcorn
250 ml mature Cheddar, grated
2 rashers bacon, fried and chopped finely
15 ml fresh parsley, chopped
a dash of paprika
- For the salsa:
125 ml watermelon, chopped
1/4 yellow pepper, deseeded and chopped finely
1 celery stalk, chopped finely
60 ml cucumber, finely chopped
a sprinkle of chili flakes (optional)
a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice
a dash of olive oil
1 wheel feta, crumbled
Directions
- To make the crust: Mix all three ingredients thoroughly and press into a greased quiche/pie dish. Place in the fridge while you make the filling.
- To make the filling: Whisk the eggs and add the corn flour, salt, nutmeg and mustard. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
- Pour into the prepared crust and sprinkle over some paprika. Bake at 180 °C for about 35 minutes or until golden brown and set.
- To make the salsa, mix all the ingredients well and season to taste. This salsa is made by feel, so add more of one ingredient and less of another according to your preference. Place in the fridge until you are ready to serve.
- To serve, cut slices of the quiche (serve at room temperature) and top with a spoonful of the salsa.
2 Comments
The Bookworm
Thanks so much for your comment Iona!! I think I might have to give the series a chance 🙂 do try the quiche, everyone who tried it said it was delish xxx
Iona Cockerill
Dear Karla ,
I love you review of the Duke & I at the same time confessing that I watched Bridgeston and enjoyed it ( with a few niggles along the way though) . I will also try your quiche with watermelon salsa as it sounds delicious – thank you !!!