Savoury Custard Flan

(Thank you everyone for helping get this to FoodBuzz Top 9)

Or shall I just call this a Tart, or Quiche or maybe .... a Flartche? If you can come up with a better name, please let me know. I can think of another combination but it really doesn't sound too appetizing and neither does "leftover flan".

Anyway, this was another throw-together thingy. We had some leftover roast chicken that was clogging up my freezer space and at the same time, I was trying to unclog my brain to figure out some lunch. There was this packet of lovely fresh herbs given to me by a friend (from her garden!). I had a small block of mature cheddar and a whole lot of egg yolks leftover from making macarons. I did the math and the solution ... a Flartche.

INGREDIENTS

1 small onion, diced

1 waxy potato, diced (I'm using this instead of the russet as I wanted some bite)

1 cup roast chicken meat, coarsely shredded

4 egg yolks

1 cup cream

1 cup grated mature cheddar (you can substitute with cheese of your choice)

1 handful fresh sage leaves

prepared shortcrust pastry

METHOD

Preheat oven to 180 - 200ºC.

Line a 20cm round quiche pan with prepared pastry, pressing in the bottom and sides. Trim edges.

Line pastry with parchment paper. Fill with baking beads and bake blind for 15 mins.

Carefully remove beads and parchment, and bake a further 2-3 mins. Do not over-brown. Cool.

Stir fry diced onions and potatoes in a little oil until lightly browned. Stir in shredded chicken. Cool.

Beat egg yolks with cream. Stir in the shredded cheese, leaving about 3 tbs for sprinkling later.

Evenly spread out the onion/chicken/potatoes mixture into the pastry crust.

Top with a few leaves of sage.

Pour egg/cream/cheese mixture over filling.

Bake in preheated oven for 15 mins.

Sprinkle remaining cheese on top and bake a further 20 - 25 mins or until custard is set and the top is golden brown.

Leave to cool for a few minutes before tucking in.

Serve with some fresh ground black pepper.