FRITTATA VS. QUICHE VS. STRATA: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Frittatas, quiches and stratas are all savory dishes from various parts of the world that typically combine eggs and dairy with a variety of fillings and can be served hot or at room temperature for breakfast, brunch, lunch or a light dinner. These popular dishes all share eggs as the main ingredient, but differ in how they’re prepared and cooked. Read on to discover more about what differentiates frittata vs. quiche vs. strata, as well as tips for what to serve with each of these classic egg dishes.
WHAT IS A FRITTATA?
Frittatas are Italian in origin and can be described as a cross between an omelet and a crustless quiche. Frittatas take less time to make than quiche or strata. The dish is traditionally made by beating eggs with dairy—often heavy cream or half and half—together with ingredients like vegetables, meats and cheeses. The mixture is poured into a skillet and slowly heated, usually without flipping and then placed in the oven to finish cooking and brown the top.
In addition to sharing some ingredients in common with quiche and strata, a frittata resembles an omelet in so far as it’s cooked in a skillet on a cooktop with similar ingredients. The difference is that a frittata’s ingredients are all mixed together before going into the pan, while omelet fillings are added after the eggs start cooking and the dish is finished by folding half of the omelet over the fillings.
Not only are frittatas delicious but they can also be made quickly, making them a great dish for a brunch buffet. This mouthwatering Shaved Brussels Sprouts Frittata uses the KitchenAid® 7-Cup Food Processor to effortlessly slice brussels sprouts and mushrooms for the egg mixture. For a vegetarian frittata recipe, this Black Bean Frittata is a tasty crowd pleaser.
WHAT IS A QUICHE?
Quiche can be thought of as a savory tart or pie, which we can thank the French for. Like a frittata, it includes eggs, dairy and other fillings, but a quiche will typically contain fewer eggs and more cream or milk than a frittata. This higher liquid to egg ratio creates a more creamy custard texture which is baked into a flaky crust.
Quiche Lorraine is one of the most well-known versions of the dish and traditionally contains bacon, caramelized onions and swiss or gruyere cheese—in addition to eggs and cream or creme fraiche. There’s no end to the variations in fillings you can bring to quiche. This quiche recipe for Herbed Zucchini Quiche combines cheese, fresh herbs, lemon and zucchini in a creamy custard for a bright, zesty take on quiche. The pie crust for the tart comes together quickly in the KitchenAid® 9-Cup Food Processor fitted with the dough blade. You can also use your KitchenAid® stand mixer fitted with a KitchenAid® pastry beater to make flaky pastry dough. The pastry beater is specifically designed for the challenging task of cutting cold butter into doughs for light and flaky pastries, which is often done by hand.
This Cremini and Fontina Quiche recipe is flexible enough to add your own twist. Replace the fontina with your favorite cheese and the mushrooms and shallots with bacon and scallions, for a heartier quiche.
WHAT IS A STRATA?
A strata is an egg-based casserole, or savory bread pudding, baked in the oven. Strata, an American creation, is usually made by layering day-old cubed or sliced bread with veggies, meats and cheeses and topped with an egg and milk mixture. The strata is usually refrigerated for an hour, or even overnight, so that the bread can soak up the egg mixture before baking.
This strata recipe for Breakfast Strata is layers of eggs, sausage, sourdough, cheese and veggies baked into a comforting casserole. Spiralized zucchini, skim milk and turkey sausage make this Overnight Zucchini and Turkey Sausage Strata a little lighter, but equally tasty. The zucchini can be easily spiralized with the KitchenAid® 7 Blade Spiralizer Plus Peel, Core and Slice attached to the iconic KitchenAid® stand mixer.1
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IS A FRITTATA THE SAME AS A CRUSTLESS QUICHE?
The difference between a frittata and a quiche is about more than just the crust. A frittata is partially cooked in a skillet on the cooktop then finished in the oven. It also has a lower egg to dairy ratio making it closer to an open faced omelet than a pie. Quiche has a creamier, custard-like texture due to more dairy and is cooked entirely in the oven.
Today some quiche recipes bake the egg custard like a pie in a pie dish, without a traditional flaky crust, for a lighter or gluten-free version of a classic quiche recipe. These Crustless Mini Quiches with Butternut Squash, Bacon and Goat Cheese eliminate the pastry crust altogether for a satisfying, gluten-free option.
FRITTATA VS. QUICHE VS. STRATA: WHICH STORES BEST?
All three of these dishes can be stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator for three to four days, or in the freezer for up to three months, depending on the recipe. Keep in mind that certain vegetables like asparagus and leafy green vegetables may lose taste and texture if frozen, so they’re not ideal for long term storage.
Quiche and strata in particular are great go-tos for make-ahead dishes. A whole cooked quiche can be warmed up in 20 minutes, or slices can be warmed in about 10 minutes. Because stratas are better when they sit overnight, they’re ideal for assembling the night before and cooking the next morning, allowing you time to focus on other dishes and details the morning of a breakfast, brunch or lunch.
When planning and prepping meals, consider freezing individual portions of your egg dishes for easier thawing and reheating. Just allow the portion to thaw in the refrigerator before popping into the oven.
WHAT DO I SERVE WITH A QUICHE?
Depending on which meal you’re serving your quiche with will help determine what you decide to serve with it. For breakfast or brunch, a side of Homemade Breakfast Sausage or turkey bacon is always delicious, especially if you’re serving a meatless quiche. A light seasonal fruit salad is another great option for a morning meal. For lunch, a simple green salad with a bright Dijon Vinaigrette Dressing is a tasty complement to quiche. Quiche also makes a nice warm weather dinner served with steamed vegetables and a light soup, like this Watermelon Gazpacho with Feta.
WHAT DO I SERVE WITH A FRITTATA?
Like quiche, a frittata is versatile enough to work for a variety of meals and occasions, and can be enhanced by a lot of different side dishes, depending on the meal. Frittatas are crustless and breadless, so adding an indulgent Cinnamon Roll Bread for a brunch or a hot, crusty Italian bread for dinner are possibilities. A side of Perfect Roasted Garlic Potatoes or Honey and Brown Sugar Sweet Potatoes also make good additions to a frittata. Add a green salad and a glass of white wine and you’ve got a winning, late lunch or dinner for friends.
WHAT DO I SERVE WITH A STRATA?
Stratas are packed with comforting chunks of bread, gooey cheese and creamy egg goodness, so keeping the sides lighter is a smart way to go. Serve strata with sliced melon for breakfast or brunch. Or, with a seasonal salad like this Blood Orange, Beet and Hazelnut Winter Salad, for lunch with friends. For a comforting dinner, serve the strata as a side with grilled meat or roast chicken or turkey.
EXPLORE KITCHENAID® RANGES
Quiches, frittatas and stratas are all prepared a little differently, but they all require a range or oven to cook them to mouthwatering perfection. Discover more about the different styles of KitchenAid® ranges, including the KitchenAid® 30-Inch 5 Burner Dual Fuel Convection Slide-In Range with Baking Drawer. The separate compartment allows you to keep warm, slow cook or bake at a different temperature. The KitchenAid® 30-Inch 4-Element Downdraft Slide-In Range includes downdraft, which integrates the ventilation system into the range, so a separate hood isn't needed
