Cooking Corner- Frittata

There are many recipes for Frittata, which of course, all are the “Original”. It’s basically a crust-less Quiche. Easy and quick. Most recipes require you to mix all the ingredients into an oven proof frying pan. Cook the bottom on the stove top and pop it into the oven. No problem if you want to do that. Quiche in a pan. Then flip onto a platter – not so easy.

However, I have a different idea. I make it like a pizza with an Egg and Cream Crust.

Frittata or Egg Pizza?

Portions – is dependent on size of Cooking Pan and Number of Eggs – you’ll see.

This recipe is as I made it for 2 People. Multiply as necessary. We had leftovers.

This is a perfect recipe for searching the Fridge for veggies that need to be used up. Also Eggs are a great source of inexpensive protein.

Ingredients:

2 or so Eggs per person. I used 5 medium Eggs for 2 people. How hungry is everyone?

½ Cup Cream – In this and most recipes cream is best but milk is fine.

Tbsp Thyme chopped – herbs always help. Parsley, Tarragon, Oregano, Basil – Use what you have on hand to make yourself happy. The green flecks make it look interesting. The herb flavour comes through in the crust better than adding to Veggie mix. Optional.

1 Tbsp Unsalted Butter or Cooking Oil – I used butter

TOPPINGS

Use what you have on hand. Below is what I found in my fridge as you see in the picture.

1 Tbsp Unsweetened Butter or cooking oil – I used Avocado oil because I was using a stainless steel pan

½ Onion medium – I used red onion for stronger flavour and colour. Any Onion will do.

4 Portobello Mushrooms, medium size, cut chunky. Any kind of Mushroom no problem. I only use the caps. To me the texture of the stems is woody. I save stems for stock.

1 Cup Peppers, diced - Green, Red and Yellow

6 Grape Tomatoes sliced (that’s what I had leftover in fridge) – OR ½ Medium Tomato diced

¼ Cup Leeks sliced then halved

3 Bacon Slices – I cook them in the oven – broiler approximately 1 minute each side - Bacon can be thick or thin, fatty or lean. Cook it to the point you like – cut in right size pieces for you.

Salt and Pepper – pinches

FINISHING

1 Green Onion sliced fine – for garnish and / or chopped parsley.

1 Cup Shredded Cheese. Old Cheddar, Swiss, whatever you have. Stronger flavour, better.

Method:

TOPPING

1. In a separate Frying Pan on medium heat, add butter or oil. When hot, add onion and cook until translucent, not browning. This is when I add a pinch of pepper.

2. Add the mushrooms. Add a pinch of salt to help the mushrooms lose their water.

3. When mushrooms are half done, add Bacon (If you’re using it), peppers, and tomatoes. Add leeks at the last moment. Best heated, not cooked.

1. In a bowl, whisk eggs, cream and herbs until combined and there is froth.

2. Preheat your oven to Broil.

3. I used a 10” medium size non-stick, oven proof, frying pan. Or use Cast Iron. The crust ended up ¼ inch thick. Do you want the crust to be thicker or thinner? Then add more / fewer eggs – Use bigger / smaller pan. You decide.

Medium heat, add butter. When hot, add egg mixture. With a spatula, stir up the eggs until they begin to set, like you would for an omelette or scrambled eggs. When setting on bottom and still wet on top, even it out. It will still be wet on top but cooked on the bottom. Get it off the stove top sooner than later. Into the broiler. Watch carefully, this will go quickly. It will rise. When the top looks solid and just starting to brown, get it out, it’s done. 1 to 2 minutes.

CARFUL OF THE PAN HANDLE. Leave a towel on it once out to let everyone know -DON’T TOUCH!

4. Scoop the topping mixture over the whole crust surface evenly. Like a pizza, you can put different topping on different parts. I put bacon on my half, none for my veggie wife’s.

5. Spread Grated Cheese over the whole surface. Back in the broiler until the cheese is melted to your satisfaction. Mine took 3 minutes.

6. Garnish with sliced green onion or parsley would be good. I like onion. If you look at the picture, you’ll see that I forgot the Onion topping. Oops. I’ll let you know when I’m perfect. Senior moment.

7. Slice and serve from the pan using your spatula. The Egg Crust is too fragile to get out whole when fresh.

Left overs are great. Microwave for 1 minute serve on toast like a toasted Western. All Good.