The Incredible, Edible Egg

When I sat down to write this post, I remembered the catchphrase of the American Egg Board in their 1980's public service announcements on TV promoting eggs.  Eggs are indeed, incredible and what makes them so is their truly limitless power of transformation in cooking.  Apparently they are now considered "Nature's Miracle Food".  Cuisines around the world depend on eggs and without them, cooking is shackled.  I know many people are vegans, and I have tried many egg substitutes and cooked vegan for years.  But, in my opinion nothing so cheap and readily available is so vital to cooking well.  Sauces, cakes, pastas, souffles, custards, tarts... all rely on eggs or whites or yolks to transform ingredients into delicious results.  Think of all the egg dishes themselves that are boldly, fully, truly eggs and the list becomes overwhelming. 

I am celebrating the egg today in a very tasty "White Asparagus, Fontina and Herb Frittata".  It's a great joy for me to create fritattas these days because I haven't made them in YEARS.  Why, you ask?  Because I finally have wonderful skillets that are stovetop and oven proof and I finally have a kitchen large enough to store all my new pans and appliances worthy of it all.  What joy to make this fritatta and not flip it over into an omelet, but put it into the oven and make a proper crust on both sides and have light yet dense texture in the middle.

Here's my recipe for White Asparagus, Fontina and Herb Frittata.

Ingredients:
Serves 2

4 eggs, whisked
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 T. extra virgin olive oil
1/4 small yellow onion, finely diced
1 1/2 tsp. minced fresh herbs such as rosemary and oregano
6 spears white asparagus, jarred in water
2 oz. fontina cheese, cut into small cubes

Method:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit.  Whisk together the eggs and kosher salt in a small bowl. Take out a small oven-safe skillet (and possibly non-stick if you like although in a well-used skillet this isn't necessary) and heat 1 T. of the olive oil on the stovetop on medium-high.  Add the onions and saute until they are transluscent.  Reduce heat to medium and add fresh herbs, ground pepper and cook a minute or two until the mixture is fragrant but do not let the onions begin to turn brown. Remove from heat and spoon the mixture into a large bowl and allow it to cool.  When cooled, add in the eggs, white asparagus and fontina cheese and mix thoroughly.  Add 1/2 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet on medium heat and when it's hot, pour in the egg mixture.  Reduce the flame to medium-low.  Let the eggs cook until the bottom forms a nice light-brown crust, about 3-4 minutes.  Slide a small rubber spatula under the edge of the egg.  If the egg comes away from the pan slightly, it's ready for the next step.  At that point, remove the skillet from the stovetop and place in the middle of the pre-heated oven.  Bake 14-16 minutes until the center of the eggs is firm and the top is a golden brown.  Remove the skillet from the oven and let it cool slightly.  Take a small rubber spatula and slide it all around the edges of the egg and under the bottom to loosen it from the pan.  Place a plate over the top of the skillet, invert it and give it a little shake so that the frittata falls onto the plate with a soft thump.  Lift off the skillet and garnish the frittata with more fresh herbs, cheese or fresh tomatoes.

You can serve this either warm or at room temperature.  It was a simple and delicious meal, perfect with a glass of sauvignon blanc. You can make endless varieties of frittatas, and try different cheeses-- goats cheese, brie, mozzerella-- just make sure they are soft ones which melt nicely.  You can also add any number of herbs or aromatics and whatever vegetables you really like.  I also enjoy wild mushrooms, roasted red peppers and different onions like shallots or leeks. 

Comments

[Yvo]

Thanks for the welcome and the suggestion. That sounds so good... (said boyfriend and I cohabit, and as he's dreadfully thin, I am trying to plump him up... therefore constantly have to dance around his picky but un-refined (hehe!) palate...)

It's funny, I was thinking about eggs the other day and how I rarely use them in anything but breakfast, though I always keep a dozen or so hanging out in my fridge. I've been wondering about this dish I had in Spain... the only eggs we could get because apparently they're not breakfast foodstuff over there... chorizo, potatoes, in this cute little skillet thing, eggs, onions, so good. *shakes head of image* Anyway, I've been wanting to try making a frittata but... alas... no skillets quite right and definitely no kitchen space to store such a skillet. Looks delish. I'm trying to cut a piece off my screen...

[Stephanie Beack]

Yvo, let me know if the squash and sausage trick works ;-)

Mmmm, I know how you feel about the skillet but now after having them let me convince you: just get at least one. Store it anywhere. Under your bed, in your closet, use it as a coffee table. Just purchase one. You'll love it. And, yes, what you mention above is the Spanish tortilla. (Nothing to do with mexican style) They are very much like a frittata indeed. They're incredible. Especially when you start by slicing the potatoes very thin and slow-cooking them in olive oil to cook them before adding the eggs, meat and onions. I'll do a post on them one day too. They are divine.

[Lisa (Homesick Texan)]

I went to the store tonight to buy some eggs, and that song was playing in my head! I love making fritattas (or tortillas as I call them since I lived in Spain for a few months). Baked eggs are the perfect blank slate for whatever your heart desires.

[rowena]

Aha! Without the egg I wouldn't be able to make your Mushroom Bucatini! I've purchased the criminis and thinking of making it for Sunday brunch if we don't stuff ourselves at the Sagra of Black-eyed peas and Pork skin on Saturday night. ;-)

P.S. Thanks for reminding me that I need to replace my old non-stick skillets. Subito.

[Flo]

Ahh----Frittata....the best recipe for eggs and especially with asparagus.

[contaminated soil]

Hi,
Nice Egg.I like to have egg items daily.I like your dish very much.

[Stephanie Beack]

Glad you like the frittata, contaminated soil. Interesting name you've got there!