A frittata is a wonderful way to make use of odds and ends in the kitchen. WIth so many spring vegetables springing these days, I had plenty of small bits to turn into dinner. Or lunch. Or brunch.
The spring frittata in Michael Romano and Karen Stabiner's Family Table is presented as the perfect dish for serving at any time of day, and at any temperature. Indeed, the combination of wholesome veggies, rich eggs (with extra yolks), and nutty Gruyère cheese is killer at any time of day.
And while the recipe looks long, it can easily be broken up into two phases: the filling, and the eggs. Saute the vegetables and roast the potato when you can, and then whisk and bake up the frittata right before serving.
Why I picked this recipe: The ease of a frittata combined with the draw of fresh spring vegetables was too good to pass up.
What worked: The balance of rich cheese and extra egg yolks paired nicely with the earthy green vegetables in the final dish.
What didn't: No problems at all.
Suggested tweaks: Frittatas offer endless variation. Don't feel like prepping artichokes? Go up on asparagus. Have some spinach lying around? Wilt it in. Peas, favas, and ramps would also make for seasonally appropriate inclusions.
Excerpted from Famly Table: Favorite Staff Meals from Our Restaurants to Your Home, copyright 2013 by USHG, LLC, and Karen Stabiner. Reproduced by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved. Available wherever books are sold.
Recipe Details
Springtime Frittata from 'Family Table'
Ingredients
For the Filling:
1 medium russet potato, scrubbed
1 large artichoke, preferably with stem
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 heaping cup thinly sliced onion
1 teaspoon kosher salt
10 medium asparagus stalks, woody bottoms snapped off, peeled, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 packed cups chopped Swiss chard leaves (from about 1 small bunch, trimmed)
For the Frittata:
9 large eggs
3 large egg yolks
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Gruyère
1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
2 tablespoons finely chopped mixed fresh basil, Italian parsley, and chives
2 tablespoons dried bread crumbs
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for drizzling
Directions
To make the filling: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Pierce the potato several times with a fork. Bake it directly on an oven rack for 1 hour, or until tender. Refrigerate until cool enough to handle.
Meanwhile, pull off the outer leaves of the artichoke, then pull out or cut away the pale green leaves in the center. Trim the stem to 1 to 2 inches. With a paring knife, trim away the dark green outer portion of the heart and the stem. Split the heart in half and use a spoon or small paring knife to carve out the prickly choke at its center. Cut the artichoke into 1/8-inch-thick slices. Set aside.
When the potato is cool enough to handle, peel it, quarter lengthwise, and cut crosswise into 1/8-inch-thick slices; it’s OK if it crumbles. Set aside.
Warm the oil in a large skillet over medium heat until it is shimmering but not smoking. Add the onion, artichoke, and salt, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring every few minutes, for 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. Add the asparagus and Swiss chard and stir until the chard starts to wilt. After 2 to 3 minutes, increase the heat to medium-high and cook until the chard is tender and any water has evaporated, about 1 minute more. Set aside to cool slightly.
To make the frittata: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
Beat the eggs and yolks together in a large bowl. Stir in the cream, the Gruyère, 3 tablespoons of the Parmigiano, the herbs, bread crumbs, potato slices, asparagus-chard mixture, salt, and pepper to taste.
Heat the 1 tablespoon oil in a 10-inch ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the egg mixture and, with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, stir to scramble the frittata for 30 seconds, scraping the bottom of the pan and breaking up any large egg curds. The frittata will still be mostly wet, with evenly dispersed cooked egg throughout. Remove the pan from the heat, smooth the top of the frittata, and gently tap the pan on the counter to settle it.
Slide the pan into the oven and bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the frittata is firm to the touch. Remove from the oven and turn out onto a large platter (or cut it into wedges in the pan using a nonabrasive spatula). Garnish with the remaining 1 tablespoon Parmigiano and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
---|---|
291 | Calories |
19g | Fat |
15g | Carbs |
16g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings: 6 to 8 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 291 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 19g | 24% |
Saturated Fat 7g | 34% |
Cholesterol 321mg | 107% |
Sodium 720mg | 31% |
Total Carbohydrate 15g | 6% |
Dietary Fiber 4g | 13% |
Total Sugars 3g | |
Protein 16g | |
Vitamin C 14mg | 72% |
Calcium 197mg | 15% |
Iron 3mg | 17% |
Potassium 640mg | 14% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |