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Spaghetti Frittata

In Eggs Selections On April 24, 2015 0 Comments

Do you ever throw out cooked, leftover spaghetti? While living in Italy, my grandmother (Nonna Annunziata) never threw out extra ingredients. To my amazement, she used the leftover spaghetti to variate our frittatas. She simply beat eggs with Pecorino Romano cheese. She then added the cooked spaghetti to the egg mixture and cooked it in an oiled skillet. Wow! Everyone loved it, except for me. And now, everyone loves my spaghetti frittata, including me!

Prep time: 20 minutes
Serves: 4 to 6

Ingredients:
8 large eggs
1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
1/4 cup fresh, chopped parsley (optional)
2 to 3 cups cooked, drained and cooled spaghetti
4 tablespoons olive oil (for coating skillet)
1 to 2 large, vine-ripened tomatoes, cut into cubes and set in a bowl
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (for tomatoes)

Directions:
1. In a 3-quart mixing bowl, beat the eggs, cheese, salt and black pepper together.

2. Stir in the parsley (optional) and the spaghetti; set aside.

3. Meanwhile, in a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat the oil.

4. When oil is hot, add the spaghetti-egg mixture to the skillet.

5. Immediately set heat on low and cover the skillet.

6. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes.

7. After about 6 to 7 minutes, tilt the skillet. Using a spatula, left edges of frittata and let the raw egg escape to the sides and bottom of skillet.

8. Cover the skillet and cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes.

9. After 3 to 4 minutes, place a large, flat platter over skillet and quickly flip the skillet with frittata over and onto the platter.

10. Carefully slide the flipped frittata back into the skillet.

11. Cover the skillet and cook the frittata for about 5 minutes.

12. After 5 minutes, using a spatula, lift the frittata bottom to check if underside is golden brown. If it is golden brown, the frittata is done. If not, cook it for another 2 to 3 minutes.

13. Slide the frittata into 6 to 8 wedges and garnish with sprigs of fresh parsley.

14. At serving time, add extra virgin olive oil, salt and ground black pepper to the cubed tomatoes; stir together.

Serve immediately with Italian bread or toasted bagels.
Text and Photograph ©2015 Nancy DeLucia Real

Easter Brunch Menu (Frittata)

In Eggs Selections, Holidays, Vegetables On April 21, 2011 2 Comments

Easter Brunch Menu

-Pecorino Asparagus Frittata
-Cherry Tomatoes with Oregano
-Hearts of Palm & Olives
-Italian Sweetbread (la Colomba)
-Easter Chocolates

You’ll love this – of the five food items listed in this menu, you only need to prepare three of them (the sweetbread and chocolates are ready-made). Total prep time is approximately 50 minutes. Imagine spoiling your family and friends with these easy and exquisite foods for brunch next Sunday – Happy Easter!

My Easter foods always include Francesca Sciscente’s (my mom) Pecorino Asparagus Frittata. With sweet ham bits, this traditional Easter morn frittata was usually paired with tomatoes. But I’ve discovered that cherry tomatoes are sweeter and look cuter next to this gourmet egg dish. Prep time for both recipes combined – only 35 minutes! [see recipes below]

Hearts of Palm & Olives, tossed with olive oil, red onion, bell pepper, celery and lemon is a refreshing side to the frittata (found in our Recipes, under “Salads” ).

The easy grand finale: slice a premade Colomba sweetbread, arranged on a platter and surrounded by your favorite chocolates. Serve with coffee, tea or cappuccino. After the grind, this brunch menu is ideal. I can relax now … and so can you!

Prep time: 25 to 30 minutes
Serves: 6 to 8

For the Pecorino Asparagus Frittata:
1 bunch fresh asparagus
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 to 3 ounces sharp, imported Pecorino Romano cheese*
4 ounces (about 5 slices) boiled ham (optional)
4 large eggs
6 large egg whites
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 tablespoons extra virgin or vegetable oil

1. Prepare the asparagus – trim 3 to 4-inch stems (white parts) from asparagus bottoms and discard. Cut asparagus into 1/2-inch thick rounds and place them in a 2-quart saucepot.

2. Add enough cold water to cover the asparagus.

3. Place saucepot on burner set on high heat. Cover and bring to a boil.

4. Add the salt and boil 2 minutes, uncovered, or until asparagus is crunchy-tender when pierced with a fork.

5. Drain asparagus and transfer it to a glass or porcelain bowl to cool, 4 to 6 minutes.

6. Meanwhile, prepare frittata ingredients – finely grate the Pecorino Romano Cheese to yield 1/3 cup; set aside.

7. On a flat surface, cut ham into 1/4-inch wide strips and then into 1/4-inch pieces; set aside.

8. In a large bowl and with a fork or whisk, beat the eggs and egg whites with the grated cheese and black pepper until well-blended; set aside.

9. In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat the oil. Add the asparagus and ham pieces.

10. Stir fry with a cooking spatula on medium-high heat until the ham begins to turn light golden, about 3 to 4 minutes.

11. Pour the egg and cheese mixture over the skillet ingredients, swirling the skillet around so that the mixture covers entire diameter of the skillet.

12. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook about 7 to 8 minutes, occasionally lifting frittata sides and swirling skillet to let raw egg escape to bottom. Check bottom of frittata by lifting sides with the spatula. When bottom is golden, it is time to flip the frittata over.

13. To flip the frittata, put a large platter over skillet, making sure the platter is large enough to overlap skillet edges by 2 inches.

14. With one hand on platter and the other firmly gripping the skillet handle, make a quick flip. Slide the frittata back into skillet and cook an additional 2 to 3 minutes on low. Transfer frittata to a serving platter and divide into 8 equal wedges.

15. Alternate flipping method: Divide the frittata into four equal pieces and, with the spatula, flip each piece over in skillet.

16. Cook an additional 2 to 3 minutes on low. Transfer to a serving platter and cut each wedge in half (there will be a total of 8 pieces)

*Note: Imported Pecorino Romano cheese can be purchased at Italian grocery stores or international gourmet food stores, such as Trader Joe’s™ and Wholefoods™.

Text & Photographs © Nancy Real 2011 (the Balocco™ Colomba is a brand name – the packaged product was photographed by Nancy Real).

Misto Peppers Frittata

In Eggs Selections On June 21, 2010 2 Comments

Have you ever reached for an onion in the refrigerator drawer, but also found some forgotten, mixed peppers? Well, now you can turn it all into a delicious frittata and presto – you just made a nutritious breakfast, lunch or dinner!

Prep time: 20 to 25 minutes
Serves: 4 to 6

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 cups thinly sliced mixed red, yellow or green bell peppers
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and sliced (optional)
1 yellow onion, peeled and thinly sliced
8 eggs, beaten with 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon sea salt

1. In a 12-inch, nonstick skillet set on medium-high, heat the oil.

2. When oil is hot but not smoking, stir fry all peppers and onion for 3 to 4 minutes or until onion is translucent.

3. Lower heat (on lowest setting) and add beaten eggs to the pepper-onion mixture.

4. Cover and cook 3 to 4 minutes.

5. Uncover and with a spatula, lift frittata edges, tilting pan to let raw egg escape to bottom of pan.

6. Cover and cook an additional 2 minutes.

7. After 2 minutes, uncover and with the spatula, lift frittata edges, tilting pan to let raw egg escape to bottom of pan. Cook for an additional 3 minutes.

8. Uncover the frittata and, place a 14-inch round, flat platter over skillet.

9. With one hand securely holding skillet handle and the other firmly holding platter, make a quick flip (you will have raw side of frittata underneath and cooked side on top).

10. Slide the frittata back into skillet and cook one more minute.

11. Transfer the frittata to a platter and cut it nto 8 wedges or other decorative shapes.

Serve immediately with a salsa, tomatoes and bread or hot tortillas.

Text and Photographs ©2010 Nancy DeLucia Real

Nopales Frittata Burrito

In Eggs Selections On April 30, 2010 0 Comments

Nopales (cactus) and scrambled eggs are an important food staple in Mexico. I admit that the first time I was offered a scramble of nopales I thought it was unusual to eat a food with cactus leaves in it.

Believe it or not, nopales, onion, eggs and tomatoes wrapped into a burrito make for a nutritional breakfast that everyone will enjoy.

In my bicultural home I created the Nopales Frittata Burrito, enjoyed immensely by my Italian Mexican son and all his friends. Try this recipe – the burritos won’t last very long!

Prep time: 35 minutes
Serves: 4 to 6

FIRST, COOK THE NOPALES:
2 to 3 large fresh nopales (cactus leaves), without thorns and cut into 1/2-inch squares, rinsed and drained
-OR-
One 15-ounce jar cooked nopales, rinsed, drained and cut into 1/2-inch squares

1. To cook fresh nopales: In a 5-quart saucepot bring 12 cups water and half the onion to a boil.

2. Add the fresh cut nopales and cook on medium-low heat, uncovered, 3 to 4 minutes or until nopales turn a lime green color.

3. Drain and rinse the nopales in a colander under cold water.

4. Discard onion, drain nopales again and set aside.

NEXT, PREPARE THE NOPALES FRITTATA:
1 medium brown or white onion, peeled and halved
3 large egg yolks
6 large egg whites
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 vine-ripened tomato, quartered, pulp removed and flesh cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1. Meanwhile, chop the remaining onion in 1/2-inch pieces and set aside in a small bowl.

2. In a separate 4-cup mixing bowl, beat the egg yolks, egg whites and salt together; set aside.

3. Heat the oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet. Stir fry either fresh or jarred nopales with the chopped onion on medium heat, about 2 minutes.

4. Add the tomato pieces and stir fry an additional 2 minutes or until onion is translucent and mixture begins drying out. Set heat on low and pour the egg mixture over the nopales, onion and tomato in skillet.

5. Cover and cook about 2 minutes or until underside of frittata looks golden when lifted with a spatula.

6. Divide frittata into 4 to 6 wedges and flip each wedge over. Cook on low heat an additional 1 to 2 minutes.

7. Transfer the frittata pieces to a flat plate and set aside.

FINALLY, HEAT THE TORTILLAS & ASSEMBLE THE BURRITOS:
Four to six 8-inch flour tortillas

1. In the same skillet set over medium-low heat, warm two tortillas at a time, turning them over every 30 seconds until warmed through.

2. Repeat with remaining tortillas while beginning to assemble the burritos.

3. Place a warm tortilla on an individual plate and set a frittata wedge in its center horizontally.

4. Roll up one-third of the tortilla, folding in the sides to seal and roll up completely. Repeat with remaining tortillas and frittata wedges.

Serve with a favorite salsa or garnish with tomato slices.

Note: Fresh nopales (cactus leaves) are sold at farmers’ markets or Latin American markets, flesh cut into squares and bagged. If buying whole cactus leaves with thorns, place one leaf at a time in a large paper bag set on a counter and scrape off the thorns with a knife. The bag will prevent thorns from flying towards you or all over your kitchen.

Text ©2010 Nancy DeLucia Real
Burrito Photograph Only ©2010 Nancy DeLucia Real