Herbed Omelet Wraps With Rice Noodles And Duck Recipes

SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND GOAT CHEESE OMELET

Steps:

• Break the eggs into a bowl and beat with a fork or a whisk until they are frothy. Whisk in the milk, salt, pepper and garlic.
• Heat an 8-inch nonstick omelet pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 teaspoons olive oil. Hold your hand an inch or two above the pan, and when it feels hot, pour the eggs into the middle of the pan, scraping every last bit into the pan with a rubber spatula. Swirl the pan to distribute the eggs evenly over the surface. Shake the pan gently, tilting it slightly with one hand while lifting up the edges of the omelet with the spatula in your other hand, to let the eggs run underneath during the first few minutes of cooking.
• As soon as the eggs are set on the bottom, sprinkle the sun-dried tomatoes, cheese and basil over the middle of the egg "pancake," then jerk the pan quickly away from you then back toward you so that the omelet folds over onto itself. If you don't like your omelet runny in the middle (I do), jerk the pan again so that the omelet folds over once more. Cook for a minute or two longer. Tilt the pan and roll the omelet out onto a plate, and serve.

COLD OMELETS

Steps:

• For the tomato omelet: In a large saucepan, preferably nonstick, heat one tablespoon of the olive oil. When hot, add the minced scallions and saute for about 30 to 45 seconds. Add the chopped tomatoes and a quarter teaspoon of the salt. Saute the tomatoes for about 45 to 60 seconds, until they are warm and starting to render their juice but are still firm. Set aside.
• Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a clean saucepan. Meanwhile, beat the eggs with the remaining quarter teaspoon of salt and the pepper in a bowl. When the oil is hot, add the egg mixture and, when the curds form in the bottom of the pan, stir until the whole mixture is set but a little wet inside.
• Using your fork, bring the near lip over toward the center of the omelet and arrange the tomato mixture down the center of the omelet. (If the tomato mixture is too wet, use a slotted spoon to remove the solids for use on the omelet.) Fold both lips of the omelet back over the tomatoes to enclose them as best you can. Heat the one teaspoon of butter in the exposed end of the skillet and cook the omelet for about 45 to 60 seconds to brown it nicely underneath. Invert onto a plate.
• When lukewarm, slide the omelet onto a piece of plastic wrap and roll it into a tube, tightening it as you roll to give it a nice cylindrical shape and twisting the wrap at both ends. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• At serving time, cut the omelet into one-and-one-half-inch slices and place the slices cut-side-down in a small gratin dish. Sprinkle with a few drops of vinegar, about one tablespoon of oil and extra herbs, if desired. Serve.
• For the herb omelet: Beat the eggs with the salt, pepper and chopped herbs and proceed with the directions above (ignoring references to the tomato mixture) to make and finish the omelet.

FRESH HERBS OMELET

Steps:

• Break 2 eggs into a bowl and beat with a fork or a whisk until frothy. Add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste (about 1/8 teaspoon salt), and 2 teaspoons milk. Whisk half the herbs into the eggs and mix well.
• Heat an 8-inch nonstick omelet pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 teaspoons of the olive oil. When the oil feels hot when you hold your hand above it, pour in the eggs, scraping every last bit into the pan. Swirl the pan to distribute the eggs evenly over the surface. Shake the pan gently, tilting it slightly with one hand while lifting up the edges of the omelet with the spatula in your other hand, to let the eggs run underneath during the first few minutes of cooking. As soon as the eggs are set on the bottom, jerk the pan quickly away from you then back towards you so that the omelet folds over on itself. Tilt the pan and roll out onto a plate. Repeat with the remaining eggs and herbs, and serve.

OMURICE (JAPANESE RICE OMELET)

Steps:

• Make the rice: Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Add 1 tablespoon butter, and then onion and carrot. Cook, stirring, until onion is translucent and a little browned at the edges, about 3 minutes. Add ham and cook, stirring, until it begins to brown, about 30 seconds.
• Add remaining 1 tablespoon butter, and then rice, breaking it up with a wooden spoon or long chopsticks. Adjust heat to medium and cook until the grains are glossy, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in ketchup and soy sauce, and cook, stirring, another 30 seconds or so to caramelize. Stir in peas to heat through, and deglaze the pan with dashi or chicken stock. Remove from heat and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• To make a perfect mound of rice on each plate, grease a small bowl with canola or safflower oil and pack 1 cup of the rice. Invert this over a plate and remove the bowl. Repeat with the other half of the rice on a second plate.
• Make the omelet: In a small (6- or 7-inch) nonstick skillet (or a well-seasoned carbon steel omelet pan), heat 1/2 teaspoon oil, or just enough to coat the pan, over medium-high. Beat 2 eggs with 1/2 teaspoon dashi or water, until yolks and whites are completely blended. Season with salt and pepper.
• Pour the egg mixture into the heated pan. Shake and swirl the pan over the heat, stirring constantly with chopsticks or a fork as the eggs cook. When lots of small curds have formed and the eggs are custardy, about 30 seconds, let cook undisturbed until nearly set, about 30 seconds. Run a butter knife or small spatula around the edge of the omelet, and tap the pan firmly against the stove to release the omelet. Turn the omelet out onto the rice, custardy side down. Use a clean dish towel or paper towel to push the edges under the rice.
• Repeat with the other 2 eggs for the second omelet. Dress the omelets with a zigzag of ketchup (or a cute design if you've got a steady hand), and serve.

TAMAGOYAKI (JAPANESE ROLLED OMELET)

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine eggs, mirin, soy sauce, dashi (if using) and sugar. Whisk until well combined.
• Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a tamagoyaki pan or a nonstick 8-inch skillet over medium. Using a small piece of folded paper towel, carefully wipe the excess oil from the pan and set aside paper towel (you will need it to grease the pan for each egg layer).
• Pour about 3 tablespoons of the egg mixture into the pan and quickly tilt the pan, swirling the egg mixture around to create an even layer. If there are thicker areas, gently poke a small hole at the thickest point with chopsticks and tilt and swirl the pan to cover exposed areas with more raw egg to form an even layer.
• After the layer is cooked, about 1 minute, using chopsticks or a rubber spatula, gently lift the egg edges on the farthest side to loosen the layer's grip. While tilting the pan, carefully fold the egg about 1/4 of the way toward yourself. Continue to fold the egg equally on itself until you have a narrow, rectangular omelet at the edge of the pan nearest you. Reduce the heat to medium-low if the egg is browning.
• Using the paper towel, lightly grease the exposed area of the pan. Pour another 3 tablespoons of the remaining egg mixture into the exposed area of the pan and quickly swirl it around to create another layer. Use chopsticks or a soft spatula to gently lift up the folded omelet and tilt the pan toward you so the raw egg mixture runs under the omelet.
• Once the layer is cooked, gently roll the omelet away from you in three to four flips. Repeat Steps 3 to 5 with remaining three layers, greasing the pan before each additional layer. The number of flips will decrease as the omelet grows in size with each additional layer.
• Transfer omelet to a cutting board or a plate when done. Cut crosswise into four pieces and rotate, cut side up, to show egg layers. (If using a nonstick 8-inch skillet, you can trim both ends of the omelet to make them even.) Serve immediately or chill for later.

HERBED OMELET WRAPS WITH RICE NOODLES AND DUCK

Steps:

• Combine the eggs, scallions, 2 tablespoons cilantro, chile, tamarind, coconut milk, brown sugar and salt, and beat lightly.
• Place a 6-inch skillet over medium-low heat and add 1 teaspoon oil. Using a small ladle, add about a sixth of the egg mixture, swirling it quickly to thinly cover the base of the pan. When the underside is golden and the top looks set, 2 to 3 minutes, turn it onto a plate to cool and repeat with the remaining egg mixture to make 5 more omelets.
• Pour boiling water over the rice noodles and soak until soft, 5 to 10 minutes, then pour cool water over them, drain and cut into shorter lengths with kitchen scissors.
• Lay one omelet golden-side down and spread a tablespoon of hoisin sauce over it. In a line, just off center, lay about a tablespoon of rice noodles, a little duck or chicken, cucumber matchsticks, a few cilantro leaves and a little shredded mint. Roll up as firmly as possible, from the edge nearest the filling ingredients. Cut in half through the middle, and repeat with the remaining omelets and filling.