Middle Eastern Herb Omelette Recipes

MIDDLE-EASTERN HERB OMELETTE

Steps:

• If you intend to bake the omelette, heat the oven to 350F (180C).
• Discard the coarse stems from the parsley, dill, and cilantro, and chop these herbs with the chives, lettuce and spinach.
• Combine with zucchini, scallions and walnuts.
• Crush the saffron in a small mortar and stir in 2 tsp warm water.
• Beat the eggs well, add the saffron liquid, salt and pepper. Stir into the herb mixture.
• To bake the omelette:.
• Butter a shallow baking dish, pour in the mixture, and bake for 45-50 minutes, until the omelette has a golden-brown crust.
• To cook omelette on the stove-top:.
• Heat butter in a frying pan, coating it well on the bottom and sides, pour in the mixture, and cook over low heat for about 25 minutes.
• Turn the omelettte by reversing it onto a plate held over the pan, and cook the other side for 10-15 minutes.
• Serve hot or at room temperature, cut in wedges, with a bowl of thick yogurt.

EASY POTATO OMELET RECIPE

Steps:

• Adjust a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F.
• In a 10-inch cast iron or oven-safe skillet heat about 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking.
• Add the cubed potatoes, green onions, and garlic. Season with kosher salt, coriander, Aleppo pepper, paprika, and turmeric. Cook, tossing regularly, for about 5 to 10 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and cooked through (manage your heat to make sure the garlic does not burn).
• In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and fresh herbs. Add a big pinch of kosher salt and a little baking powder (about ¼ teaspoon), if you like.
• Pour the egg mixture over the potatoes in the skillet and watch for the edges and bottom to settle a bit (about 3 to 4 minutes or so).
• Transfer the skillet to the heated oven. Bake the potato omelet for about 8 to 10 minutes or until the eggs are fully cooked through and the top is no longer runny).

FINES HERBS OMELETTE

Steps:

• To make the Fines Herbs, combine the parsley, chervil, chives and tarragon in a small bowl and set aside.
• Break the eggs into a small bowl, and then add the milk, 2 tablespoons Fines Herbs, salt and pepper and whisk with a fork.
• Preheat an 8-inch nonstick saute pan over medium hot heat and swirl the olive oil into the pan. Pour in the egg mixture and swirl it in the pan. For a few seconds, gently stir the egg mixture with a heat resistant rubber spatula (as if you were going to make scrambled eggs) and then swirl the eggs in the pan to make a nice round appearance. Reduce the heat to avoid any color or scorching. Continue cooking for about 1 minute. The eggs will be set on the bottom, but slightly liquid on top.
• Flip the omelet, and remove it from the heat. Crumble the goat cheese over the center of the omelet and top it off with the roasted peppers. Tri-fold the omelet and plate immediately.

KUKU SABZI (PERSIAN HERB FRITTATA)

Steps:

• Trim woody ends from cilantro, parsley and dill so that only leaves and tender stems remain. Wash herbs and romaine leaves, then use a salad spinner to dry very well. Set aside.
• Finely dice both the green and white parts of the leeks. Wash well and drain.
• Set a 10-inch cast-iron or nonstick pan over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add 3 tablespoons oil. When the oil shimmers, add leeks. Season with a generous pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent and softened but not browned, about 20 minutes, reducing the heat if necessary.
• In the meantime, very finely chop the cilantro, parsley, dill and romaine by hand - the smaller the pieces, the more deeply green your kuku will be. To chop such a large volume of herbs, take a large handful or two at a time and roll into a tight ball. Run a large, sharp knife through the ball to initially chop the herbs roughly, then continue to rock the knife back and forth through the pile of herbs until very finely chopped. Repeat with remaining herbs until finished. Combine the chopped herbs and romaine with the dried fenugreek and dried dill in a very large bowl.
• When leeks are cooked, add herb mixture and another generous pinch of salt to the pan and cook, stirring often, until it dries out and the color changes to a very dark green, about 5 minutes. Transfer the mixture back into the very large bowl; spread it out, then allow it to cool to room temperature.
• When the herb mixture has cooled, add barberries, turmeric, baking powder, 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Taste the mixture: It should be a little on the salty side. If it's not, add a little more salt. One at a time, add eggs to the herb mixture, stirring well after each addition. Use as few eggs as needed to barely bind the mixture; this will ensure a brilliant-green kuku. The mixture should be the consistency of a loose porridge.
• Wipe out the pan and melt the butter over medium-high heat. When the butter melts, add remaining 1/4 cup oil. Add a tiny spoonful of the kuku mixture to the pan. When it sizzles, add the rest of the mixture and use a rubber spatula to spread it out evenly. The oil should bubble up the sides of the kuku. Run the spatula around the edge and jiggle the pan from time to time to check that the mixture isn't sticking. Cook, rotating pan a quarter turn every 3 to 4 minutes, until the kuku is set, the bottom is a very dark brown, and the edges are golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Don't be afraid of getting your crust really dark - it will appear almost burned, but it will taste heavenly sweet.
• Use a rubber spatula to ensure that the kuku is not stuck to the pan, then carefully tip as much of the oil as possible into a medium bowl and set aside. Cover the pan with a large, flat platter or pizza pan and flip the kuku onto it and set aside. Return the oil to the pan and carefully slide the flipped kuku back into the pan to cook the second side. Cook over medium-high until the second side is dark brown and the kuku is cooked through, about 5 more minutes.
• While the kuku finishes cooking, wipe off the platter and line with a double layer of paper towels. Flip the finished kuku onto the prepared platter and use another paper towel to dab excess oil from the surface. To serve, flip once more onto a serving platter and peel away paper towels.
• Serve warm, cold or at room temperature, with your choice of radishes, pickles, feta, warmed flatbread and mast-o khiar.

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.