Cactus Omelet Recipes

Steps:

• Beat the eggs: Soak 3 large eggs for 5 minutes in hot-not scalding-tap water. This will ensure that the omelet cooks faster, and the faster an omelet cooks, the more tender it's going to be. Crack the eggs into a small bowl or large bowl-shaped coffee mug. Season with a pinch of fine salt. Beat the eggs gently with a fork.
• TIP: I prefer a fork to a whisk for omelets because I don't want to work air into the eggs: Air bubbles are insulators and can slow down cooking if you're not careful.
• Heat the pan: Heat a 10-inch nonstick saute pan over medium to high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon room-temperature unsalted butter. Once melted, spread the butter around the pan with a basting brush to ensure coverage.
• TIP: Heat your pan empty for a few minutes before adding the butter: Even a nonstick surface is pocked with microscopic pores that eggs can fill and grab hold of. Heat expands the metal, squeezing these openings shut.
• Add the eggs: Pour the eggs into the center of the pan and stir vigorously with a silicone spatula for 5 seconds. (Actually, it's not so much a matter of stirring with the spatula as holding the spatula relatively still and moving the pan around to stir the eggs.)
• Let them cook: As soon as curds begin to form (that's the stuff that looks like scrambled eggs), lift the pan and tilt it around until the excess liquid pours off the top of the curds and into the pan. Then use the spatula to shape the edge and make sure the omelet isn't sticking. Move the spatula around the edge of the egg mixture to help shape it into a round and loosen the edge. Then walk away. That's right-let that omelet sit unaccosted for 10 long seconds so it can develop a proper outer crust. Don't worry: Your patience will be rewarded.
• Finish the omelet: Time for the "jiggle" step: Simply shake the pan gently to make sure the omelet is indeed free of the pan. Lift up the far edge of the pan and snap it back toward you. Then use the spatula to fold over the one-third facing you.
• Change your grip on the pan handle from an overhand to an underhand and move to the plate, which you might want to lube with just a brief brushing of butter to make sure things don't bind up in transit. Slide the one-third farthest from you onto the plate and then ease the fold over. Imagine that you're making a tri-fold wallet out of eggs-because that's exactly what you're doing. And just ease the pan over. There, that wasn't so hard.

Steps:

• Melt butter in a skillet and sauté nopalitos and onion until tender. In a bowl, beat together eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour egg mixture over nopalitos and onions and cook over low heat until eggs set. Fold eggs over with a spatula. Continue cooking about 3-5 minutes to desired doneness. Serve hot. Serves 1 hungry cowboy or 2 ranch guests.

Steps:

• Cook cactus in boiling water 15 min. or until tender; drain and pat dry. Heat oil in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add cactus, onions and garlic; cook and stir 5 min. or until onions are crisp-tender.
• Beat eggs and milk in large bowl with whisk until blended. Stir in ham. Add egg mixture to skillet; cook on medium heat 3 to 5 min. or until almost set, occasionally lifting edge with spatula and tilting skillet to allow uncooked portion to flow underneath.
• When egg mixture is set but top is still slightly moist, slip spatula underneath omelet, tip skillet to loosen and gently fold omelet in half. Sprinkle with cheese.

Steps:

• 1. Cut the cactus strips into 1/4-inch dice and set aside. In a medium nonstick skillet, heat the oil and cook the onion until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the jalapeño and reserved diced cactus. Season with salt and pepper. Reserve in the pan off heat. 2. In a large (12-inch) nonstick skillet, melt the butter until it sizzles. Swirl the pan to distribute the butter. Pour in the beaten eggs. Cook about 30 seconds, then use a fork to lift and push the edges of the eggs toward the center, tipping the pan to allow the uncooked eggs to run to the edges and under the cooked eggs. Cook until the surface is nearly set, about 3 minutes. 3. Spoon the cactus filling over half of the eggs. Add the cheese. Using a large spatula, fold in half and cook about 30 seconds, or to desired doneness. Invert onto a plate, cut into quarters, and serve at once.From "1,000 Mexican Recipes." Copyright 2001 by Marge Poore. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Steps:

• Scramble 3 eggs in a bowl. Pour into 8-inch omlette pan. Cook on high heat, continually stirring until bottom starts to set. Remove from heat. Put under broiler until eggs are no longer runny. Add napolitos, salsa and cheese. Return to broiler until cheese is melted. Fold in half and serve. This recipe yields 1 serving.