Classic Omelet Recipes

Steps:

• Using a fork, beat eggs with 1 teaspoon water until yolks and whites are completely combined and no streaks remain. The water helps incorporate them and steams while the omelet cooks, which puffs it up. Season with 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt and a few cracks of pepper.
• Heat butter in an 8-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high until foaming;swirl to coat. When foam subsides, pour eggs into center of skillet. Let stand 10 seconds. Stir eggs with a rubber spatula in a circular motion with one hand while shaking skillet with the other, about 15 seconds. Reduce heat to medium. Working your way around skillet, gather outer set eggs toward center, then tip skillet so runny eggs move to outside edges, about 1 minute. Lightly spread any remaining runny eggs evenly over top and cook until creamy but no longer wet.
• Sprinkle cheddar onto far side of omelet. Remove from heat. Tip pan away from you; gently slide spatula under near side of omelet and fold up and over cheese. Slide onto a warm plate. Top with chopped chives and serve, with sliced tomato sprinkled with salt and buttered toast, if desired.

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, beat the eggs.
• Melt the butter in a medium frying pan over medium heat.
• Pour in the beaten eggs. Stir and shake the pan, moving the eggs around until a few curds form. Reduce the heat to low, then flatten the eggs until the still-runny egg covers the entire bottom of the pan. Add any fillings that you would like.
• Let the omelette cook until the eggs are fully set, 1-2 minutes, then gently roll the omelette and transfer to a plate. The surface should be smooth with no color.
• Sprinkle with chives, if desired.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Season the beaten eggs well with salt and pepper. Heat the oil and butter in a non-stick frying pan over a medium-low heat until the butter has melted and is foaming.
• Pour the eggs into the pan, tilt the pan ever so slightly from one side to another to allow the eggs to swirl and cover the surface of the pan completely. Let the mixture cook for about 20 seconds then scrape a line through the middle with a spatula.
• Tilt the pan again to allow it to fill back up with the runny egg. Repeat once or twice more until the egg has just set.
• At this point you can fill the omelette with whatever you like - some grated cheese, sliced ham, fresh herbs, sautéed mushrooms or smoked salmon all work well. Scatter the filling over the top of the omelette and fold gently in half with the spatula. Slide onto a plate to serve.

Steps:

• Crack eggs into a medium bowl. Use a fork to whisk until thoroughly combined, about 1 minute; stir in a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper. To make clarified butter: In a small saucepan, melt 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter over medium heat and bring to a simmer, 5-7 minutes. As white foam collects on the surface, skim off with a small ladle or spoon and discard; these are the milk solids. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue skimming until the butter is clear. Pour the clarified butter through a cheesecloth-lined strainer to catch the smaller milk solids, and set aside. (Note: Clarified butter has a higher smoke point than regular butter, allowing for cooking at higher temperatures. Clarified butter can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several months.)
• Heat a 10-inch nonstick sauté pan over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon clarified butter and swirl to coat to bottom. When the pan is hot, pour in the eggs and begin quickly and gently shaking the pan. While shaking, stir the eggs with a heatproof spatula, using small circular movements to loosen the curds and lightly scramble, about 20 seconds. The constant movement should prevent any part of the eggs from overcooking or taking on color.
• When the eggs are creamy and still only partly cooked, shake the pan to level the omelette. Turn the heat to low. Tilt the pan slightly and begin rolling the omelette: first, loosen the edge closest to the handle, then roll it toward the middle. (The cooked side should show no browning.) When the omelette is half-rolled, run the spatula around the far edge to release the eggs from the pan. Then tilt the pan more sharply and tap it firmly on the stovetop (or a cutting board) to loosen the omelette. Bang on the handle with your free hand to help the far edge begin to roll up; use the spatula as needed to tuck it toward the center of the omelette. Add butter to the pan and let it melt along the exterior of the omelette.
• Gently flip the omelette onto a plate, seam side down. Use your hands or a spatula to gently perfect the shape and tuck in any loose edges. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Heat an 8 to 10-inch non-stick omelet pan over low heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter and melt. While the butter is melting, break the eggs into a large bowl. Add the melted butter and whisk well. Season with salt and pepper.
• Return the pan to medium-low heat. Add the olive oil and the remaining butter and heat. Add the egg mixture and grasp the pan by its handle (using a potholder if necessary to protect your hand). Start shaking the pan forward and back while stirring the eggs slowly with the back of a fork, gently lifting a moving the cooked egg so that the liquid egg slips beneath it. After about 30 seconds, the egg will have formed a uniformly cooked but still fairly moist "pancake" shape. At this time, add any filling of your choice, the tomato and goat cheese, or leave the omelet unfilled in the classic French style.
• To fold the omelet, immediately tilt the pan to about a 45-degree angle by raising the handle, so that the cooked eggs nearest the handle begin to fall and fold over; you may use the fork or spatula to help this happen. Hold the far edge of the pan over a heated serving plate and continue tipping the handle up, so that the omelet folds over on itself and rolls out of the pan onto the plate. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Break the eggs into a stainless steel bowl and beat with a whisk to a smooth consistency. Salt and pepper can be added now, immediately before cooking to allow full incorporation into the eggs.
• Heat the pan over medium to low heat. Add the butter and allow to heat to a bubbly state without burning or browning. Add the beaten eggs to the pan and immediately begin to stir the eggs in a circular fashion so they do not stick to the bottom at the same time that you shake the pan across the burners. Keep the pan moving, stirring with your spatula, so that as the eggs begin to cook and coagulate, you pull cooked egg from the outer edge of the pan over raw egg in the center.
• When the eggs are half cooked, cease stirring and shaking the pan, and now roll the raw and runny egg outward by twisting your wrist. The uncooked egg will now cook on the bottom and sides of the pan. The entire cooking process will take at most 2 minutes and experience will be the best teacher to master the classic omelette. The omelette should not brown but should stay a beautiful egg golden.
• .Give the pan 1 or 2 good firm raps on the burner and, holding the handle in one hand in an underhanded grip, tilt the handle upward and begin to roll the edge of the omelette furthest away from the serving dish towards the plate. Roll this edge of the omelette one third towards the center, begin to slide the front of the omelette out onto the plate so the leading edge becomes the seam of the omelette and is flatly on the bottom. This will from the perfect oval shaped omelette.
• To make filled omelettes, add cooked vegetables, cheese or meats to the center of the omelette just before you begin to roll the omelette for the finished plate. Always heat fillings separately and cut the meat and cheese thinly enough to be thoroughly heated by the heat from the omelette center.
• Suggested fillings: Sauteed mushrooms and goat cheese, fresh herbs; thyme, chives, tarragon, parsley, sauteed spinach, cheddar cheese and jalapeno pepper, cooked bacon or country ham ratatouille

Steps:

• First, prepare the filling. A basic rule of thumb is that you need one quarter to one third cup of filling for every two eggs. If you are using a filling that needs to be cooked - such as apples, mushrooms, onions, peppers, leeks - quickly sauté in a small frying pan with 1 teaspoon of the butter. If you are making a cheese omelette, either slice the cheese thinly or grate it finely and put aside.
• Crack the eggs into a small mixing bowl. Stir gently with a fork until well-beaten. Add the milk or water, salt and pepper, and any herbs, and set aside.
• Heat a 6- to 8-inch omelette pan over high heat until very hot (approximately 30 seconds). Add the butter, making sure it coats the bottom of the pan. As soon as the butter stops bubbling and sizzling (and before it starts to brown), slowly pour in the egg mixture.
• Tilt the pan to spread the egg mixture evenly. Let eggs firm up a little, and after about ten seconds shake the pan a bit and use a spatula to gently direct the mixture away from the sides and into the middle. Allow the remaining liquid to then flow into the space left at the sides of the pan.
• Continue to cook for another minute or so until the egg mixture holds together. While the middle is still a little runny, add the filling. Put in sautéed vegetables or fruit first, near the center, then sprinkle any cheese on top.
• Tilt the pan to one side and use the spatula to fold approximately one third of the omelette over the middle. Shake the pan gently to slide the omelette to the edge of the pan.
• Holding the pan above the serving plate, tip it so the omelette rolls off, folding itself onto the plate. The two edges will be tucked underneath.
• Optional Lowfat Fillings
• Fresh herbs such as parsley, basil, rosemary, dill, tarragon, cilantro or chives Smoked salmon and scallions Yukon Gold potatoes and roasted peppers (for a "peasant omelette") Morel mushrooms Ratatouille Asparagus