Western Skillet 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:

• Cook potatoes in boiling water in large saucepan 5 min. Meanwhile, cook bacon in large skillet on medium-high heat until crisp. Remove bacon from skillet; drain on paper towels. Discard drippings. Add peppers, tomatoes and onions to skillet; cook and stir on medium heat 3 min.
• Drain potatoes. Add to skillet; cook 15 min., stirring occasionally.
• Make 6 small wells in potato mixture. Add 1 egg to each well; top with bacon and cheese. Cover; cook 5 to 8 min. or until eggs are set.

Steps:

• Crack eggs into a medium bowl. Add 1 tablespoon water, and salt and pepper. Whisk with a fork until egg whites are incorporated into yolks. Mix in herbs, if using.
• Place a 8- to 9-inch skillet (preferably nonstick or seasoned carbon steel) over high heat. Melt butter until bubbling subsides.
• Pour in egg mixture and reduce heat to medium. With the back of a fork or a heatproof rubber spatula, whisk eggs around skillet until the bottom begins to set. This takes only a few seconds. Add any fillings, if using.
• Tilt skillet and either bang or flip egg over itself. Use fork or spatula if necessary to complete folding in half or thirds. Angle the skillet and a serving plate together, and flip omelet onto plate.

Steps:

• In a 10-in. ovenproof skillet, saute the onions and red pepper in oil for 5 minutes. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, cheese, ham and water. Pour over vegetable mixture. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 15-20 minutes or until set.

Steps:

• Place potatoes in large saucepan; cover with water.
• Bring to boil; continue boiling 5 minutes.
• Drain well and set aside.
• Cook bacon in large skillet on medium-high heat until crisp, turning occasionally.
• Remove bacon from skillet; drain on paper towels.
• Discard bacon drippings.
• Add peppers, tomatoes and onions to skillet.
• Reduce heat to medium; cook and stir 3 minutes.
• Add potatoes, cook an additional 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Make 6 small wells in potato mixture.
• Add 1 egg to each well.
• Top potato mixture with bacon; sprinkle with cheese.
• Cover skillet with lid.
• Cook 5-8 minutes or until eggs are set.

Steps:

• Melt 1 teaspoon butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms, bell pepper, and green onions; cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in ham until heated through, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Set filling mixture aside in a small bowl and keep warm.
• Beat eggs together in a bowl; season with salt and pepper.
• Heat the same skillet over medium-high heat. Add remaining 1 teaspoon butter; heat until foaming. Pour in eggs and cook for 30 seconds. Lift the edges of the omelet so that the uncooked egg runs under the cooked edges and comes into contact with the hot skillet. Shake and tilt the skillet to move the uncooked egg. Repeat until the top is set but still moist and soft, about 2 minutes.
• Spread the filling over one side of the omelet. Fold the other half over the filling and slide omelet onto a plate.

Steps:

• Beat the eggs in a large bowl until foamy. Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ham, bell peppers, onion, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and starting to brown, about 6 minutes; add to the bowl with the eggs.
• Preheat the broiler. Wipe out the skillet and return to medium-high heat. Melt the butter in the skillet, then add the frozen hash browns in an even layer. Cook, pressing the hash browns into the bottom and up the side of the skillet with a spatula, until golden on the bottom, about 6 minutes.
• Pour the egg mixture over the hash browns. Transfer the skillet to the broiler; cook until partially set, 3 to 5 minutes. Sprinkle the cheese and all but about 2 tablespoons scallions over the eggs. Continue broiling until the cheese melts and the eggs are set, 2 to 3 more minutes.
• Loosen the edge of the omelet with a small spatula. Slide onto a platter and fold in half. Cut into wedges; top with the reserved scallions.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat together 3 of the eggs and season lightly with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of the butter in a small non-stick skillet, with tight-fitting lid, over medium heat. Add the peppers and cook, covered, without stirring, until tender, about 3 minutes. Uncover and raise the heat to medium-high. Add the ham and scallions and cook, stirring frequently, until hot, about 1 minute. Transfer the mixture to a bowl.
• Melt a nut-sized piece of the remaining butter in the skillet over medium heat. When the foam subsides, add 1/4 of the pepper mixture. Pour in the beaten eggs and cook, stirring constantly with a heat-resistant rubber spatula, until just cooked, about 30 seconds. Turn off the heat and, using the rubber spatula, smooth over the top of the omelette so that it evenly covers the inside of the skillet. If using the cheese, sprinkle about 2 tablespoons over the omelette. Let rest for 30 seconds until the omelette has set.
• Using the rubber spatula, fold the omelette in half, and transfer to a warmed plate. Cover with foil to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make 4 omelettes in all.

Steps:

• Mix first seven ingredients into a large bowl.
• Beat eggs. Place oiled omelet pan on low heat. Pour egg mixture into omelet pan. Spoon vegetable ? meat mixture onto the eggs and cook until omelet is set. Sprinkle with shredded cheese of your choice, and serve.