Grain Frittata With Chile, Lime and Fresh Herbs

Grain Frittata With Chile, Lime and Fresh Herbs
Linda Xiao for The New York Times
Total Time
About 20 minutes
Rating
4(396)
Comments
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You may think of frittatas as leftovers’ idea of heaven, but is it yours? For a frittata to look forward to, throw in leftover grains: The result is something like a Spanish tortilla, pleasingly dense, but with more bounce. Add an acid, like lime, and umami, like fish sauce, which melts into an underlying savoriness when warmed. Whatever you do, don’t turn on the oven for this. Instead, stir the frittata on the stove and all but the top will set — nothing a few minutes covered can't fix (no precarious flip!). Finally, put a salad on top. The herby one here adds pep to the substantial frittata, as does a final squeeze of lime.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 8eggs
  • teaspoons fish sauce
  • 1cup cooked farro (or wheat berries, barley, spelt or rice)
  • 2tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1shallot, coarsely chopped (about ¼ cup)
  • 1Thai bird chile or ½ small jalapeño, thinly sliced (about ½ teaspoon)
  • ½cup loosely packed dill, cilantro and-or mint leaves
  • 2tablespoons thinly sliced scallions
  • 1lime, cut into wedges
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

254 calories; 14 grams fat; 6 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 5 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 18 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 1 gram sugars; 14 grams protein; 307 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and ¼ cup water until bubbles form, then whisk in the fish sauce until combined. Using a rubber spatula, mix in the farro.

  2. Step 2

    In an 8- or 9-inch nonstick skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the shallot and chile, and sauté until softened, about 3 to 5 minutes.

  3. Step 3

    Reduce the heat to medium-low, then pour in the egg-grain mixture. Using the rubber spatula, stir the eggs to mix in the shallot and chile. Let sit undisturbed until the edges of the eggs start to bubble and cook, just a minute. Then run your spatula across the bottom of the pan to pull the eggs from the edges to the center. Create holes in the center of the frittata as well, tilting the pan as needed so wet egg runs into the empty space created by your spatula. Continue pulling and agitating the eggs until the surface is wet but mostly set when you tilt the pan, about 7 to 10 minutes, depending on the size of your pan.

  4. Step 4

    Smooth the top of the frittata, then cover with a lid or foil and let cook until the eggs are just set, about 5 minutes.

  5. Step 5

    Meanwhile, combine the herbs and scallions in a small bowl, then squeeze in enough lime to lightly moisten (about 1 tablespoon or ¼ lime). Toss with your fingers to combine.

  6. Step 6

    Once the frittata is cooked, loosen the sides with your rubber spatula and slide onto a serving platter. Top with herbs and scallions and serve immediately with extra lime wedges on the side.

Tip
  • Grains can be made 3 days in advance. No need to reheat.

Ratings

4 out of 5
396 user ratings
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Comments

Basically I like this idea of adding grains - but one should be careful of over-working the egg mixture to achieve evenness -tough eegs often the result .. no good! I’d consider under the broiler for a few minutes to finish to desired ‘doneness’; try thinly-sliced /crumbled feta over top beforehand! As ever - be inventive!

didn't have fish sauce or the chili. never made a frittata before. had rice in the fridge, had limes, had a shallot, had mushrooms, had some beautiful parsley and scallion...this is a delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner. easy to make, and a lovely presentation. lime, parsley, scallion brightened up and added sweetness and crunch dusted it with course salt at the end because of the missing fish sauce.

I ate this for days after I made it—every time with delicious sambal on top. So good!

Pretty bland considering all the work. Fresh, local jumbo eggs with excellent flavor, but the rest is lost. The method was interesting and worked well. Will use it again.

This recipe yielded a perfectly cooked frittata, and no doubt very healthy. But I doubt anyone you make it for is going to jump up and down and say, "Oh, that was delicious."

my husband asked that I never make this again. I though it was ok nothing special.

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