As a bigger fan of fluffy American-style omelettes vs skinny French omelettes, and, as an advocate for savory breakfasts over cloyingly-sweet breakfasts, this egg-cellent caramelized onion-stuffed cheese omelette is one of my favorite ways to break the fast -- it tastes every bit as good as it looks There's more. It pairs perfectly with a bloody Mary for breakfast (no orange or grapefruit juice with this omelette please), a glass of wine for lunch, or, a pilsner of beer for dinner.
Caramelized onions seem to slip through the cracks when many of us are pondering breakfast. Trust me when I tell you, eggs love caramelized onions. While I adore them in an omelette, they're excellent mixed into a frittata, layered into a quiche, or, folded into scrambled eggs too. it does take a bit of time and patience (not energy) to properly caramelize onions, about 40 minutes, but, on average, that's how long it takes onions to properly caramelize on the stovetop.
Put the coffee on, roll up your sleeves & break an egg.
For each omelette:
3 large eggs, preferably at room temperature
1/4 cup cream or half-and-half
2 tablespoons Dijonaisse, (Note: My recipe for Dijonaisse is a mixture of mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, dehydrated minced garlic, dehydrated minced onion, and, coarse-grind black pepper.)
1/2 cup shredded gruyère cheese
1/2 cup caramelized onions
2 teaspoons salted butter
For the optional accompaniment:
1 medium handful mixed Spring greens
6-8 cherry tomatoes, cut into quarters or sliced into coins
~Step 1. Crack the large eggs into a 1-cup measuring container and add enough cream or half-and-half to total 3/4 cups total liquid (about 4 tablespoons). Add the Dijonnaise. Use a fork to whisk vigorously, until thoroughly combined.
~Step 2. In an 8" nonstick skillet, melt butter over low heat. When butter has melted, use the fork to briefly rewhisk egg mixture, then pour it into the warmed skillet. By patiently manually lifting, lowering, and tilting the pan on and off the heat, allow eggs to set up a bit around the sides of the skillet -- about 45 seconds over low heat w/no pressure to rush.
~Step 3. Increase heat to medium. In various spots around the entire perimeter of the skillet, slip a thin spatula under the setting eggs. In each of those spots use the spatula to lift the eggs up, while, at the same time, tilting the pan in the direction of the spatula to allow the remaining liquid to flow down and into the setting eggs -- about 45 seconds over medium heat w/no pressure to rush. The surface of the omelette should be semi-moist and glistening with no liquid or little liquid puddling on the top
~Step 4. Decrease the heat to low. Scatter the Gruyère cheese, in a half-moon shape, over half of the omelette, then, scatter the caramelized onions atop the cheese. Give cheese about 45 seconds to soften over low heat with no pressure to rush. Using a large spatula, lift the empty side of the omelette up and over the cheesy side of the omelette. Allow the omelette to rest in the pan about 45 seconds. With the aid of a wide spatula, gently slide omelette from skillet to plate and serve immediately with the Spring mix and tomatoes.
Transfer to plate & serve w/Spring mix & tomatoes:
Caramelized Onion, Gruyère & Dijonnaise Omelette: Recipe yields instructions to make one hearty omelette/1-2 servings.
Special Equipment List: 1-cup measuring container; fork; hand-held box grater; 8" nonstick skillet; large thin spatula; large wide spatula
Cook's Note: I declare: I love briny tapenade in an omelete as much as I like caramelized onions in an omelette. Throw in a few salty crumbles of feta cheese, place it on a bed of bright green baby arugula or baby spinach leaves and garnish with a few diced tomatoes. Toast goes nicely, but there's no need for bacon or sausage with this any-time-of-the-day meal. Life in the 'burbs with this omelet in it is very, very good. ~ Mediterranean-Style Olive Tapenade & Feta Omelette ~.
"We are all in this food world together." ~ Melanie Preschutti
(Recipe, Commentary and Photos Courtesy of Melanie's Kitchen/Copyright 2021)
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