Grain Frittata With Chile, Lime and Fresh Herbs Recipe (2024)

By Ali Slagle

Grain Frittata With Chile, Lime and Fresh Herbs Recipe (1)

Total Time
About 20 minutes
Rating
4(336)
Notes
Read community notes

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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Grain Frittata With Chile, Lime and Fresh Herbs Recipe (2)

Preparation

  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

336

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

John Neill

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!

christine

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.

Annie

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

naomi

We really liked this! I had tons of farro already cooked in a veggie broth, so I used 2 cups instead of just one. I also used 1.5 anchovies smashed up and fried with the shallots since we didn’t have fish sauce, and I added about a tbsp soy sauce to the eggs. Overall, the fresh green top went well with the eggy frittata, and the farro added a great texture. Really simple, clean flavors.I made some roasted butternut squash in the oven as a side, and served the meal with some cubes of cheddar.

Jeanne

I followed the recipe exactly, except for cooking the frittata: i didn't poke and push it, just cooked it low and covered on the stove top for eight minutes, and then in the over for another ten--much less trouble and it came out beautifully. The frittata itself was satisfying, definitely enhanced by the fish sauce, but the lime-dressed herbs made it into a fine meal (I used mint and cilantro). We had it with a tomato-basil salad--a really good, simple meal on a summer day.

Helen

Made this using the technique as written but amended some ingredients to what I had on hand. Had a lot of leftover farro risotto with tomatoes and corn, so used that, left out fish sauce, added goat cheese, and topped with parsley leaves tossed with pickled red onions. Very versatile technique! Will absolutely try the version as written as well.

Sav

I subbed scallions for shallots sliced thin on a mandolin, just because I didn't have them on hand. Great way to use leftover rice, specifically a small amount. On my electric stove, eggs took about 7 minutes before 90% set, and popped them under a low broiler for 3 minutes more. This has converted me to a frittata lover.

Melissa P

Tried this in spite of my doubts and boy it was great! I used savory-cooked steel-cut oats that I had cooked with chicken broth. This dish has a Vietnamese flavor profile, thanks to the fish sauce, cilantro, and lime.

Jennifer

Delicious, easy, tasty: the recipe trifecta. I had doubts about the sliding out of the skillet part, but it did it! My herb salad was cilantro/mint/scallions lime, and it brightened it right up. Serve with a green salad from the garden and a fruit/yogurt/granola parfait, and it's a winner of a company brunch.

Linda M

The “hunter gatherer” had a huge meat-filled wrap for lunch so this made a perfect light dinner for both of us. Usually, I’d have to put more than this on the table but it hit the sweet spot for both of us as written. My only add was some leftover hummus I made and it used a dollop of it on top of the herbs, so as it was eaten, here and there was a creamy bite. Very good! Will have again, thanks.

AngieA

I liked the addition of a grain as it adds bulk to the dish. Threw in some chopped chives and baby spinach since they needed to be used up. Also baked this as a quiche rather than a frittata as that’s just my preference. The addition of chopped herbs (used cilantro and mint) with a dash of lime was a perfect topper. Oh, also added a bit more salt to the egg mixture.

K

Added in a bit of minced garlic and ground coriander. Don’t skimp on the lime dressing! Spritzing some lime juice over top at the end would go over well. I also broiled at the end for about 2 minutes as I did put some cheddar cheese on top.

Deedeebus

Made this with some egg whites due to dietary restructions so that may have affected flavor, but even so this was good. LOVED the herb mix on top - don't skip - and it's even yummier the second day, when you can better appreciate the fish sauce. Agree that sambal is a great accompaniment.

easy weeknight pandemic dinner

Boiled up some kamut berries from the pantry just for this—took over an hour but started early and as I’m working from home was easy to do in the background. The rest came together quickly. Used onion for shallot; lacked birdseye chili so used a sprinkle of flakes. Not enough, it turned out. Found we enjoyed it best w more fish sauce sprinkled on top the kick of sriracha to turn up the heat. Will definitely make again. Had imagined leftovers for breakfast, but there weren’t any!

Nicole

This was delicious. I didn't have farro but used kasha instead and it held up well. Left out the chile, but it still had tons of flavor, cilantro went really well with the scallion and lime. Also ended up using a 12' skillet which made a nice thin frittata. Followed other's suggestions and did a few minutes under the broiler at the end to firm up the top. Will definitely make again!

Prakash Nadkarni

Beaten eggs seasoned with a little fish or soy sauce (for umami) are the basis of Thai-style omelettes. See seriouseats.com/recipes/2012/02/thai-style-omelet-khai-jiao-recipe.html. Variants add chopped fresh chili, cilantro (or parsley), as here; even ground meat.

Gary C.

Can you freeze it for later breakfasts?

Barbara

This is a perfect recipe to use the "extra" heat that an electric stove produces when the frittata is almost done. Just cover and wait a few minutes, avoiding overcooking the eggs. I never have fish sauce, so I hope to find something else, maybe Worcestershire?

RoLo

I'm the opposite - I always have fish sauce, and often use it to sub for anchovies or anchovy paste. The purpose is just to add umami-depth, so anchovies, or maybe even a strong miso or tomato paste (cooked near the end of step 2 with the shallots until caramelized) - if none of those are on hand, maybe a grating of parmesan at the very end. The Worcestershire works, but probably won't be enough of a boost on its own.

Amber

Meh, probably won't make this again since there are way better ways to use up leftover grains. May be for some folks but the combo just didn't work for me and I found the eggs tough and overcooked (definitely my fault but didn't help the finished result).

Helen

Made this using the technique as written but amended some ingredients to what I had on hand. Had a lot of leftover farro risotto with tomatoes and corn, so used that, left out fish sauce, added goat cheese, and topped with parsley leaves tossed with pickled red onions. Very versatile technique! Will absolutely try the version as written as well.

FrankW`

This is the second time I made this with Farro and I like it. First time full recipe second time with half the quantities with the same great result. In addition to the herb scallion topping I added a dollop of tomato sauce (Marcella Hazan recipe) the first time and homemade harissa sauce on the second attempt. I will be back to try this again.

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Grain Frittata With Chile, Lime and Fresh Herbs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How does the frittata get its fluffy texture? ›

Dairy, like milk or cream, is a crucial component of frittatas. This is the ingredient that gives frittatas their signature creamy, fluffy texture. Without this important addition, frittatas cook up flatter and a bit more dense.

When making a frittata, which ingredient should be pre-cooked prior to adding it to the egg mixture? ›

Tough vegetables like potatoes, squash and onions need to be pre-cooked since they will not have time enough to soften before the eggs are done. Raw meats such as bacon and sausage also need more time and heat to cook through safely, so get them prepped before your other ingredients.

What is the difference between a frittata and a quiche? ›

A frittata is partially cooked in a skillet on the cooktop then finished in the oven. It also has a lower egg to dairy ratio making it closer to an open faced omelet than a pie. Quiche has a creamier, custard-like texture due to more dairy and is cooked entirely in the oven.

What makes a frittata so different from an omelet? ›

That's because a frittata is essentially a custard filled with any vegetables, herbs, cheese, meat and even pasta of your choosing, that is then cooked in a frying pan. Whereas an omelet's filling is just sprinkled on top of the egg, the frittata's additions need to be mixed in with the egg and cream before cooking.

What is the frittata formula? ›

The Frittata Formula

Frittatas are incredibly simple. For every six large eggs, you'll want to mix in ¼ cup of milk or cream, ¼ cup of cheese, and about 3 cups of meat or vegetables. The small amount of milk and cheese keeps the eggs soft and creamy and the meat and vegetables give you endless options.

What kind of cheese is best for frittata? ›

Freshly grated parmesan is a solid choice that always pairs well with eggs. Other good options include goat, feta, cheddar, mozzarella or Gruyere. Pairing two cheeses together is also a great choice. Dollops of goat cheese would be delicious on top of this spinach frittata.

When determining how many eggs to use in a frittata generally? ›

The egg to dairy ratio: If you are making a smaller frittata use 6 eggs and 1/4 cup of dairy, and if you are making a larger frittata use 12 eggs and 1/2 cup of dairy. You can use milk, sour cream, yogurt, milk kefir, or any other form of dairy you have on hand - just make sure it is full fat.

What kind of pan is best for frittata? ›

Use a cast-iron skillet.

The best choice for making frittatas, cast iron skillets can safely go from stovetop to oven, and they conduct heat well and evenly. Seasoning a cast-iron pan gives it a non-stick quality, so a well-seasoned skillet will result in the easiest slicing & serving.

How long should I bake frittata in the oven? ›

Whisk 8 eggs and 1/2 cup thickened cream in a bowl. Gently pour egg mixture over vegetable mixture. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese and 1/4 cup grated Devondale Tasty Cheese Block (500g). Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until egg mixture is set and top golden.

How do I know when my frittata is done? ›

The eggs should be cooked through, not runny and a knife should come out clean when inserted into the centre. You can also give the skillet a gentle shake to determine if it is done; a runny frittata will jiggle when you shake the skillet.

What do the French call a frittata? ›

The word omelet is basic French while the Italians call their version a frittata.

What ethnicity is a frittata? ›

Frittata is an egg-based Italian dish similar to an omelette or crustless quiche or scrambled eggs, enriched with additional ingredients such as meats, cheeses, or vegetables. The word frittata is Italian and roughly translates to 'fried'.

What is a fun fact about frittata? ›

History of Frittata

The frittata originates from the Mediterranean region, and a very similar dish with eggs, cheese, and vegetables was known in ancient Rome. All the efforts of tracing this dish to a particular Italian region defies attempts, as it is popular all over Italy.

Is frittata Italian or Spanish? ›

Frittata are Italian, probably originating from the Spanish version, and can contain any meat cheese and vegetables you happen to have to hand including potatoes and pasta. Everything except the eggs and cheese are heated through, the combined eggs and cheese is evenly poured over.

How is the fluffiness of a puffy omelet achieved? ›

3 Keys to an Ultra-Fluffy Omelet
  1. Whip the egg whites separately. Some fluffy omelets call for whipping whole eggs, which doesn't lead to as airy—or as stable—an omelet. ...
  2. Whip them with cream of tartar. ...
  3. Add butter to the yolks.
Apr 26, 2023

Why is my omelette fluffy? ›

This is the key to making fluffy omelettes, just whisk the egg yolk and egg white separately. This helps in giving that perfect restaurant-like texture to the homemade omelettes. Also make sure you whisk the egg portions in a way that they turn frothy, this will add on the fluffiness of the omelettes.

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