Our Favorite Frittata Recipes for Any Time of Day (2024)

FAQs

What kind of cheese is best for frittata? ›

For a standard 12-egg frittata, stir in about one cup (shred it first). Want to top the eggs with cheese, too? Shoot for ¼ to ½ cup more. If it's an oozing texture you're after, pick cheeses that have superior melting quality: "This is your cheddar, gruyère, and fontina," says Perry.

The Frittata Ratio to Memorize

So how do you make a great frittata every time without always using a recipe? The answer is a ratio. For every six eggs, use 1/4 cup heavy cream, 1 cup cheese, and 2 cups total of vegetables and/or meat.

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.

While it's similar to an omelet, crustless quiche, and Spanish tortilla, the way a frittata is cooked is what sets it apart. Frittatas are generally thicker than omelets. A frittata is made with the exact same ingredients as an omelet, but here, the milk, or more preferably, cream, is crucial.

Tips for Fluffy Eggs

You can add up to 1/2 cup per dozen eggs. Don't overcook! Overcooking eggs makes them rubbery. When you remove the Frittata from the oven, it will continue to cook, especially if you are using cast iron, which retains heat well.

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.

You forget to use the golden ratio when you're making a frittata on the fly. An easy recipe to remember is 6 large eggs, ¼ cup of dairy, and 1-2 cups of add-ins like vegetables, meat, cheese, and herbs.

Cook the frittata in the oven just until the centre is no longer wobbly and the edges are golden-brown. If still unsure, place a knife into the centre of the frittata. If raw eggs run out, keep cooking. You want the eggs to be just set as the frittata will keep cooking while it's standing.

Pre-seasoning the eggs with salt helps them retain moisture during cooking. Cooking the vegetables in batches gives us more control over their texture. Keeping the cheese in large chunks gives us oozy pockets in the frittata. Flipping the frittata ensures a creamy, dense center.

Beat eggs until just blended: Overbeating the eggs invites too much air in to the egg mixture. As the frittata bakes, the eggs will expand and puff up. That can leave them with a spongy texture that's dry and unappealing.

How do you keep frittata from burning on the bottom? ›

Too much time on the stovetop, or too high of a flame, and the frittata will easily get too much color or burn on the bottom. Follow this tip: Cook the frittata on the stovetop, keeping the heat at medium-low to low, just until the edges have set, which takes about a few minutes.

For a traditional look, use a cast-iron skillet, and make sure it's well-seasoned to keep the eggs from sticking. Also, keep in mind that since the cast iron retains a great deal of heat, you should remove the frittata from the oven a little early to let it finish cooking.

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.

Crust: A quiche has crust while a frittata does not. Sometimes, quiche is baked without crust.

Cheese: Almost any cheese you love will work, but be aware some cheeses melt better than others. Cheddars, mozzarella, and alpine cheeses like Gruyère all melt perfectly for an omelet, but other cheeses like feta, parmesan, or manchego will work too.

For ingredient-heavy egg dishes, there are so many great cheeses to choose from, like feta, fresh goat cheese, or really sharp pecorino. Similarly, the salty, punchy attitude of a cheddar, gouda, or blue, will compete with the eggs for center stage.

Classic sides for a frittata include a fresh green salad, fruit salad, crispy potatoes and/or some fresh bread, scones or toast. Bacon, ham or sausage are also popular side dishes. In Italy and Spain, frittata is often cooled to room temperature and served as a snack or antipasti.

Fresh mozzarella

Mozzarella, with its silky texture and gentle sweet flavours, is the perfect cheese for a grilled cheese combination, where it lends an incredible stringiness and viscous texture without dominating flavours.