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Dinner Tonight: Kale, Onion and Cheddar Frittata

Posted by Blake Royer, February 28, 2008 at 4:30 PM

I am going to start cooking more frittatas—they are quite affable about taking whatever leftovers you throw at them, without complaining. Meat, cheese, vegetables, the egg will wrap it all in its creamy self. With luck, it will taste fine warm or even at room temperature the next day. It's like a quiche with no bother about making a crust, or an omelet with no flipping.

This particular recipe comes from Orangette, which I found by kicking around the Internet while looking for what to do with some lacinato kale—also known as black tuscan kale, cavolo nero, dinosaur kale—which was getting droopy in my fridge. Lacinato is a darker, less woody version of the leafy green monster, but you can use regular kale with similar results. Though I'm used to steaming it, this recipe eschews moisture for long, low cooking, which allows deep caramelization and flavor to develop while the kale maintains some crunch. It was a nice contrast to sharp cheddar and the soft eggs, though I definitely cooked my frittata a bit too long, so it lacked creaminess. Overcooking is easy to do, so watch out.

About the author: Blake Royer lives in Brooklyn and spends most of his free time cooking and writing about it here at Serious Eats and on The Paupered Chef. From 9 to 5 weekdays, he works as an assistant book editor in Manhattan.

Kale, Onion and Cheddar Frittata

Adapted from Orangette

- serves 2-3 -

Ingredients

3 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small red onion, halved and sliced into half moons
4-5 oz. lacinato kale, sliced crosswise into ribbons
5 large eggs
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Salt

Procedure

1. Over medium heat in a heavy 10-inch, broiler-safe skillet (not non-stick), heat the olive oil and add the onion, cooking until softened but not browned. Add the kale, an additional tablespoon of olive oil, and a couple pinches of salt. Stir until the kale begins to wilt, then cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 15-20 minutes. Stir occasionally.

2. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs well with a fork, then beat in the shredded cheese and a pinch of salt.

3. When the kale mixture is tender and caramelized, remove from the skillet and let cool slightly, then whisk into the egg mixture. Add 1/2 tablespoon oil to the pan, and pour the mixture back into the skillet over low heat, spreading out the kale evenly. Cook over low heat until the top just barely begins to set. In the meantime, preheat your broiler.

4. Cook for 30-60 seconds under the broiler, until the top is gently browned. Serve warm or at room temperature.

3 Comments | Tags: Dinner Tonight, eggs, frittata, kale

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