Mexican Frittata — Meatless Monday
You may be familiar with frittatas as a weekend brunch pick, but have you ever considered introducing them to your weeknight dinner repertoire? Every bit as hearty and satisfying as a main-dish pasta, salad or soup, frittatas are similar to omelets in that they're egg-based, but while omelets are almost always made on the stovetop alone, frittatas are sauteed, then transferred to the oven to bake, which is why it's especially important that you start the cooking process in an oven-proof skillet.
Think of frittatas as you would most egg dishes: a blank canvas through which you can showcase any number of flavors or put to work leftover ingredients you happen to have on hand. Check out two of Food Network's favorite frittata recipes below — one creative with bold Mexican-inspired flavors and the other a traditional Italian standby — both ready to enjoy in less than 30 minutes.
Tara Donne
A top-rated recipe made with just a handful of flavors, Marcela's Mexican Frittata (pictured above) is a 25-minute timesaver that features bright cilantro, fresh scallions and, for added indulgence, a topping of Mexican crema — a smooth dairy similar to sour cream — and Oaxaca cheese. After cooking the beaten eggs on the stove for a few minutes, she transfers the pan to the oven, where the eggs will bake, puff up slightly and become deliciously golden brown. Marcela notes that it's fine to serve this recipe at room temperature, so no need to worry if you can't sit down to dinner as soon as the frittata is baked.
For a more traditional take on the classic, try Giada's Frittata With Asparagus, Tomato and Fontina (pictured right), a quick-to-make favorite that lets seasonal produce and rich Italian cheese shine. The secret to this five-star meal is precooking the asparagus and tomato so that they become tender; do this in the same pan as you'll cook the eggs to save time and cleanup work. A few minutes in the broiler is all it takes to finish cooking the eggs and turn out a family-friendly meal in a flash.
Meatless Monday, an international movement, encourages people everywhere to cut meat one day a week for personal and planetary health. Browse more meat-free recipes.
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