Photo RCP: Six steps to an easy French omelet

[Robin Garr]

Let's try this again ...

1. Three fresh free-range eggs. The yolks are paler in autumn and winter when the hens don't have so many bugs to eat. Let's not think about this. (On Facebook, Jenise started an interesting discussion about whether the yellow summer yolks are the result of bugs or sunlight or both. Maybe she’ll bring it back here so we can chew on it some more.)


2. Melt a li'l butter with chunks of garlic and ginger to give it a delicious scent. This is one case where a good quality nonstick omelet pan is a plus.


3. Kosher salt, fresh-ground Telicherry pepper and a few dried red pepper flakes. Add them to the eggs with 1 tablespoon water for each egg, and mix with a fork.


4. Working over high heat, discard the ginger and garlic. Pour the seasoned eggs into the sizzling butter and let it sit for 60 seconds. Then stir it up in the center with a fork to "scramble" the center a bit. Stop to let the bottom re-set, shaking the pan to ensure it doesn't stick.


5. Lift the edges here and there and tilt the pan to let the liquid egg on top flow underneath. This step is the real secret to a successful French omelet.Moving quickly and shaking the pan, keep tilting the pan and lifting the edge so the liquid part on the top flows underneath, building up the cooked bottom in layers. This is the only way to make that even cooking happen with an omelet (high heat, fast cooking) as opposed to a frittata or tortilla which cook at lower heat and may get a quick broil or flip at the end to finish the top.


6. As soon as all the egg liquid is solidified but while the top is still creamy, add filling if any (I left this one au naturel), roll the finished omelet onto a warmed serving plate. Serve with a salad or veggies and enjoy.

I love omelets. I usually use half an eggshell of water for a 2-egg omelet. And I start shaking the omelet around and pushing the edges toward the middle as soon as the edges start to set - just a few seconds after dumping the eggs in.
It's my opinion that the omelet should be much paler - just a tinge of gold, ideally.
A good flavor comes if you use some chives and some gently sauteed mixed garlic, stirred into the mix.
I think omelets are like spaghetti sauce - no two alike!

Making me hungry!

I just read in MArcus Samuelsson's book that in many kitchens he worked in - if there was any "color" in his omelet he had to throw it out and do it again

[Robin Garr]

Making me hungry!

I just read in MArcus Samuelsson's book that in many kitchens he worked in - if there was any "color" in his omelet he had to throw it out and do it again

I guess I just have coarse tastes. I like to brown it a little! Maybe I'll try a "pale" one sometime to SE what I think.

I'm with you Robin - yours looks delicious. I think the color is appealing and I like a bit of the "crisp" that comes from it in tandem with the softer egg part.


His book was pretty good by the way

[Robin Garr]

I'm with you Robin - yours looks delicious. I think the color is appealing and I like a bit of the "crisp" that comes from it in tandem with the softer egg part.

His book was pretty good by the way

Yeah, Samuelsson is quite a chef! I would definitely be interested in his book. And after two testimonies that omelets should show no color, now I've got to try one that way.

You still use the biggest burner turned up all the way. The trick is to get The surface cooked and wrinkly without getting it noticeably brown. Don't worry, like all failed omelets, you can always call it scrambled eggs!

Really? An omelet has failed if it has a little brown on it? So happy I am not that fussy. As one who strives for perfection with most things, I would be driving myself nuts. Cooking is my outlet, my quiet time, a passion of mine. I want to be relaxed about it, not fretting over a speck of brown.

I'm not a big fan of eggs. But, I would eat that! Great photos and result, Robin.

Making me hungry!

I just read in MArcus Samuelsson's book that in many kitchens he worked in - if there was any "color" in his omelet he had to throw it out and do it again

I'm with Marcus. I really don't like eggs that have browned (but brown eggs are fine . 'Course I'd still eat it anyway.

[Robin Garr]

I'm with Marcus. I really don't like eggs that have browned (but brown eggs are fine . 'Course I'd still eat it anyway.

I don't feel any need to be defensive about my picture, but that was browned butter, not egg.

Shoot! Look really good to me and great way to go about it. Just gimme my damn eggs. Oh, and cook 'em in butter.

[Jenise]

Making me hungry!

I just read in MArcus Samuelsson's book that in many kitchens he worked in - if there was any "color" in his omelet he had to throw it out and do it again

I'm with Marcus. I really don't like eggs that have browned (but brown eggs are fine . 'Course I'd still eat it anyway.

I don't eat omelets but make them often for my husband, and he also prefers no brown. They're tenderer, for one.

I must agree about the tender part. I made scrambled eggs on Sunday with spinach from the garden and added Swiss cheese. I made sure to cook them fast and follow what Robin said about the layers. No brown on them, and they were very moist and tender.The spinach had just a little al dente to it and we loved that for the freshness it added.

I must agree about the tender part. I made scrambled eggs on Sunday with spinach from the garden and added Swiss cheese. I made sure to cook them fast and follow what Robin said about the layers. No brown on them, and they were very moist and tender.

Really? I always cook my scrambled eggs very slowly over very low heat, to maximize the creamy/tender quality.

i'll vote with the no brown on the omelet and the low heat for creamy scrambled. btw, i just mix the eggs IN the pan so there are separate white and yellow parts throughout. and some fine herbs at the end.

[Jenise]

I must agree about the tender part. I made scrambled eggs on Sunday with spinach from the garden and added Swiss cheese. I made sure to cook them fast and follow what Robin said about the layers. No brown on them, and they were very moist and tender.

Really? I always cook my scrambled eggs very slowly over very low heat, to maximize the creamy/tender quality.

Ditto. Too, because I use milk for a more luxurious texture in place of water, the low heat is pretty much required if one prefers no browning.

But I think we're all making a point here, there's no one right way when you're cooking for yourself. There's just what you like.

Hear ye, hear ye, Jenise!!

[Jenise]

Just watched Jacques Pepin make an omelet. No brown.