Easy Italian Frittata Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How does the frittata get its fluffy texture? ›

Forgetting to add milk or cream.

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. Follow this tip: After whisking the eggs together, be sure to whisk in some milk or cream.

And, unlike omelets, frittata fillings are mixed in with the eggs in the pan rather than folded in the center. To make a frittata, well-beaten eggs are cooked on the stove in a hot skillet, along with the fillings, for a few minutes until the outer edges are set.

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.

A frittata is an Italian egg dish like an omelet or quiche but lazy and forgiving. It's lazy because the recipe is easy, and you don't have to do the tricky omelet fold. It's also forgiving since you don't have to make a crust, and it uses no cream or milk, unlike an omelet or quiche.

Easy Formula For a Frittata

6 eggs. 1/4 cup heavy cream. 1 cup cheese. 2 cups veggies and/or meat.

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.

But unlike omelets, egg frittatas can serve a family fast. And unlike most egg recipes, a four-serving frittata cooks all at once without any flipping or fuss. Plus, since there's no crust (like quiches), it makes it a healthier breakfast option.

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.

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.

A frittata is similar to a quiche without the crust, and is often described as a thick omelette packed with ingredients like vegetables, cheese or ham. A strata is a breakfast casserole made with eggs and bread and is often described as an easy-to-make, savoury bread pudding.

What food is similar to frittata? ›

Frittata and quiche are both dishes with an egg filling and a variety of add-ins, such as vegetables, proteins, cheeses and even seafood, like this Salmon Leek Frittata (pictured above) or this Crab and Bacon Quiche. Both frittatas and quiche are a good way to use up leftovers.

Originally, it was a savory pie consisting of an egg and cream custard with bacon or salmon. The French word for cake is "quiche," which might have influenced the name. The dish as we know it today originated in the Lorraine region of France in the 1800s. It consists of eggs and cream or milk in a pastry crust.

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'.

While less impressive-looking than quiches made in other pans, a pie-plate quiche is totally serviceable. A cake pan gives quiche the straight sides purists want, along with a deep, rich layer of filling and custard. The problem? Much like a quiche made in a pie plate, the quiche in a cake pan can't be unmolded.

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. You want to combine the eggs well, but stop once everything is fully incorporated.

"They won't get much more tender once you add the beaten eggs," says Perry, "So cook them fully before combining everything." Don't be afraid of getting a little color on the vegetables: That's what makes them so delicious! A good frittata should have the texture of custard: trembling and barely set.

But besides the nutritional benefits there are a few other good reasons to use egg in breadmaking. It makes the bread lighter and fluffier. The reason for that is the fat in the yolk that inhibits gluten formation just as any other fat would. This results in a looser dough that can expand and puff up more.