Thyme Pasta Frittata Food

PASTA FRITTATA

Steps:

• In a saute pan and over a high heat, add the olive oil, fresh garlic, red and green peppers, mushrooms, salt, and pepper. Let the mixture cook until vegetables are slightly softened, and then add the spinach and ham and let simmer for 5 minutes. Strain the mixture well and add it to a slightly greased 13- by 9-inch baking pan.
• In a separate bowl combine the eggs and half-and-half, and mix well with a wire whisk. Add the combination to the baking pan along with the Parmesan, mozzarella, fresh basil, and spaghetti. Mix all the ingredients together gently.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the baking pan in the middle rack and cook for 25 to 30 minutes. Then remove the pan from the oven and let it stand for 5 minutes. Garnish the pasta frittata with Parmesan and fresh parsley and serve.

PASTA FRITTATA

Steps:

• If using leftover cooked pasta, chop it up. If using dried pasta, bring a large pot of water to a boil, and salt it. Cook pasta until barely tender, somewhat short of where you would normally cook it. Drain, and immediately toss it in a wide bowl with half the butter or oil. Cool it a bit.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Put remaining butter or oil in a large nonstick ovenproof skillet, and turn heat to medium-high. If you are using meat, add it, and cook, stirring occasionally until crisp, 3 to 5 minutes. (If not using meat, proceed.)
• In large bowl, combine pasta with remaining ingredients, along with salt and pepper (less salt if you are using meat). Pour into skillet, and turn heat to medium-low. Use a spoon if necessary to even out top of frittata. Cook undisturbed until mixture firms up on bottom, then transfer to oven. Bake just until top is set, about 10 minutes. Remove, and serve hot or at room temperature.

PASTA FRITTATA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Brush a 10-inch round cake pan lightly with oil. Cut a piece or parchment paper the same size, place in pan, brush again with oil, and set aside.
• Saute onions and garlic in olive oil until soft, then add pepper, mushrooms, and zucchini and continue to cook until soft. Drain off liquid and add oregano, and salt and pepper. Set aside to cool.
• In a large mixer bowl, beat eggs, milk, cheddar, Parmesan, and salt and pepper on low speed. When combined, add cream cheese in small bite-sized bits (pull pieces by hand).
• Put cooked spaghetti into pan. Do the same with the vegetables. Pour in the egg mixture and mix with your hands so that all the components are equally distributed in the pan. Pat down so that as much of the solids are covered with the liquid.
• Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until firm to the touch and lightly brown. It will puff up and settle when cool. Serve immediately. Can serve on a bed of lightly sauteed fresh tomato sauce, if desired.

CHICKEN AND PASTA FRITTATA

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a large saucepan of boiling salted water, following the packet directions, until tender; drain.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large pan over a medium heat; add the onion, garlic and carrot and cook for 3-4 minutes or until soft; add the red pepper and cook, stirring occasionally for 1 minute; then transfer the contents of the pan to a large bowl.
• Add the chicken, thyme, parmesan, parsley and pasta to the onion mixture; whisk the eggs in a large jug and add them to the pasta mixture; stir until well-combined and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Heat the remaining oil in the pan over a medium heat and add the pasta mixture to the hot pan; reduce the heat to medium-low and cook the contents of the pan for 8-10 minutes or until the frittata has set around the edges. The centre should still be slightly soft.
• Preheat a grill on a medium heat and place the pan under the grill; cook the frittata for 4-5 minutes or until it is golden and set.
• Cut into wedges and serve with crusty rolls and a salad.

TOMATO FRITTATA WITH FRESH MARJORAM OR THYME

Steps:

• Divide the tomatoes into two batches. Slice one batch into rounds (about 1/3 inch thick), and seed and chop the other batch. Toss the chopped tomatoes in a bowl with the garlic and salt and pepper to taste.
• Beat the eggs in a bowl, and stir in salt and pepper to taste, milk and half the marjoram or thyme. Stir in the chopped tomatoes.
• Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a 10-inch heavy nonstick skillet. Hold your hand above it; it should feel hot. Drop a bit of egg into the pan; if it sizzles and cooks at once, the pan is ready. Pour in the egg mixture. Tilt the pan to distribute the eggs evenly over the surface. Shake the pan gently, tilting it slightly with one hand while lifting up the edges of the frittata with a wooden or plastic spatula in your other hand, so as to let layers of eggs form during the first few minutes of cooking. Once a few layers of egg have cooked, arrange the tomato slices on top of the frittata, turn the heat down to low and cover the pan. (Use a pizza pan if you don't have a lid that will fit your skillet.) Cook 10 minutes, shaking the pan gently every once in a while. From time to time, remove the lid and loosen the bottom of the frittata with the spatula, tilting the pan so that the bottom doesn't burn. The eggs should be just about set; cook a few minutes longer if they're not.
• Meanwhile, heat the broiler. Uncover the pan and place under the broiler, not too close to the heat, for one to three minutes, watching carefully to make sure the top doesn't burn. (At most, it should brown very slightly and puff under the broiler.) Remove from the heat, shake the pan to make sure the frittata isn't sticking, and allow it to cool for 5 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle on the remaining marjoram or thyme. Loosen the edges with the spatula. Carefully slide from the pan onto a large round platter. Cut into wedges. Serve hot, warm, at room temperature or cold.

ONION AND THYME FRITTATA

Steps:

• Place the chopped onions in a bowl, cover with water and add the vinegar. Soak for one hour or longer. Drain, rinse and dry on paper towels. (Note: This step is optional, but the onions will be milder if you do it.)
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium heat in a 10-inch heavy nonstick skillet. Add the onions. Cook, stirring often, until tender, about five minutes. Add a generous pinch of salt, the garlic and the thyme. Continue to cook, stirring often, until the onions are lightly colored but not browned, about five more minutes. Remove from the heat, and allow to cool slightly.
• Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Stir in the salt (about 1/2 teaspoon), pepper, milk and onions. Clean and dry the pan. Return to the burner, and set on medium-high. Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in the skillet. Drop a bit of egg into the pan; if it sizzles and cooks at once, the pan is ready. Pour in the egg mixture. Tilt the pan to distribute the eggs and filling evenly over the surface. Shake the pan gently, tilting it slightly with one hand while lifting up the edges of the frittata with the spatula in your other hand, to let the eggs run underneath during the first few minutes of cooking.
• Turn the heat down to low, cover and cook 10 minutes, shaking the pan gently every once in a while. From time to time, remove the lid, tilt the pan and loosen the bottom of the frittata with a wooden spatula so that it doesn't burn. It should turn a golden color. The eggs should be just about set; cook a few minutes longer if they're not.
• Meanwhile, heat the broiler. Uncover the pan, and place it under the broiler, not too close to the heat, for one to three minutes. Watch very carefully to make sure the top doesn't burn (at most, it should brown very slightly and puff under the broiler). Remove from the heat, and shake the pan to make sure the frittata isn't sticking. Allow it to cool for at least five minutes and for as long as 15 minutes. Loosen the edges with a wooden or plastic spatula. Carefully slide from the pan onto a large round platter. Cut into wedges or into smaller bite-size diamonds. Serve hot, warm, at room temperature or cold.

FRITTATA (BASIC PASTA AND CHEESE)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and cream together. Gently fold in the cheese, pasta and rest of ingredients. One at a time, in that order.
• In a nonstick pan, heat the oil over medium heat.
• Pour the egg mixture into the pan and cook for 7 to 8 minutes until the edges start to brown.
• Flip the frittata by sliding it onto a large plate or tray then carefully inverting it back into the pan. Continue to cook for 5 to 6 minutes more.
• Remove from pan then cut into wedges and serve. This is delicious served warm or at room temperature.
• (You may also add about 1/2 cup of leftovers such as cubed meat or diced sauted vegetables mixing and matching to suit your taste. Some of my favorites are ham and Swiss, or chicken and cheddar with a tablespoon or so of canned green chilies. Be creative, find your own then share the results).