Bread Frittata Recipes

FRITTATA WITH BREAD AND BOTTARGA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Crack eggs into a mixing bowl. Add sea salt and chives. Whisk with a fork until whites and yolks are fully incorporated.
• Tear bread into large, bite-sized croutons and drop into the egg mixture; use enough bread to cover the surface area of the frittata to achieve something halfway between a bread pudding and an omelet.
• Heat an ovenproof, 10-to-12-inch omelet pan over low-medium flame. Pour olive oil into pan, enough to coat and then some. You want sizzle, not smoke.
• Pour frittata mixture into the pan. Gently jiggle the pan to get a "pizza effect" (i.e., the chives and bread pieces are evenly distributed). Increase the flame to high to let the bottom of the frittata set (this takes 1 to 3 minutes). While it's setting, use a spatula to loosen the eggy batter from the sides of the pan. As you do this, you are raising the frittata from above to cool it off so it stays loose. The bottom should set like a pie crust: even and golden, but not brown. The top should still be liquid.
• Move the pan into the oven to cook the top. This should take less than 5 minutes.
• To garnish, shave bottarga over the top (about 1 tsp. per serving); drop a large dollop of sour cream or crème fraîche in the center; drizzle with olive oil and add cracked pepper to taste.

CHALLAH BREAD PUDDING FRITTATA

Steps:

• In a medium bowl whisk together the eggs and half and half until frothy. Add the tarragon, some salt and pepper, and whisk together. Add the cubed challah and let it soak in the egg mixture for about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a small oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ham, peppers and spring onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the ham is a bit browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in the remaining butter and spread the ham and vegetables out evenly in the pan. Pour in the challah-egg mixture and let cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Turn the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook until the frittata becomes light and fluffy, about 3 more minutes. Place the pan under the broiler until the top is browned, about 1 minute. Transfer the frittata to a plate and cut into wedges.
• Note: If you don't have a broiler, use a heat proof rubber spatula and carefully flip the frittata over, and cook for 1 minute. Or, melt a tablespoon of butter in a separate skillet until it sizzles. Pour the melted butter over the frittata and place the empty skillet over the frittata pan. Holding both handles, carefully flip the pans over, and cook the frittata on the other side for a minute.

BREAD PUDDING FRITTATA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 degrees. Toss bread with oil and spread on a large rimmed baking sheet. Toast bread until golden and dry to touch, about 25 minutes. Cool and place in a large container with a lid.
• Strain eggs through a fine mesh sieve into a large bowl (straining gives you the smoothest texture). Whisk in milk, salt and sugar. Pour egg mixture over bread in container and cover tightly. Refrigerate overnight.
• When ready to bake, let bread-egg mixture come to room temperature for 30 minutes. Heat oven to 300 degrees. Grease an 8- or 9-inch loaf pan, preferably nonstick. Using a slotted spoon or your hands, lift bread and place into loaf pan. Pour egg mixture over it. Place pan inside a larger roasting pan.
• Transfer to oven and fill roasting pan with enough boiling water to come 3/4 up the sides of the loaf pan. Cover both pans with one large sheet of aluminum foil. Cook, gently stirring frittata every 10 to 15 minutes for even cooking, until just set, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Run a knife along the sides of the loaf pan to loosen the frittata, then unmold it and flip onto a plate to cool to room temperature. Slice into eight pieces. Top each serving with avocado and herbs. Sprinkle with lemon juice and sea salt.