Omelet Bar Recipes

PERFECT OMELET

Steps:

• Beat the eggs: Soak 3 large eggs for 5 minutes in hot-not scalding-tap water. This will ensure that the omelet cooks faster, and the faster an omelet cooks, the more tender it's going to be. Crack the eggs into a small bowl or large bowl-shaped coffee mug. Season with a pinch of fine salt. Beat the eggs gently with a fork.
• TIP: I prefer a fork to a whisk for omelets because I don't want to work air into the eggs: Air bubbles are insulators and can slow down cooking if you're not careful.
• Heat the pan: Heat a 10-inch nonstick saute pan over medium to high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon room-temperature unsalted butter. Once melted, spread the butter around the pan with a basting brush to ensure coverage.
• TIP: Heat your pan empty for a few minutes before adding the butter: Even a nonstick surface is pocked with microscopic pores that eggs can fill and grab hold of. Heat expands the metal, squeezing these openings shut.
• Add the eggs: Pour the eggs into the center of the pan and stir vigorously with a silicone spatula for 5 seconds. (Actually, it's not so much a matter of stirring with the spatula as holding the spatula relatively still and moving the pan around to stir the eggs.)
• Let them cook: As soon as curds begin to form (that's the stuff that looks like scrambled eggs), lift the pan and tilt it around until the excess liquid pours off the top of the curds and into the pan. Then use the spatula to shape the edge and make sure the omelet isn't sticking. Move the spatula around the edge of the egg mixture to help shape it into a round and loosen the edge. Then walk away. That's right-let that omelet sit unaccosted for 10 long seconds so it can develop a proper outer crust. Don't worry: Your patience will be rewarded.
• Finish the omelet: Time for the "jiggle" step: Simply shake the pan gently to make sure the omelet is indeed free of the pan. Lift up the far edge of the pan and snap it back toward you. Then use the spatula to fold over the one-third facing you.
• Change your grip on the pan handle from an overhand to an underhand and move to the plate, which you might want to lube with just a brief brushing of butter to make sure things don't bind up in transit. Slide the one-third farthest from you onto the plate and then ease the fold over. Imagine that you're making a tri-fold wallet out of eggs-because that's exactly what you're doing. And just ease the pan over. There, that wasn't so hard.

CHARLESTON OMELET BAR

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to its warm setting, or 200 degrees F.
• Heat the oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add the onions and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Add the peppers to the skillet and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. (Add additional oil to the skillet if the vegetables are dry.) Transfer to a bowl.
• Add another tablespoon butter to the skillet. Add the shrimp. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon seafood seasoning and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Cook until the shrimp are done and turn pink, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Combine the crab, remaining teaspoon seafood seasoning and remaining teaspoon lemon juice in a bowl.
• Set up the omelet bar: In addition to the onions, pepper and seafood, arrange the cheeses, mushrooms, diced ham, green onions and herbs in bowls on a serving platter.
• Whisk together the eggs, milk, salt and pepper in a large bowl. For each omelet, melt 1 tablespoon butter in an 8-inch nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Ladle one-quarter of the egg mixture into the skillet (enough to fill the bottom of the skillet.) Tilt the pan to spread the egg mixture evenly. Use a spatula and loosen the edges and run the uncooked yolk underneath as the omelet cooks.
• Once the eggs are set, place 2 slices of cheese in a single layer to cover the egg. Sprinkle with the desired toppings on one side of the omelet. Carefully fold the omelet in half. Slide the omelet onto a serving plate and repeat with the remaining ingredients. Place the cooked omelets in the warm oven while cooking the remaining omelets, if desired.

OMELET IN A BAG

Steps:

• Crack the eggs into a large resealable freezer bag. Press out most of the air, and seal. Shake or squeeze to beat the eggs. Open the bag, and add the ham, cheese, onion, green pepper, tomato, salsa, and mushrooms. Squeeze out as much of the air as you can, and seal the bag.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Place up to 8 bags at a time into the boiling water. Cook for exactly 13 minutes. Open the bag, and let the omelet roll out onto a plate. The omelet should roll out easily.