Empty-the-Fridge Fritatta

You know all those poor vegetables that start to wilt? Don’t put them out of their misery, put them to good use! Make a fritatta!

This recipe was inspired by a Leek and Asparagus Fritatta recipe from the February Bon Appetit. But we figured, since we’re already making a fritatta, why not throw in a few more veggies? Potatoes? Yum! That last lonely zucchini? Perfect! As long as you’ve got 8 eggs on hand, just toss in whatever else you have and call it dinner. Heck, eat the leftovers the next morning and call it breakfast too.

Empty-the-Fridge Fritatta

Makes 4 servings.

INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
1 cup chopped leeks (white and pale green parts only)
1 12-oz bunch thin asparagus, trimmed, cut on diagonal into 1-inch pieces
1 cup sliced stemmed shittake mushrooms
1 medium red potato, diced into 1/2 inch pieces
1 zucchini, diced
8 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS
Preheat broiler. Heat butter or oil in heavy broilerproof 10-inch-diameter nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add potatoes and leeks and sautee until tender, about 4 minutes. Add asparagus, mushrooms, and zucchini, sprinkle lightly with salt, and sauté until tender, about 6 minutes.

Whisk eggs, 1/4 cup Parmesan, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in medium bowl. Add egg mixture to skillet; fold gently to combine. Cook until almost set. Sprinkle remaining cheese over top. Broil until fritatta is puffed and cheese begins to turn golden, about 3 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve.

Spinach and Sundried Tomato Fritatta

We’re no strangers to fritattas. However, there’s always an element of skill and patience required to make them – being able to cook a huge pan full of eggs all the way through, sometimes flipping the massive disk, is not easy.

Whoever the genius was that decided to move the fritatta into ramekins will be forever deserving of my thanks. And I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever make a regular full-pan size fritatta ever again. Seriously. Ramekin fritattas are just too perfect to make it any other way.

These little personal sized fritattas puff up in their ramekins almost like souffles. They are light and fluffy and the perfect size for dinner (or lunch or breakfast). While this recipe called for spinach and sundried tomatoes, you can basically use any veggies or greens that you may have left in your fridge. They are a great way to use up any produce that is on it’s way out – a true clean-the-fridge type of meal.

Spinach and Sundried Tomato Fritatta

Makes 4. Recipe from Epicurious.

INGREDIENTS
Vegetable oil cooking spray
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 small shallot, chopped
1 cup packed fresh spinach, chopped
4 whole eggs
4 egg whites
8 sun-dried tomato halves, chopped
1/2 cup grated Asiago
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS
Heat oven to 425°F. Coat 4 small baking dishes with cooking spray. Set aside. Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat. Cook shallot until soft but not brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add spinach; cook 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Lightly whisk eggs and egg whites in a bowl. Stir in sun-dried tomatoes, cheese, basil, spinach mixture, salt and pepper. Spoon into baking dishes; bake until firm in the center, 12 to 14 minutes.