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Spinach frittata comes to the rescue for a fast meal any time of day.
In This Recipe
The Key to Making a Frittata
The Best Cheeses to Use
What’s a Frittata?
Getting a Frittata Out of the Pan
To Freeze or Not to Freeze
Looking for the perfect egg dish for a weekend brunch or weeknight "breakfast for dinner?" Think frittata, an Italian open-faced omelette of sorts, or an eggy crustless quiche.
The Key to Making a Frittata
The trick to making a frittata is to cook it low and slow on the stovetop, and then finish it under the broiler. Eggs love low, gentle heat; more of their moisture is retained that way.
Here is an easy spinach frittata we love, with a bunch of chopped up baby spinach (you can use regular spinach too, though I find the prewashed packages of baby spinach irresistibly convenient), Parmesan, and goat cheese. I added some chopped sun-dried tomatoes too, for a little extra umami, though that's not required.
The Best Cheeses To Use in a Frittata
Goat cheese adds a lovely tang to the frittata. If you don't have any on hand, you can easily use jack, cheddar, mozzarella, or Gruyere. Just add a little squeeze of lemon juice for some acidity.
Enjoy!
What’s a Frittata?
A frittata is one of the easiest egg dishes you can make for a fancy brunch or any time of day. It's very similar to a quiche, in that both of them are egg dishes made with a mix of fillings (vegetables and/or meat and cheeses) and eggs whipped with milk or cream. You can think of a frittata as a crustless quiche.
Unlike an omelette, a frittata has the fillings mixed and cooked in with the egg mixture. The beauty of a frittata is that it's a shareable dish, while omelettes are usually made individually.
You don't even need any fancy equipment, but you do need an ovenproof skillet (like a cast-iron or metal-handled pan) for this recipe.
The Secret To Getting a Frittata Out of the Pan
Let the pan sit for five to 10 minutes once you take it out of the oven. The steam in the pan will slowly loosen the frittata as it rests. Then, run a rubber or silicone spatula around the edges to loosen.
If you'd like, flip the frittata upside-down onto a large plate, then onto a platter, so you can easily cut and serve it right-side up.
If that sounds like too much work, you can just serve it straight from the pan.
To Freeze or Not to Freeze
This recipe does not freeze that well. We do have other egg recipes you can make ahead to freeze, like our Instant Pot Egg Bites and Cheesy Hash Brown Egg Bites, both of which can be made with spinach.
More Frittata Recipes You’ll Love
- Zucchini Ricotta Frittata
- Artichoke Leek Frittata
- Mini Muffin Frittatas
- Asparagus Frittata
- Frittata With Potatoes, Red Peppers, and Spinach
From the Editors Of Simply Recipes
Spinach Frittata
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time25 mins
Total Time40 mins
Servings4 servings
If using frozen spinach, use about 4ounces. Defrost it, and squeezeout most of the moisturewith paper towels.
If you’re using bunches of fresh mature spinach, clean it thoroughly first. The best way to clean out the grit is to submerge the leaves into a large bowl or basin of cold water. Swirl the spinach leaves with your hands to dislodge the dirt. Drain and repeat until the leaves are clean. Cut out and discard any thick stems. Use a salad spinner to thoroughly dry the leaves.
You can use up to a pound of spinach if you want.
Ingredients
9 large eggs
2 tablespoons milk
1/3 cup (about 1 ounce, 30g) grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
1 large clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped sun-dried tomatoes, optional
8 ounces (225g)or more fresh chopped spinach (or use baby spinach)
2ounces (56g) goat cheese
Method
Whisk together the eggs, milk, Parm, salt, and pepper:
In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and Parmesan cheese. Stir in the salt and pepper. Set aside.
Sauté the onions, then the garlic:
Heat olive oil in an ovenproof, stick-free skillet on medium heat. Add the onion and saute until translucent, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and the sun-dried tomatoes (if using), and cook a minute more.
Add the spinach:
Add the spinach a handful at a time. Use tongs to mix with the onion. As the fresh spinach begins to wilt and make room in the pan, add more of the spinach to the pan.
Add the egg mixture:
Once the spinach has wilted, spread the mixture out evenly on the bottom of the pan. Pour the egg mixture over the spinach and onion.
Use a spatula to lift up the spinach mixture along the sides of the pan to let the egg mixture flow underneath.
Sprinkle with goat cheese:
Sprinkle bits of goat cheese over the top of the frittata mixture.
Lower the heat, cover, and cook:
Lower the heat to low and cover the pan. Let cook on the stovetop 10 to 13 minutes, until all but the center of the frittata is set. (You may need to check a few times to see how well the frittata is setting.) The center should still be wiggly. Preheat the broiler.
Finish under the broiler:
Set the oven rack in the top third of the oven. Broil for 3 to 4 minutes until the top is golden. Remove from oven with oven mitts and let cool for several minutes.
Although the pan may be out of the oven for a few minutes, the handle is still very hot! To keep from accidentally picking it up by the handle while hot (speaking from experience, ouch!), take a piece of ice and melt it against the pan's handle to cool it down. Or use oven mitts to handle.
Cut into wedges to serve.
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- Healthy Breakfast
- Goat Cheese
- Eggs
- Spinach
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
---|---|
317 | Calories |
23g | Fat |
7g | Carbs |
21g | Protein |
Show Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings: 4 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 317 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 23g | 29% |
Saturated Fat 8g | 39% |
Cholesterol 432mg | 144% |
Sodium 540mg | 23% |
Total Carbohydrate 7g | 3% |
Dietary Fiber 2g | 6% |
Total Sugars 2g | |
Protein 21g | |
Vitamin C 17mg | 86% |
Calcium 218mg | 17% |
Iron 4mg | 22% |
Potassium 540mg | 11% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.