Omelettes are a delicious and versatile breakfast food that can be customized in endless ways. While eggs, butter or oil, and salt and pepper make up the base of an omelette, you can add a variety of ingredients to take your omelette from basic to gourmet.
Vegetables
Adding vegetables is an easy way to boost the flavor, texture, color, and nutritional value of your omelette. Some great veggies to mix in include:
- Onions – Diced or sliced onions add a savory, aromatic flavor. Cook them first before adding eggs.
- Tomatoes – Diced ripe tomatoes or cherry tomatoes add sweetness and acidity.
- Bell peppers – Chopped bell peppers add crunch and bright flavor.
- Spinach – Wilted spinach gives omelettes volume and green color.
- Mushrooms – Sliced mushrooms provide an earthy, meaty texture.
- Broccoli – Small broccoli florets add nutrition and color.
- Asparagus – Chopped, cooked asparagus has a delicate flavor.
- Zucchini – Grated or diced zucchini lends moisture.
- Potatoes – Diced potatoes make omelettes heartier.
Aim for 1-2 cups of diced or chopped veggies in a 3-4 egg omelette. Make sure to saute any denser veggies like potatoes first before adding to egg mixture.
Cheese
Melted cheese is a classic omelette add-in that boosts flavor, texture, and protein content. Some tasty cheese choices include:
- Cheddar – Sharp cheddar has a bold, nutty flavor.
- Swiss – Nutty, slightly sweet Swiss cheese melts beautifully.
- Feta – Briny, crumbly feta adds a tangy kick.
- Mozzarella – Oozy, stretchy mozzarella has mild flavor.
- Goat cheese – Tangy goat cheese becomes creamy when melted.
- Parmesan – Savory, salty Parmesan packs a punch of umami.
- Blue cheese – Pungent blue cheese adds a bold personality.
- Monterey Jack – Mild, buttery Jack cheese melts smoothly.
Grate or crumble 1-4 ounces of cheese over an omelette just before folding and serving.
Herbs
Fresh herbs brighten up an omelette with flavor and color. Consider adding:
- Chives – Finely chopped chives lend a light onion flavor.
- Parsley – Chopped fresh parsley has a peppery, grassy taste.
- Basil – Diced or torn basil leaves taste robust and slightly sweet.
- Cilantro – The flavor of cilantro is polarizing, but provides a fresh herbal note.
- Oregano – Earthy oregano complements veggies like mushrooms and spinach.
- Thyme – Lemony thyme pairs well with creamy fillings.
- Dill – Feathery dill has a distinctive anise flavor.
- Sage – Savory, pine-scented sage is perfect with breakfast meats.
Finely chop 1-2 tablespoons of any fresh herbs and fold into the omelette just before cooking.
Meat and Seafood
Adding cooked meat or seafood turns an omelette into a hearty meal. Some tasty protein-packed fillings include:
- Ham – Diced ham adds a classic smoky, salty flavor.
- Bacon – Chopped, cooked bacon adds a smoky crunch.
- Sausage – Cooked breakfast sausage lends a savory, spicy taste.
- Chorizo – Spicy chorizo sausage adds tons of flavor.
- Chicken – Shredded chicken breast meat is an easy protein.
- Shrimp – Chopped cooked shrimp lend sweetness.
- Lobster – Luxurious chunks of lobster take omelettes upscale.
- Crab – Flaked crab meat tastes delicious when paired with cheese.
- Salmon – Flaked cooked salmon adds a boost of healthy omega-3s.
Use 4-6 ounces of cooked meat or seafood per omelette. Make sure to dice or chop the protein into small pieces before adding to omelette.
Salsa
A spoonful of salsa adds a boost of vibrant flavor and texture to omelettes. Options include:
- Tomato salsa – The classic, with diced tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, cilantro.
- Mango salsa – Sweet, tropical fruit pairs nicely with eggs.
- Pico de gallo – Fresh chopped tomato, onion, lime juice, cilantro.
- Peach salsa – Diced peaches, red onion, lime, cilantro.
- Pineapple salsa – Pineapple, red onion, jalapeno, and cilantro.
- Corn salsa – Charred corn, black beans, lime, and chili powder.
- Avocado salsa – Avocado, tomato, red onion, garlic, lime juice.
Add 2-4 tablespoons of your favorite salsa and let it warm through when cooking the omelette.
Hot Sauces
A dash of hot sauce is an easy way to kick up the flavor of an omelette a notch. Try:
- Tabasco – Classic tabasco sauce has bold red pepper flavor.
- Cholula – Cholula has moderate heat and smoky, earthy notes.
- Sriracha – For garlicky heat, add a splash of sriracha.
- Habanero – A few drops of intensely hot habanero sauce goes a long way.
- Harissa – North African rose-colored harissa chili paste has deep flavor.
Use hot sauces sparingly, starting with just 1/4 teaspoon and adding more to taste if desired. They can overwhelm other omelette fillings.
Avocado
Creamy avocado is a luxurious addition to omelettes. Ways to add avocado:
- Chunks – Fold diced avocado into the omelette just before serving.
- Smashed – Fan sliced avocado over the top of the cooked omelette.
- Guacamole – Fold a spoonful or two of guacamole into the omelette.
Let the avocado warm through just slightly to prevent the omelette from becoming cold.
Beans and Grains
Beans, lentils and whole grains provide fiber and protein. Consider incorporating:
- Black beans – Savory, slightly sweet black beans pair well with salsa.
- Refried beans – Spread creamy refried beans in the center before folding.
- Lentils – Cooked lentils add protein and texture.
- Quinoa – Fluffy quinoa lends a nutty flavor and superfood status.
- Brown rice – Toasted brown rice gives the omelette more heft.
Use 1/4 to 1/2 cup total of cooked beans or grains in an omelette. Heat through before adding egg mixture.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds enhance the flavor and nutrition of an omelette. Ways to incorporate them include:
- Pine nuts – Toasted pine nuts lend nutty crunch.
- Walnuts – Chopped toasted walnuts have earthy flavor.
- Almonds – Slivered almonds add satisfying texture.
- Pumpkin seeds – Pepitas offer a nutritious, crunchy twist.
- Sunflower seeds – Sunflower seeds have a mild, nutty taste.
- Flaxseed – Grind flaxseed to sprinkle over the omelette for omega-3s.
Use 2-3 tablespoons of nuts or seeds in an omelette. Toasting them first brings out maximum flavor.
Fresh Herbs
Fresh herbs brighten up an omelette with flavor and color. Consider adding:
- Chives – Finely chopped chives lend a light onion flavor.
- Parsley – Chopped fresh parsley has a peppery, grassy taste.
- Basil – Diced or torn basil leaves taste robust and slightly sweet.
- Cilantro – The flavor of cilantro is polarizing, but provides a fresh herbal note.
- Oregano – Earthy oregano complements veggies like mushrooms and spinach.
- Thyme – Lemony thyme pairs well with creamy fillings.
- Dill – Feathery dill has a distinctive anise flavor.
- Sage – Savory, pine-scented sage is perfect with breakfast meats.
Finely chop 1-2 tablespoons of any fresh herbs and fold into the omelette just before cooking.
Conclusion
An omelette is a blank canvas that can be transformed into a gourmet meal with imaginative fillings. Vegetables, cheese, meat, beans, herbs, salsa – the possibilities are endless! Play around with ingredient combinations to discover new favorite omelette recipes. Just be sure to use fillings in moderation so they don’t overwhelm the eggs. With a well-made omelette and flavor-packed fillings, you can start the day on a delicious high note.