Frittata is derived from the Italian, "to fry". An egg dish enriched with vegetables and cheese, not dissimilar to a crustless flan. For paleo, the perfect alternative to flan, quiche or even pizza!Debate continues in the paleosphere around the inclusion of dairy in the diet. I endorse the inclusion!
Caerphilly is a hard white cheese from Wales, the town of Caerphilly no less. Made from cow's milk and with a fat content of around 50%, this cheese has a pleasant sour tang and crumbly texture to perfectly complement the richness of many deep coloured and flavoured free range eggs.
Samphire is a fast-growing green vegetable that grows in proliferation between June and September along clifftops and grassy beach edges around the United Kingdom. Salty in flavour due to its proximity to the sea and with a satisfying crunch, samphire is packed full of good vitamins and a great source of iodine.
Let's put the dish together ...
Hand whisk half a dozen free range eggs gently so that there is still some texture in the mix - just beaten is perfect. Melt some butter in a skillet. Deep flavoured butters from whole milk are best for flavour. Pour in the eggs and move the mix about periodically to keep it from sticking.
Once the eggs have made a soft omelette, toss in the samphire. Season with some pepper - my preference is for just a little white pepper and maybe a touch of cayenne pepper for a little punch. Showering some green Tabasco over at this stage is great for where a good peppery zing is enjoyed. Finally, crumble over some Caerphilly cheese.
By this point, the base of the frittata will be crisp from frying in the skillet. Transfer the dish to the oven and bake for a few minutes on a moderate heat, or give it a good blast under a hot grill.
Slide the frittata out onto a chopping board and cut into sections as you would a flan, quiche or pizza. Take a wedge onto each plate and accompany with a light leafy salad, small tomatoes, that kind of thing. Enjoy :)
Frittata is about imagination! Put in whatever it is that you enjoy - think about food that you enjoy that works well with another food you enjoy and put the two together. Frittata may be enjoyed at any time of day for any meal - there are no rules and you can happily make one without cheese if you do not include dairy in your diet.
