Best Herbed Omelet Wraps With Rice Noodles And Duck Recipes

HOWARD HELMER'S OMELET

Steps:

• Break the eggs into a glass measuring cup. Add the water, salt and pepper. Beat together with a fork until combined.
• Put the oil in a 10-inch pan with sloping sides, and set over medium-high heat. Heat until the oil starts to sizzle, swirling it around the pan.
• Pour in the egg mixture; it should set immediately at the edges. With an inverted pancake turner, carefully push the cooked portions at the edges toward the center so that uncooked portions can reach the hot pan surface. Tilt the pan, and move cooked portions as necessary.
• When the top has thickened and very little liquid egg remains visible, spread filling, if desired, along one half. With pancake turner, fold omelet in half or roll. Invert onto a plate with a quick flip of the wrist, or slide from pan onto a plate.

COLD OMELETS

Steps:

• For the tomato omelet: In a large saucepan, preferably nonstick, heat one tablespoon of the olive oil. When hot, add the minced scallions and saute for about 30 to 45 seconds. Add the chopped tomatoes and a quarter teaspoon of the salt. Saute the tomatoes for about 45 to 60 seconds, until they are warm and starting to render their juice but are still firm. Set aside.
• Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a clean saucepan. Meanwhile, beat the eggs with the remaining quarter teaspoon of salt and the pepper in a bowl. When the oil is hot, add the egg mixture and, when the curds form in the bottom of the pan, stir until the whole mixture is set but a little wet inside.
• Using your fork, bring the near lip over toward the center of the omelet and arrange the tomato mixture down the center of the omelet. (If the tomato mixture is too wet, use a slotted spoon to remove the solids for use on the omelet.) Fold both lips of the omelet back over the tomatoes to enclose them as best you can. Heat the one teaspoon of butter in the exposed end of the skillet and cook the omelet for about 45 to 60 seconds to brown it nicely underneath. Invert onto a plate.
• When lukewarm, slide the omelet onto a piece of plastic wrap and roll it into a tube, tightening it as you roll to give it a nice cylindrical shape and twisting the wrap at both ends. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• At serving time, cut the omelet into one-and-one-half-inch slices and place the slices cut-side-down in a small gratin dish. Sprinkle with a few drops of vinegar, about one tablespoon of oil and extra herbs, if desired. Serve.
• For the herb omelet: Beat the eggs with the salt, pepper and chopped herbs and proceed with the directions above (ignoring references to the tomato mixture) to make and finish the omelet.

FRESH HERBS OMELET

Steps:

• Break 2 eggs into a bowl and beat with a fork or a whisk until frothy. Add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste (about 1/8 teaspoon salt), and 2 teaspoons milk. Whisk half the herbs into the eggs and mix well.
• Heat an 8-inch nonstick omelet pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 teaspoons of the olive oil. When the oil feels hot when you hold your hand above it, pour in the eggs, scraping every last bit into the pan. Swirl the pan to distribute the eggs evenly over the surface. Shake the pan gently, tilting it slightly with one hand while lifting up the edges of the omelet with the spatula in your other hand, to let the eggs run underneath during the first few minutes of cooking. As soon as the eggs are set on the bottom, jerk the pan quickly away from you then back towards you so that the omelet folds over on itself. Tilt the pan and roll out onto a plate. Repeat with the remaining eggs and herbs, and serve.

FINES HERBES OMELET

Steps:

• Using a fork, beat the eggs, salt and pepper in a bowl until thoroughly mixed. Stir in the herbs.
• Heat half the oil and butter in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over high heat. When the oil and butter are hot, add half the egg mixture. Stir continuously with a fork, shaking the pan, for about 2 minutes to create the smallest-possible curds. When most of the egg is solid, cook it without stirring for 10 seconds to create a thin skin on the underside.
• Roll the omelet by folding over one side and then the opposite site, and invert it onto a plate. Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make a second omelet. Cut each omelet in half.

OMURICE (JAPANESE RICE OMELET)

Steps:

• Make the rice: Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Add 1 tablespoon butter, and then onion and carrot. Cook, stirring, until onion is translucent and a little browned at the edges, about 3 minutes. Add ham and cook, stirring, until it begins to brown, about 30 seconds.
• Add remaining 1 tablespoon butter, and then rice, breaking it up with a wooden spoon or long chopsticks. Adjust heat to medium and cook until the grains are glossy, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in ketchup and soy sauce, and cook, stirring, another 30 seconds or so to caramelize. Stir in peas to heat through, and deglaze the pan with dashi or chicken stock. Remove from heat and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• To make a perfect mound of rice on each plate, grease a small bowl with canola or safflower oil and pack 1 cup of the rice. Invert this over a plate and remove the bowl. Repeat with the other half of the rice on a second plate.
• Make the omelet: In a small (6- or 7-inch) nonstick skillet (or a well-seasoned carbon steel omelet pan), heat 1/2 teaspoon oil, or just enough to coat the pan, over medium-high. Beat 2 eggs with 1/2 teaspoon dashi or water, until yolks and whites are completely blended. Season with salt and pepper.
• Pour the egg mixture into the heated pan. Shake and swirl the pan over the heat, stirring constantly with chopsticks or a fork as the eggs cook. When lots of small curds have formed and the eggs are custardy, about 30 seconds, let cook undisturbed until nearly set, about 30 seconds. Run a butter knife or small spatula around the edge of the omelet, and tap the pan firmly against the stove to release the omelet. Turn the omelet out onto the rice, custardy side down. Use a clean dish towel or paper towel to push the edges under the rice.
• Repeat with the other 2 eggs for the second omelet. Dress the omelets with a zigzag of ketchup (or a cute design if you've got a steady hand), and serve.

HERBED OMELET WRAPS WITH RICE NOODLES AND DUCK

Steps:

• Combine the eggs, scallions, 2 tablespoons cilantro, chile, tamarind, coconut milk, brown sugar and salt, and beat lightly.
• Place a 6-inch skillet over medium-low heat and add 1 teaspoon oil. Using a small ladle, add about a sixth of the egg mixture, swirling it quickly to thinly cover the base of the pan. When the underside is golden and the top looks set, 2 to 3 minutes, turn it onto a plate to cool and repeat with the remaining egg mixture to make 5 more omelets.
• Pour boiling water over the rice noodles and soak until soft, 5 to 10 minutes, then pour cool water over them, drain and cut into shorter lengths with kitchen scissors.
• Lay one omelet golden-side down and spread a tablespoon of hoisin sauce over it. In a line, just off center, lay about a tablespoon of rice noodles, a little duck or chicken, cucumber matchsticks, a few cilantro leaves and a little shredded mint. Roll up as firmly as possible, from the edge nearest the filling ingredients. Cut in half through the middle, and repeat with the remaining omelets and filling.