A French Country Affair Elegant Omelette Gateau W Chive Flowers Recipes

ANTONI POROWSKI'S FRENCH OMELET WITH CHEESE AND CHIVES

Steps:

• Whisk eggs in a medium bowl until well combined and smooth, taking care not to whip in too much air. The point is to combine the yolks and whites very well.
• In a small nonstick skillet over medium-low, heat 1 tablespoon butter until the butter has melted and just begins to foam.
• Pour in the eggs. Working quickly with one hand, gently move the pan in a circular motion over the heat (this will keep the eggs moving and evenly cooking). With your other hand, use a small rubber spatula (or chopsticks) to stir the eggs in a loose figure-eight pattern, creating small curds and scraping down the side of the skillet as you go. Continue until the eggs are mostly cooked through but just a little runny on top, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat and sprinkle the omelet with a pinch of salt, then sprinkle the cheese down the center. Gently shake the pan so that the omelet shifts toward the side of the pan opposite the handle and up the side of the pan. The part of the omelet above the edge of the pan should fold back over on itself - use your rubber spatula to give it a hand, if it doesn't.
• Slide 1 tablespoon of butter underneath the omelet that's still in the pan. (This will help keep the omelet tender and soft - and it tastes really good.)
• Using the spatula, roll up the omelet, then flip it seam-side down onto a warm serving plate. Slide the remaining 1/2 tablespoon butter across the top, then sprinkle with a pinch each of salt and pepper and the chives. Serve hot.

A FRENCH COUNTRY AFFAIR! ELEGANT OMELETTE GATEAU W/CHIVE FLOWERS

Steps:

• Take 2 bowls and add 5 eggs to each bowl - whisk lightly.
• In a large frying pan, add 1 teaspoon of the olive oil and fry the courgettes, spring onions, chives and chive flowers. Saute for about 8 to 10 minutes over a low to medium heat until the vegetables and herbs are soft but not coloured. Set aside and season with salt and pepper.
• In one bowl of whisked eggs, add the fried courgette mixture and in the other bowl of eggs, add the red peppers, garlic and chili - season well with salt and pepper.
• In an 8" omelette or pancake pan, heat up some of the remaining olive oil and using a third of the courgette omelette mixture, make an open face omelette; fry the omelette for about 5 minutes or until the omelette is firm. Carefully invert the omelette on to a plate - then slide it back in to the pan cooking the other side of the omelette for about 3 minutes or until firm. Make two more courgette omelettes this way and set them to one side to cool. Continue with the red pepper omelette mixture - making three more open face omelettes. You will now have three courgette omelettes and three red pepper omelettes. Allow them to cool before assembling your "Gateau".
• Whilst the omelettes are cooling, make the filling. Mix all of the filling ingredients together - check the seasoning and add salt and pepper to taste.
• Take an 8" cake tine, line it with some cling film, making sure that it overlaps the sides to about 6".
• Assemble the gateau - start of with the most attractive red pepper omelette, and place it in the cake tin - spread some filling over the top of the omelette. Continue with a courgette omelette and then a red pepper omelette - continue stacking the omelettes this way, spreading the filling in between them as you go. You will end up with a big multi-layered cake or sandwich of omelettes!
• Take the excess cling film and cover the gateau to cover it completely. Allow to rest in the fridge for 24 hours.
• When you are ready to serve it - carefully take the gateau out using the cling film to help you lift it out of the tin.
• Serve it on a pretty plate or cake stand, with the red pepper omelette facing the top.
• Sprinkle baby salad leaves and parmesan cheese shavings over the top and around the gateau. Chive flowers would also be an attractive garnish.
• To serve, cut in to wedges and serve with the salad leaves and parmesan shavings - with extra salad leaves and dressing if you wish.