This is a Japanese recipe.
I was surprised to see an omelet in a cook book on the foods of Asia. This is in a class of Japanese cooking called ‘yoshoku’, meaning ‘western food’. To be more precise, it means foods that were introduced to Japan by travelers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and then adapted to suit local tastes.
We’re rather fond of omelets. We usually have them for a first course. For the curious, we plan our meals to accommodate a first course – we don’t just add it to an already full meal.
The original recipe had rice and chicken added to the filling. That would be great for a light lunch, but too much for a first course. Naturally, I made a few changes.
It also had a tomato sauce garnish… I added a bit of red pepper.
I don’t know what role an omelet of this type has in Japanese cuisine.
I do see this type of omelet playing a role in our cuisine…..
Think of it – an omelet without cheese!
Oriental Omelet
Total time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1/2 medium leek, sliced
- 1/4 cup chopped garlic chives
- 1/4 cup sliced water chestnuts
- 1/3 cup frozen peas, thawed
- 1 tbs ginger, minced
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp mirin
- 4 eggs
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 2 tsp olive oil
- Tomato – Red Pepper Sauce:
- 1 cup chopped tomatoes
- 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp soy sauce
Instructions:
- Heat 2 tsp olive oil in an 8 inch nonstick skillet or omelet pan. Add leeks and sauté for 3 minutes.
- Add ginger, peas, and heat through.
- Add chives, water chestnuts and heat through.
- Remove from pan and divide in 2.
- In a medium bowl beat eggs, soy sauce and mirin well with a wire whisk.
- Heat 1 tsp sesame oil in the same skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add half of the eggs and swirl around to cover bottom of pan.
- When the eggs are almost set put half of the vegetables on 1/2 of omelet, and, with a spatula, turn the other half over.
- Leave it in the pan for another 20 – 30 seconds to finish cooking, then remove to a plate. Can be put into 250F (125C) oven to keep warm while you make the other omelet… or just cover with a lid.
- Repeat for second omelet.
- Tomato – Red Pepper Sauce:
- Fry red pepper in sesame oil until tender.
- Purée peppers and tomatoes in a blender
- Add soy sauce and keep warm until needed.
- Serve omelets with a garnish of Tomato – Red Pepper Sauce.
- Serve, garnished with a few olives if you have them.
Remember the seeds I ordered?
Here they all are.
I have to admit I didn’t realize what a small amount 50 basil seeds would be.
50 seems like a lot doesn’t it? But when I looked at the little packet as compared to the packet I normally get, it was minuscule. I’m guessing a regular packet contains about 300 seeds.
I’m going to have to plant more carefully than usual.
On the other hand, I won’t have to spend so much time thinning.
On another note….
I don’t often spend time on Facebook.
I pop over from time to time to check on a few friends, add a recipe post to my page and see what the kids are up to.
I avoid all the political crap.
I’ve been living on this side of the pond for a long time. While I may have an opinion, I don’t express it because I doubt I have all the facts to express an intelligent opinion.
Apparently I’m in the minority.
Not about the willingness to state an opinion but the belief that I should base that opinion on actual facts.
It’s simply not possible for all the opinions I read today to be based on actual facts. They were far too conflicting. Facts may be interpreted differently, but they can’t (shouldn’t) be totally ignored.
I normally avoid making any mention of politics. I did once and was severely chastised.
And it wasn’t even a political comment but a comment on politics.
Because I was so appalled by my brief venture into the current American political scene I’m going to make a similar comment again.
I have never read so many comments or seen so many video excerpts of people behaving in ways unbecoming to the human species.
Have the lights gone out on the Age of Enlightenment?
Is name calling and rude comments the norm from the political parties and their leaders now?
The vitriol and over-the-top exaggeration is staggering.
Has no one any common sense?
Is it really like that? Or did I stumble onto some hate-filled subculture that only exists on the internet?
How do you all deal with it? Or is it not as pervasive as it seems?
Maybe it was just a Facebook glitch today….
That’s all…. I’m done. Chastise me if you like
Or better…. Tell it’s not really like that.
Yes, It is really like that…. But I have learned to ignore it, kind of like ignoring 3 year olds.
I tend to bury my head in the sand, live and let live and do my best to stay apolitical so you will get no chastising from me !!
Politics has become very polarized in this country, with strong opinions on the right and the left with few moderating voices. It is tiresome, as one can easily predict what a given speaker will say on virtually any issue based solely on party affiliation. Where did our middle go?
It’s so ugly in the US now… and I can only opine about why. Which would be boring to your readers, who come here like me for top-notch cooking recipes and your humorous posts of life in the country, and yes: as many dog stories and photos as you can stomach posting. One gets weary of politics here, but one doesn’t get weary of omelettes, whether from Asia or France. These kinds of omelettes were wildly popular in Japan when I lived there, and the best were at truck stops (!).
deebar, now that makes sense…. 3 year olds.
Kate, I usually do as well, but sometimes if just rears up and makes my pay attention.
Zoomie, apparently discussion and debate are no longer possible – only preaching and being right 😉
Dan, I used to enjoy political debates. I don’t think I would now LOL. This is the first I’ve heard of Japanese omelets…. but truck-stop food – notoriously good here, too.