The beauty of oven omelets and frittatas is that they need no crust (unlike a quiche). Fortunately, the slow cooker does this job well—the eggs stay moist and tender thanks to the steady, low temperature. Be ready to serve and eat the frittata as soon as it is done cooking; for the best texture and flavor, do not let it stand on keep warm. The frittata needs maximum surface area to cook, so it works best in a large oval slow cooker. Serve with fried potatoes, or fruit salad and ciabatta toast.
Recipe information
Total Time
1 hour 40 minutes
Yield
Serves 6
Ingredients
Special Equipment
Preparation
Step 1
In a medium-size skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat and add the shallots, asparagus, and zucchini. Cook for a few minutes, just so the asparagus begins to be tender and the zucchini browns a bit. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool for 10 minutes. Coat the bottom and 2 inches up the sides of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Transfer the cooled vegetables to the crock.
Step 2
In a medium-size bowl, whisk together the eggs, Parmesan, and basil. Add some salt and a few turns of black pepper. Pour into the crock and stir to mix with the vegetables. Cover and cook on high for 60 to 70 minutes, until the frittata is set and the tip of a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Do not overcook or else the eggs will become too firm. Cut into 4 sections and lift out with a spatula to plates. Serve immediately.
Variations
Step 3
Substitute the asparagus with 1 (10-ounce) package defrosted frozen artichoke hearts, thawed and coarsely chopped, plus 1 cup frozen peas, thawed.
Step 4
Substitute the asparagus with 1/2 pound broccoli florets, chopped into bite-size pieces (about 2 cups).
Step 5
On top of the vegetables, make a layer of 1 to 2 cups diced ham, or 8 slices cooked center-cut bacon, crumbled, or 8 slices Canadian bacon, or 6 thin slices prosciutto, chopped.
Step 6
Add a top layer of thinly sliced mozzarella, fontina, white American, or provolone cheese.
Recipe notes
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