Tomato & courgette frittata

SOURCE This recipe comes from 1001 Recipes: The Ultimate Cookery Book, edited by Alexa Stace. We have tweaked it very slightly, and made the recipe steps more explicit for the novice cook.

Serves 4
Time (approx): preparation 25m cooking 25m

Ingredients

3 tbsp vegetable oil*
3 tomatoes
1 medium onion
250g courgettes
2 cloves of garlic
4 eggs
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 tbsp chopped fresh basil**
1 tin of borlotti beans***
Salt and pepper to taste
60g grated Gruyère cheese (optional)
* We use Second Nature organic Irish rapeseed oil.
** Try sorrel or some other herb if you don’t have basil.
*** Use cannellini or other beans if you can’t get borlotti.

Equipment

Chopping-board
Knife with a sharp blade
Plastic or wooden spoon or spatula for stirring
Whisk or fork for mixing eggs
Large frying-pan
Saucepan for blanching the tomatoes
Colander or strainer for draining the beans
A large bowl

Facilities

A hob or other direct heat source and a grill for cooking; space to chop.

Advance preparation

None required.

Preparing the Vegetables

In a saucepan, bring to the boil enough water to cover the three tomatoes. Cut an X into the skin at the bottom of each tomato. When water has come to the boil, put tomatoes in and leave for about 2 minutes. Take out with tongs and peel, starting from the X. Chop when cool.

Peel and chop the onion and garlic.

Cut courgette(s) into thin slices.

Drain and rinse beans.

Cooking the meal

Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in the frying pan. Fry the onion, garlic and courgettes for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft (don’t have the heat so high that the onions start to blacken).

Break the eggs into the bowl and mix. Add the salt and pepper, fried vegetables, chopped tomatoes, chopped herbs, and beans.

Pre-heat the grill to moderate heat.

Heat the remaining oil in the frying pan. Add the egg mixture and fry gently until the underneath is brown – about 5 minutes.

Sprinkle the cheese, if using, on top and place the pan under the grill. Grill for 3–4 minutes (or a little more, if you prefer a firmer consistency).

Suggested accompaniment

The frittata would be very nicely complemented by some Seven Acres mixed salad leaves with or without a light dressing.