Chef John’s French Omelette

Description

A true French omelette, or omelet as we Americans call it, is just eggs and butter, no filling. The egg is folded for a soft, tender texture. It’s 10% ingredients and 90% technique, so it does take a bit of practice to perfect.

Ingredients

  • 3 fresh eggs
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon cold water
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 1 pinch cayenne or white pepper to taste (Optional)

Instructions

  1. Whisk eggs
  2. water
  3. and salt together in a mixing bowl. Whisk until mixture is very liquid and whites are completely blended in
  4. 1 or 2 minutes.
  5. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons butter in a 9- or 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. As soon as butter melts and before it starts to sizzle
  6. pour in whisked eggs. Stir in a circular pattern with a heat-proof spatula
  7. lifting and scrambling eggs
  8. shaking the pan to keep leveling out the mixture
  9. and scraping down the sides. Continue stirring until shaking the pan no longer levels the eggs.
  10. Reduce heat to low. Using the spatula
  11. smooth the surface to move runny eggs to less runny spots
  12. working toward an even thickness. As soon as the surface is wet but not runny
  13. remove from heat.
  14. Starting at the handle side of the pan
  15. use the spatula to begin rolling omelette into a cylinder shape
  16. about 3 rolls until omelette is about 2 inches from opposite side of the pan. Use the spatula to fold the last flap of egg over the top of the cylinder leaving the seam-side up. Add remaining 1/2 tablespoon butter to the pan. Gently push the butter as it melts under the omelette.
  17. Slide omelette to edge of the pan. Flip onto a plate with the seam-side down. Even out the shape
  18. if necessary. You can tuck in the ends
  19. if you like. Brush surface with a bit more butter. Dust with cayenne pepper.

Prep Time: 2 mins

Cook Time: 5 mins

Total Time: 10 mins

Servings: 1

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