Omelette bhurji

By Connie Clarkson

Inspired by the northern Indian Eggs Bhurji, the fragrant curry and coriander spices, cool sweet tomatoes washed down with dark aromatic coffee sends us right back to a hot steamy Asian morning and balmy holidays.

Usually scrambled, we have made this an omelette, and when in search for omelette lessons, we sought the help of NZ's best chef, Tony Astle.

Tony's tips for the perfect 3 egg omelette:

1. Always have your eggs at room temperature.
2. Always use oil, not butter - higher burn temperature because you need a very hot pan.
3. Have a special omelette pan, just the size of your omelette - 14 cm is good. 
4. Non stick is best, but never use a non-stick that is peeling away. 
5. Milk and cold water doesn't work, hot water and cream does. 
6. Always eat your omelette immediately
7. It's all in the wrist work …. Watch and learn!

This recipe makes two omelettes.

Ingredients:

For the filling:

• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 tsp vegetable oil
• 1 large tomato, finely chopped
• 4 tblsp chopped fresh coriander
• 1 tsp your favourite curry powder

For the omelette:

• 6 eggs at room temperature
• 6 tblsp cream or hot water
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tblsp oil

Method:

For filling:

Heat oil in a small skillet and sauté onions till transparent. Add curry powder, mix well and set aside together with the rest of the filling ingredients till required.

For one omelette:

Lightly 3 beat eggs, 3 tablespoons cream or water and seasoning till just combined.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a small skillet till smoking hot.

Pour egg mixture quickly into the hot pan.

Draw cooked egg to the top of the pan, tipping uncooked egg onto the now uncovered hot surface, repeating this process till almost all the liquid egg is used up. Remove from heat.

Put half onion mixture, half chopped tomato and one tablespoon fresh coriander along the top third of the cooked egg.

Return to the heat and gently fold bottom one third of the omelette over the filling.

Finally tip the pan over rolling the omelette out onto an empty plate. (a bit like pulling over a leaver from right to left - watch the video clip if you are unsure of the action)

Sprinkle with fresh coriander and serve immediately. Repeat for the second omelette.

• Grated cheese
• Ham
• Mushrooms
• Oysters - stunning!!!
• Pesto

You are limited only by your imagination!

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