I conducted a bit of a Friday-night-in-the-kitchen-with-a-bottle-of-wine kind of interview with my husband before I wrote this post, and I’ll say, it never ceases to amaze me (in a good way) how much I still don’t know about that man. I’ve known Paul for a little over eight years now, and he’s been eating the same things on the same nights of the week for at least that many years. According to the man-of- routine himself, he’s been eating the same thing for lunch for around 13 years. The Monday and Wednesday night dinner of (massive) salads with cottage cheese goes back at least that long, and the Thursday night omelet? We’re talking nearly 20 years.
I have a complicated relationship with eggs, but right now I’m on them and in a big way. Largely because I like eggs, I think they’re the best locally available source of protein I can find, and in part also due to a book I’m reading right now.
I’m less of a creature of routine, though, no matter how much I like the routine and appreciate the simplicity it brings to my life. Coupled with my complicated relationship with eggs, when Thursday night rolls around I don’t always want something as in-your-face eggy as an omelet. But what I do want, because I come home tired and cold on Thursday nights, is something fast, warm, nutritious, and light (I don’t like for my dinners to be too carb-y during the week). This Thursday Night Fry* is all that.
It’s so simple, really, I barely bothered to post here, but then I thought perhaps this is the kind of thing many of you are after. Something that comes together so quickly you barely even think about it, something so good that you end up coming back to it week after week.
This meal all comes together in one skillet. Sesame seeds, deeply toasted in a dry pan until fragrant and nutty. A plain egg omelet, cooked in sesame oil, sliced into thin strips, and added back in at the end. Broccoli, cooked just barely enough to take the crispness away, tossed with hot red pepper flakes and a squeeze of lemon juice. Done.
One year ago: Curried Potato Chickpea Patties
Thursday Night Fry Recipe:
You can dress up this one-pan meal in a million different ways. This is my usual rendition.
Serves (in my house) one as a main, or two as a side dish.
.
1 Tbsp sesame seeds
one head of broccoli broken down into florets and chunks (about 2 cups)
2 eggs, lightly whisked
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp hot red pepper flakes
juice of 1/2 lemon (about 2 Tbsp)
salt and pepper to taste
.
Heat a medium skillet over medium high heat. Add sesame seeds to the hot dry pan, and toast for a few minutes until they are starting to turn brown and fragrant. Remove from the pan and set aside. Heat the oils in the pan for a a minute, then add the eggs. Wait a minute while the bottom of the omelet browns ever so slightly, swirl the pan, then using a spatula fold the omelet in half, wait a moment, then slide it out of the pan onto a cutting board. Now add the broccoli florets and chunks to the oil that remains in the pan, and sprinkle in the red pepper flakes. Sautee, stirring every minute or so until the raw edge is just barely gone. Slice the omelet into very thin strips and add back into the pan. Toss everything together, dress with salt and pepper and lemon juice. Slide into a serving dish and sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over top. Serve while still very warm.
*I can’t think of a better name for this dish. Can you?!
All text and photos © The Muffin Myth 2011
Haley @ Health Freak College Girl said:
yummm! this sounds so good. i love sesame oil 🙂
themuffinmyth said:
I love sesame oil too, and a little goes a long way flavour wise. I hope you try it out.
heather said:
Now I know EXACTLY what to have for supper tonight. But my man isn’t here ,so I’ll have to heat the oil in a pan instead. Will that be OK?
themuffinmyth said:
Very funny. Typo found and corrected. Spinach and peppers sounds good too. This is essentially a fried rice without the rice, there are so many possibilities for various combinations of ingredients.
heather said:
Mmmm. Just ate it. Threw in some spinach and peppers. The sesame oil and seeds really make it.
Cammy said:
Looks gorgeous. I call this kind of food “tastes good, feels good” food as it is delish and makes me feel great to eat.
themuffinmyth said:
But what would you name the dish?
Leanne said:
Our husbands are SO similar in this way!! Jeff ate the same dinners for years on end before we met and I started cooking for him. I love the idea of a Thursday night fry and have never thought to slice an omelet and add it back in … we will definitely be doing this soon! (Maybe tonight : )
pamela said:
made this last night, to accompany the 7 pumpkin snickerdoodles i had just scarfed down. Used black sesame seeds. Very tasty! (And for the doodles, half of them I rolled in score bits…YUM!)
themuffinmyth said:
Woah, you just took those pumpkin snickerdoodles to a whole nother level!
Allison said:
Wow, love the simplicity of this one. Perfect for when I get home late and need something quick and delicious.
alison said:
loved this dish. easy, tasty, nutritious! thanks Muffin Myth!
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