Summer Squash and 3-Cheese Frittata with Harissa Aioli

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Level: Intermediate
Total: 1 hr 45 min
Prep: 25 min
Inactive: 30 min
Cook: 50 min
Yield: One 11-inch-diameter frittata

Ingredients

  1. 3 cups diced Spanish onions (1 large onion)
  2. 2 cups diced fresh fennel bulb (roughly 1 head)
  3. 2 cups sliced leeks (2 leeks)
  4. 2 cloves garlic, minced
  5. 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, finely chopped
  6. 1 1/4 cups extra-virgin olive oil
  7. Salt
  8. 4 medium zucchini, quartered lengthwise and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices (4 cups)
  9. 14 eggs
  10. 1 teaspoon Ethiopian berbere spice mix, such as Sheba
  11. 1/2 teaspoon Aleppo sun-dried chili
  12. Freshly ground black pepper
  13. 2 cups diced feta
  14. 1 1/2 cups grated Grafton Cheddar
  15. 1 cup grated Parmesan
  16. 1/4 cup finely cut fresh chives
  17. 1/4 cup chiffonaded fresh cilantro
  18. 1/4 cup chiffonaded fresh parsley
  19. 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chervil
  20. Harissa Aioli, recipe follows
  21. 1 cup piquillo peppers, well drained, dried, seeds and stems removed
  22. Zest and juice of 1 lime
  23. 2 cloves garlic, pureed
  24. 1 tablespoon finely ground caraway seeds
  25. 1 tablespoon finely ground roasted coriander seeds
  26. 1 tablespoon finely ground roasted cumin seeds
  27. 1 teaspoon Sriracha
  28. 1/2 teaspoon salt
  29. 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
  30. 3/4 cup mayonnaise

Instructions

  1. Cook the onions, fennel, leeks, garlic, thyme, 1/2 cup of the oil and 2 teaspoons salt in a saute pan over medium heat, stirring all the time, until the vegetables begin to soften. Lower the heat to the lowest setting, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft and translucent, about 20 minutes. Turn the heat up to high, and cook, stirring all the time, until the vegetables turn light golden brown. Remove them from the pan, and let sit at room temperature. 
  2. Heat a saute pan over high heat. When quite hot, add 1/4 cup of the remaining oil, then the zucchini; saute it for a minute to get even heat distribution. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and continue to saute until the zucchini is lightly golden brown and cooked through. Remove the zucchini from the pan, and let sit at room temperature. 
  3. Whisk the eggs, Sheba spice, Aleppo chili and 1/8 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl until frothy. Add the feta, Cheddar, Parmesan, chives, cilantro, parsley, chervil, the onion mixture and the cooked zucchini, and briskly stir until everything is well incorporated. 
  4. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Heat an 11-inch saute pan over high heat, then add the remaining 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil. Add half the egg mixture to the pan and IMMEDIATELY give 1 or 2 quick saute flips to incorporate the mixture at the bottom of the pan (which is cooking) with the raw on top. Add the rest of the mix, IMMEDIATELY give 2 more quick flips, then flatten out the top of the mixture with a spatula. Continue cooking for about 3 minutes (this will help the frittata have a nice golden-brown top). Transfer the pan to the oven, and bake until golden brown on top and cooked through. If it doesn’t brown on top, place the pan under a salamander or broiler until golden brown. 
  5. Let the frittata cool for 2 minutes, then tap on the side of the pan with a wooden spoon to loosen the frittata. Place a cutting board on top of the pan, and quickly invert them both; the frittata should slide out onto the cutting board. Refrigerate the frittata on the cutting board until cold, then slice as desired. Serve with the harissa aioli.
  6. Process the peppers, lime zest and juice, garlic, caraway, coriander, cumin, Sriracha, salt and paprika in a Vita-Prep or blender to a fine puree. Add the mayonnaise, and process just to combine. Yield: 1 quart.

 

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