Roasted Red Pepper, Artichoke, Olive and Parmesan Frittata: Hello, Gorgeous

I’m way excited about today’s frittata recipe for two reasons:

1. We made it twice this weekend. Saturday’s version was the experiment, and calling it unidentifiable would be an act of charity. But after a few spot-on adjustments (if I do say so mahself), Sunday’s frittata looked and tasted like briny, eggy victory.
2. My food pictures are halfway decent, meaning they don’t look like they were taken by a blind man at the bottom of a well.

The beauty of homemade frittatas (besides their actual beauty – seriously, scroll down and look at that thing) are their speed and price, especially compared to restaurant versions. Those babies will run you $7 to $12, not to mention the cost and time of transportation. What’s more, besides “Sheboygan,” “photosynthesis,” and “googly,” “frittata” is one of the most fun English-language words to say over and over again out loud (until someone hits you in the head with a hammer).

This particular frittata is a reduced-fat mutant hybrid of a Health.com dish, Alton Brown’s basic recipe, and my personal taste. It’s substantial without being heavy, and the combo of peppers, artichokes, and olives brings a quasi-Mediterranean flavor that The Boyfriend and I really dug. If you’re adamantly opposed to any of the vegetables, various others can be substituted in super-easily. In fact, Cooking Light has about 35 different frittatas that beg for a few games of mix-and-match.

One possible caveat: there will be plenty of leftover ingredients after the frittata is finished. I don't see this as a drawback, though. Pourquoi? Well, paired with a head of lettuce, they’ll make six killer salads. Slapped between six pieces of toast, they’re three salivation-worthy sandwiches. Grouped with six more eggs, they're another frittata. Or, maybe? If you’re feeling saucy, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with eating the unused red peppers and olives with your bare hands, taking care to slurp your fingers to the bone afterward.

Before you commence lickery, however, take a gander at these pictures. They're the closest I might ever come to Pioneer Woman and Smitten Kitchen, and they're giving me a weird welling-up sensation. I think it might be pride. (Insert "No, it's definitely gas" joke here.)

Roasted Red Pepper, Artichoke, Olive and Parmesan Frittata
Serves 4
Adapted from Health.com and Alton Brown.

4 large eggs
2 large egg whites
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
salt and pepper
½ Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 cup minced onion
1 roasted red pepper, chopped
2 canned artichoke hearts, chopped into eight pieces each
1 T chopped fresh parsley
8 kalamata olives, sliced

1) Preheat your broiler.

2) Whisk eggs, parmesan, and salt and pepper to taste together in a small bowl.

3) Heat oil over medium-high heat in a medium-sized oven-proof pan. Add onion and cook about 3 minutes, until translucent. While this is happening, pat down the red peppers, artichoke hearts and olives with a paper towel to remove some of the moisture.

4) Turn heat down to medium and add eggs. Without stirring, let eggs set for about 3 minutes.

5) When sides of frittata start to set (they’ll begin pulling away from the pan), sprinkle roasted red pepper, artichoke hearts, parsley, and olives evenly on top. Cook for about 2 or 3 minutes more, until the top just starts to set.

6) Transfer pan to broiler and cook until top becomes light golden brown. This should take about 3 minutes, but check after 2 since broilers are different the world over.

7) Using a potholder, remove pan from broiler and set on top of stove. Loosen frittata with spatula immediately (otherwise it will continue to cook), being careful not to tear the eggs. Plate and eat.

Approximate Calories, Fat and Price per Serving
159.5 calories, 10.1 g fat, $0.81

Calculations
4 large eggs: 294 calories, 19.9 g fat, $0.60
2 large egg whites: 34 calories, 0.1 g fat, $0.30
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese: 86 calories, 5.7 g fat, $0.52
salt and pepper: negligible calories and fat, $0.02
½ Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil: 60 calories, 7 g fat, $0.04
1 cup minced onion: 48 calories, 0.1 g fat, $0.15
1 roasted red pepper, chopped: 31 calories, 0.4. g fat, $0.49
2 canned artichoke hearts, chopped into eight pieces each: 13 calories, 0 g fat, $0.60
1 T chopped fresh parsley: negligible calories and fat, $0.25
8 kalamata olives, sliced: 72 calories, 7.2 g fat, $0.25
TOTAL: 638 calories, 40.4 g fat, $3.22
PER SERVING (TOTAL/4): 159.5 calories, 10.1 g fat, $0.81