Easy-Kine Cooking: Custardy frittata a flexible dish

Imagine a quiche, without the crust. A rich egg custard with vegetables and cheese that can be served hot or cold. This is called a frittata and can be served as a main or side dish.

Start with Swiss chard, an often-overlooked ingredient. It has a slightly sweet taste and a toothy texture that keeps you from missing the flavor of meat.

Combined with mushrooms, eggs and cheese, this frittata, or baked omelet, makes an easy meal.

Look for chard with fresh white stems or a colorful rainbow variety. Especially good is chard grown by Ma’o Organic Farms, sold at farmers markets or at Foodland Farms.

On the stove, saute chard in a skillet with chunky wedges of mushrooms. Then add beaten eggs, grated cheese of any kind and bake until solid. Substitute the vegetables of your choice: asparagus, potatoes, green beans, garbanzo beans, roasted peppers, unmarinated artichoke hearts or hearts of palm.

Then enjoy the frittata hot, at room temperature or cold.

SWISS CHARD MUSHROOM FRITTATA

By Lynette Lo Tom

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or bacon fat
• 1 large bunch Swiss chard, cut in 1-inch pieces (about 7 cups)
• 8 ounces white or cremini mushrooms, cut in quarters (or purchase presliced)
• 1 teaspoon salt or garlic salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, dried thyme or oregano (optional)
• 6 large eggs beaten
• 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese or your favorite type

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In an oven-proof skillet such as cast iron, heat oil over medium and saute chard for 5 minutes; add mushrooms and cook another 3 to 4 minutes. Drain liquid. Remove three mushrooms to use as garnish.

Use same skillet or transfer to an oven-proof casserole. Add salt, pepper and Italian seasoning, if using. Add eggs and cheese and mix gently. Top with three pieces of mushroom. Place pan or dish in oven, uncovered, and bake until eggs are set, about 15 minutes. Test for doneness and bake longer if needed.

Cool 10 minutes and serve hot, at room temperature or cold. Serves 4 as a main dish.

Approximate nutritional information, per serving: 220 calories, 16 g fat, 5 g saturated fat, 300 mg cholesterol, 900 mg sodium, 6 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 2 g sugar, 16 g protein.

”Easy Kine” features simple dishes that start with commercially prepared ingredients. Lynette Lo Tom is excited to hear your tried-and-true suggestions. Contact her at 275-3004, email lynette@brightlightcookery.com or via Instagram at @brightlightcookery. Nutritional analysis by Joannie Dobbs, Ph.D., C.N.S.