Omelets, sometimes spelled omelettes, are popular egg dishes made of fried beaten eggs, usually with a medley of other ingredients mixed into the egg batter or used as a filling. Because omelets are such a versatile dish, they can be served at both breakfast and dinner, and there is a wide variety of omelet recipes for interested cooks to try.

The French omelet, also known as a Western omelet, is considered the “classic” omelet by many people. This omelet is cooked quickly, making it solid and lightly browned on the outside, and just a little bit runny on the inside. Popular fillings and add-ins for the French omelet include cheese, mushrooms, ham, and tomatoes. Although this type of omelet might seem plain, it is still fairly challenging to cook.

First, lightly beat your eggs, adding salt and pepper to taste. Heat an omelet pan, coating the bottom of the pan with a healthy oil or organic butter. Then pour the eggs into the hot pan, tilting or shaking the pan so the egg mixture spreads evenly. Next, use a spatula to lift the cooked edges of the omelet toward the center of the pan, and then shake the pan until the runny egg mixture fills up the gap again. Quickly repeat this step until there’s no longer enough egg mixture liquid to fill the gap. Finally, gently loosen the edges of your omelet, fold the omelet in half, and quickly slide it onto a plate.

Once you have the French omelet perfected, you can convert the recipe into numerous types of omelets. Spanish omelets, for example, are another popular choice, full of white potatoes, chopped onions, and red and green peppers. This omelet is often topped with stewed tomatoes. Spanish omelets are also known as tortilla de patatas, or “potato tortillas,” and can be eaten either hot or cold. This dish is commonly served at bars in Spain as a tapa.

Denver omelets are full of ham, green bell peppers, onions, and cheddar cheese. Some people like to top the Denver omelet with a hot sauce for a little extra zest. Greek omelets have a nutritious filling of baby spinach, red bell pepper, and black olives, and are topped with feta cheese. A Polish omelet has onion, potatoes, and zucchini added into the egg mixture before cooking.

Southwest Omelets are a family favorite, filled with tomato, green bell peppers or green chilis, diced onion, and ham. These omelets are great topped with various cheeses, organic salsa, and just a dollop of sour cream. Really brave souls can add jalapeño or habanero peppers.

Nutritious and fairly inexpensive, omelets are growing in popularity as both a breakfast dish and a dinner entrée. Omelets can be filled with an endless variety of ingredients. Just check and see what’s in your fridge and make an omelet with it tonight!