Masala omelette

Masala omelette is a popular Indian breakfast packed with flavor. It's quick and easy to make, with a simple combination of vegetables and a bit of spice. Enjoy it as it is or wrapped in a roti. 

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There is something about eggs that just seems to shout breakfast for many of us. We're big fans of many eggy brunch dishes, from eggs Royale to shakshuka and baked eggs. So, funny enough, I'm always happy to discover some new options. 

I always love seeing the different styles of breakfast when we travel, or (as now) when I'm exploring from home. This Indian omelette has been on my radar to try for a while and it's definitely a tasty option. Plus it's really easy to make. 

Where is masala omelette from?

Masala omelette is often said to come from South India, though you will find it across the country. It's a popular street breakfast or snack, but also something many will make at home. I loved this account of enjoying them at railways stations.

Exactly how the omelette got to India is a little unclear, but certainly there's a distinctive Indian twist in the ingredients.

How is it different to European omelettes?

Of course, omelettes, fritattas and tortillas vary from one country to another as well. But this Indian omelette has a few distinguishing features:

• It's heavily loaded with vegetables - you often taste them more than the egg.
• Ingredients vary, but pretty much all will include fresh chili and dried spices. Some also include coconut.
• You cook it slowly and thoroughly, rather than leaving it softer in the middle.
• The idea is not to make it light and fluffy - instead it's generally thin and more dense.

I have made this omelette a bit thicker than they can often be, in part due to the size of my pan. But whatever the thickness, you want to be able to fold it as you'll often double it over in bread or roll in a roti/paratha.

Steps to make this omelette

• Dice the onion, tomato, chili and cilantro - all should be pretty small.
• Lightly whisk the eggs with a little salt in a bowl.
• Add the onion, tomato, chili, cilantro and turmeric to the eggs and mix.
• Slightly warm the oil in a skillet and pour the eggs in. 
• Once the eggs are almost cooked through, flip it over and finish on other side.

I didn't pre-cook the onions here, as is pretty common in a lot of recipes that I drew from. Some suggest if you mince them, they'll cook through, and possibly I didn't get them small enough for that to be the case.

So either chop super small, or if you prefer a slightly softer, sweeter onion rather than with a bit of a crunch, you can guarantee that a bit more if you pre-cook them a little.

Either way, this is a really quick to make. It's great served just as it is, but as I mention, it's also popular served as more of a sandwich, whether that's the more traditional roti or paratha, or sliced bread toast.

A masala omelette is a delicious combination of eggs, veggies, and a little kick of spice. It's really quick and easy to make, and makes a wonderful change for brunch. So, grab your ingredients and give it a try.

Try these other egg dishes from around the world:

• Menemen (Turkish scrambled eggs)
• Asparagus frittata
• French omelette with herbs
• Spanish flamenco eggs (huevos a la flamenca)
• Plus get more breakfast and brunch recipes in the archives.

See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store. 

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