Denver Omelet Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Jane

In NYC it is called a western omelette on all the Greek diner menus I’ve seen but you have to ask for and pay extra to add cheese. They usually mix the ham, onion and pepper into the eggs but serve it as a folder over omelette even though nothing is stuff inside. Ate it all through my childhood in NYC. I tried it per above and was surprised to fine i prefer the diner method of mixing the filling mixed into the egg.

Dave

... a scramble made by pioneers masking spoiled eggs with onions."You can't mask spoiled eggs with anything. The odor is overwhelming and sickening. No one would eat a spoiled egg, even under starvation conditions. And there is no such thing as an egg that is just turning. An egg that turns turns all the way.

RAH

Pretty classic (and easy) recipe.Swapped previously reserved bacon grease for butter. YUMYou can decrease the salt load by soaking ham steak in tepid water (3 soaks of 10 minutes each was enough for me). Made sure to DRY the ham before sauteeing!!

John

I've always known it as a Western as well here in Canada, especially in Quebec. Wonder which name came first...

M

Had so many of these for late night brinner during my college years. Add some sour cream and salsa and endless cups of coffee.

Jim

I grew up eating this classic my father used to make for us using American cheese instead of jack. He called it his Denver Scramble. I love it when the Times returns to classics. Keep up the outstanding work!

Tara

Maybe it’s just me but I prefer my eggs to have the ingredients incorporated so they don’t fall off of my fork. When I’m served omelets like the one in the photo, I’m always having to work harder at keeping everything together. Why not scramble the ingredients and ten shape into an omelet?

Angela Gyetvan

Western in my family, too - but also more of a scramble than a true omelet. And why is it always the dads? Is there some kind of meeting where they pass along the secret? “Congrats, it’s a boy! Here’s your cigar & your Denver omelet recipe.”

Mark

I've always called this a Western Omelet. Once when I was in California I asked for one and the chef had no idea what a Western Omelet was.

Sean

Western Omelette at every diner in south jersey and philly

NellieH

Yup, a Western here in Toronto, too.

Sand

Actually, I remember this as a Western omelet and we had an Eastern omelet without the ham. So you would go into a diner and order an Eastern or a Western and they knew what you meant. It was so many years ago, probably ancient history by now.

Luann

Denver sandwiches were my Dad’s specialty and are still one of my favourite quick meals.

P

Ok - without cheese, it is a Western omelet. With cheese, it is a Denver omelet. I can't have cheese, so it's vital to me that restaurant personnel know the difference. And they still get it wrong about half the time.As for this recipe: no salt or pepper. Cook the veggies, add the ham, dump it all into a bowl w/ the beaten egg mixture, stir a few times, add more butter to the pan, dump the mix in the pan & cook on medium until done all the way thru. Serves 2 w/ leftovers for the next day.

Stuart Itter

This is a version of the Western Egg that was popular decades ago. The egg fixed in this recipe was then served on untested bread with butter on the inside of one slice and mustard-a popular mustard on the inside of the other. Quite delicious actually.

Suebee

On the Vaughn Meader Kennedy comedy album, the Khrushev character says, "I'll have the eastern half of your Western sandwich." My dad would quote the record when he made these for us as kids, all indredients panfried into a disc, cut into quarters and served on Kaiser rolls cut in the middle. No cheese.

Sharon V

Mixed toppings into the eggs, put on toast and called a Denver sandwich in western Canada. Saskatchewan and Calgary.

joe

western omelet growing up in Queens NY

Ultrabuttercup

Born and raised in Utah and never heard of a Denver City

Sand

Actually, I remember this as a Western omelet and we had an Eastern omelet without the ham. So you would go into a diner and order an Eastern or a Western and they knew what you meant. It was so many years ago, probably ancient history by now.

David

As a kid growing up in the early 60's on a farm in rural Northern NY, my mother made these all the time and called them Western Egg Sandwich. She always made them with white Wonder bread. On diner menus you could always get a Western Egg Sandwich. Sadly, the sandwich never shows up menus anymore, only the Western Omelette. I love to hear about regional classic recipes, old and new.

Eric

I've been modifying the velvety scrambled eggs cooked in cream (a little less than the recipe) by placing a lid on the pan and letting set for about 30 seconds. It can then be turned and quickly cooked on the other side. This is a velvety omelet- so much better than the hard cooked kind. I often thrown in mild cheddar and diced ham- as quickly as possible- before the lid. https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023773-velvety-scrambled-eggs?searchResultPosition=14

Kenneth M

My wife and I always argue on whether a Western omelette has cheese or not and perhaps this clarifies it? Is a Denver omelette just a Western with cheese?

P

Yes. Enjoy.

Tara

Maybe it’s just me but I prefer my eggs to have the ingredients incorporated so they don’t fall off of my fork. When I’m served omelets like the one in the photo, I’m always having to work harder at keeping everything together. Why not scramble the ingredients and ten shape into an omelet?

Umm, okay.

Dear God, no cheese!

Dr. Colleen Sullivan

In my Montana Irish family, it wasn't a Denver Omelette unless you added Durkee's Dressing. You could turn it into a Denver sandwich by putting the omelette on sour dough toast covered in Durkee's Dressing.

RHB

Classic, always a Denver here in the Midwest. Swapped cubed chorizo for the ham and used about half the filling for a two person (6 egg) omelette.

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Denver Omelet Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in a Denver omelet? ›

The Denver omelet — a diner classic of eggs, bell peppers, onions, ham and often cheese — actually began as a sandwich made with those ingredients in the American West in the late 19th century.

How to make omelette in 5 steps? ›

directions
  1. Crack eggs in a bowl, add the milk, and whisk until yolks break.
  2. Add milk, peppers, and onions and whisk again.
  3. Put bowl in microwave and cook for 1 minute, checking occasionally.
  4. Take out bowl, put omelet on a plate, sprinkle cheese and cook for 30 seconds to melt cheese.
  5. Take out and enjoy!

What is the secret to making an omelette? ›

Whisking air into the eggs is one secret to a fluffy omelet. Also, if you cook the omelet in a pan that's too large for the number of eggs used, it will naturally be flatter. On the other hand, you don't want to overload a small pan. This only increases the time needed to cook the eggs and can lead to a rubbery omelet.

What is another name for a Denver omelet? ›

At some point a breadless version was developed, and it became known as the Denver (or western) omelet.

What can I put inside my omelette? ›

Some classic omelet fillings include shredded cheddar or Gruyere cheese, sour cream, diced ham, crisp bacon, sautéed mushrooms, bell peppers or tomatoes, caramelized onions, fresh herbs or even leftovers from last night's dinner.

What is the difference between an omelet and a Denver omelet? ›

Basically, a Denver is a Western, with one difference: the Western is cooked on both sides, as in an omelet, while the Denver, with the exact same ingredients as a Western, is when the eggs are scrambled on the hot grill.

How do restaurants get their omelettes so fluffy? ›

The secret is pancake batter. That's right, if you go to IHOP for an omelette, it's not carb free or sugar free; it has pancake batter, which rises a little when it's cooked. You can ask for it without, but it won't be quite as fluffy. Baking soda!

How many eggs should I use for an omelette? ›

Beat the eggs: Use two or three eggs per omelette, depending on how hungry you are. Beat the eggs lightly with a fork. Melt the butter: Use an 8-inch nonstick skillet for a 2-egg omelette, a 9-inch skillet for 3 eggs.

Do you add water or milk to eggs for an omelette? ›

Crack the eggs into a small bowl and whisk. Add some salt and pepper, if you like, but do not add any water, milk, or any other liquids. Heat the oil or butter in a 9-inch non-stick frying pan and pour in the eggs. In the first 30-seconds of cooking, use a spatula to create 6-10 small cuts through the omelette.

What is the hardest omelette to make? ›

Japan) is one of the hardest egg dishes to make, but. it isn't impossible!

What makes an omelette taste better? ›

What Makes a Good Omelet?
  1. Cooking Fat: Butter Is Nonnegotiable. ...
  2. Quality Eggs: The Fresher, the Better. ...
  3. The Right Add-Ins for Flavor: Cheese, Meat, Veggies, Seasonings. ...
  4. The Right Cooking Temperature: Low and Slow. ...
  5. The Right Consistency: Use a Whisk to Whip the Eggs. ...
  6. Love a Good Omelet?

Do you cook onions before putting in omelette? ›

Eggs cook very quickly, so if you add raw onions to the egg mixture, your onions will be crunchy when the omelette is done. If you like your onions soft, cook them first with a pat of butter or olive oil, over low heat. Cook the onions until soft and translucent, or until brown and caramelized, however you like them.

What is a chin omelette? ›

chin omelette (plural chin omelettes) (slang, vulgar) The result of a man ejacul*ting on another person's chin.

What ingredients are in a Colorado omelette at IHOP? ›

Colorado Omelette

Bacon, shredded beef, pork sausage, and ham, paired with green peppers, onions, and melty cheddar cheese. Served with salsa and a side of pancakes.

What is a Denver sandwich made of? ›

A Denver sandwich, also known as a Western sandwich, consists of a Denver omelet (consisting of at least ham, onion, green pepper, and scrambled eggs), sandwiched between two pieces of bread.

What is the difference between Denver and California omelette? ›

For the Denver omelette, you can spice things up by adding jalapenos, chorizo, or a variety of cheeses. The California omelette, on the other hand, lends itself well to experimentation, with possibilities like spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, or even cooked shrimp.

What are the four types of omelets? ›

Plain or French Omelet - made with just eggs, salt, and pepper, and is usually folded over itself. Cheese Omelet - made with grated cheese as a filling. Western or Denver Omelet - made with diced ham, onions, peppers, and cheese. Spanish Omelet - made with potatoes, onions, and bell peppers.

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