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    Home » Recipes » Italian Recipes

    Asparagus Frittata

    Updated: Feb 28, 2024 · Published: Apr 28, 2021 by Andrea

    Jump to Recipe

    Bursting with flavour, this classic Italian asparagus frittata is the perfect spring recipe for a quick delicious meal!

    Asparagus frittata is such a classic Italian recipe and one of the most loved, especially in springtime, when asparagus are in season. British asparagus season run from end of April until June, so it's the perfect time to make all things asparagus.

    I adore frittatas, they're packed with vegetables and highly nutritious. Best of all, it's such a simple meal that can be whipped up in minutes, and you can easily serve it for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

    So it's time to share my quick recipe for an authentic Italian frittata with asparagus.

    asparagus frittata cut into slices and served on a plate.

    You can easily serve it as an appetizer cut into small squares, or as a main course in larger portions. You can even make frittata muffins, and bake them in the oven for about 15 minutes.

    And the good news is, you can make it in advance and serve it the next day. Frittata is just as delicious served cold, making it a fantastic option for picnics and outdoor meals!

    Asparagus frittata ingredients

    Italian frittata is one of those recipes you can whip up with the most basic ingredients. For this version, all you need is 4 simple ingredients:

    • 6 free-range medium-large eggs
    • Green asparagus
    • Cheese
    • Extra-virgin olive oil
    recipe ingredients: asparagus, ricotta, eggs, parmesan cheese, extra-virgin olive oil.

    Here below a few helpful tips to help you pick the right ingredients.

    ASPARAGUS

    Look for asparagus with firm, tight heads. Asparagus can have a woody stem near the base, which is normally cut off.

    A simpler way to prepare the asparagus is to bend the stem near the bottom until it breaks. The asparagus will naturally break at the most appropriate place.

    CHEESE

    To make frittata the Italian way, add freshly-grated Parmigiano Reggiano and fresh ricotta (did you know it takes 30 min to make homemade ricotta?) into the mix.

    Grana Padano and Pecorino cheese are two other excellent options.

    A generous sprinkle of Pecorino goes a long way and gives it a nice kick of flavour, so don’t go overboard with it.

    If you need to substitute ricotta, you can use goat cheese or feta cheese too.

    There are lots of different options if you want to make a strictly vegetarian frittata (Parmesan is not vegetarian-friendly).

    Grated Gruyere, mature cheddar or Swiss cheese are some great alternatives and will work just as great!

    AROMATICS

    Onion: optional, but it gives a nice sweet background flavour. You can use yellow onion, shallots, leek, or white onion.

    Fresh herbs: feel free to add a sprinkle of fresh thyme leaves, basil or chives, for a refreshing note.

    Butter: I prefer to use extra-virgin olive oil only, but you can substitute half of the amount with butter for an extra layer of flavour.

    EXTRA 

    Feel free to experiment, and add a few extra vegetables if you like – leek, mushrooms, potato, peas and courgettes all go very well with asparagus.

    You may also throw in some crispy prosciutto or bacon bits if you feel like it.

    The best frittata-making technique

    There are three cooking techniques to make a frittata: cooking it on the stove then flip it halfway through cooking time, cooking it on the stove then broil it under the oven grill, and baking it in the oven.

    If you want to make it the traditional Italian way, head over to my popular potato frittata recipe, where I explain in detail the cook and flip technique.

    However, the easiest method is to start the cooking process on the stove, then move the frittata in the oven to finish it off under the grill. 

    Since we're going to broil the frittata right at the end, you'll need a cast-iron skillet or an oven-friendly skillet.

    I use a 23-cm cast iron skillet and I truly love it. It's the perfect size for 4 people and is the perfect skillet for the part stove cooking, part oven grilling cooking technique.

    How to make asparagus frittata

    Let me show you how straightforward is to make this favourite Italian omelette recipe.

    Collage of 4 images: 1 image shows blanched asparagus in a pot of water. 2 image shows asparagus and onion sauteed in a skillet. 3 image shows eggs beaten with cheese. 4 images shows egg mixture covering the aspragus in the skillet.

    Step 1

    Blanch the chopped asparagus in a pot of boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain and pat them dry.

    Step 2

    Heat an oven-friendly skillet over medium-low heat, add the onion (if using) and asparagus and saute for 5 minutes, until softened.

    Step 3

    In the meantime, beat the eggs and cheese in a large bowl, then season with a pinch of sea salt and freshly-cracked black pepper.

    Step 4

    Distribute the asparagus so that they cover the bottom of the skillet evenly. Pour the eggs mixture over the vegetables, cover with a lid and cook over low-medium heat for 5 minutes.

    Step 5

    baked asparagus frittata in a cast iron skillet.

    Remove the lid, transfer the skillet in the oven under the grill for 5 mins or until golden and cooked through. Cut into wedges and serve.

    Once your frittata is ready, you can eat it straight away or store it in an airtight container.

    It will keep well in the fridge for up to 2 days. It's delicious both served hot or cold!

    asparagus frittata cut into slices and served on a plate.

    What to serve with frittata?

    There are tons of ways to serve frittata, from a simple green salad to roasted veggies, and even as a sandwich filling with a little arugula and sliced tomato.

    Here are a few of my favourite sides that go  super well with it:

    • Italian Caprese Pasta Salad (Only 5 Ingredients!)
    • Tuscan Panzanella Salad
    • Bean and Quinoa Salad
    • Sicilian Caponata - Aubergine Stew
    • Easy Ratatouille Recipe

    Did You Try This Recipe?

    Please let me know how you liked it! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #thepetitecook!

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    Recipe

    asparagus frittata on a plate.
    Print SaveSaved!
    5 from 6 votes

    Asparagus Frittata

    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Bursting with flavour, this classic Italian asparagus frittata is the perfect spring recipe for a quick delicious meal!
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time20 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Serving: 4
    Calories: 203kcal
    Author: Andrea Soranidis

    Ingredients

    • 300 g green asparagus, chopped into 1-inch chunks
    • 2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
    • ½ yellow onion, minced (optional)
    • 6 large free-range eggs
    • 1 tablespoon ricotta cheese
    • 4 tablespoon Parmesan cheese, grated (optional)
    • sea salt and freshly-cracked black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon chives, chopped (optional)

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 180ºC/360°F/gas 4.
    • Blanch the chopped asparagus in a pot of boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain and pat them dry.
      blanched asparagus in a pot of water.
    • Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in an oven-friendly skillet over medium-low heat, add the onion (if using) and asparagus and saute for 5 minutes, until slightly softened.
      asparagus and onion sauteed in a skillet.
    • In the meantime, beat the eggs with the Parmesan and ricotta cheese in a large bowl, then season with a generous pinch of sea salt and freshly-cracked black pepper.
      eggs beaten with cheese in a large bowl.
    • Distribute the asparagus so that they cover the bottom of the skillet evenly. Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables, cover with a lid and cook over low-medium heat for 5 minutes. When the frittata is easily pulled off from the bottom but the surface is still jiggly, it is ready to go in the oven.
      egg mixture covering the aspragus in the skillet.
    • Remove the lid, and sprinkle 1 extra tabslepoon of Parmesan on top and chives if you like. Transfer the skillet in the oven under the grill for 5 minutes or until golden and cooked through. Cut into wedges and serve.
      baked asparagus frittata in a cast iron skillet.

    Video

    Notes

    COOKING TIP
    • You must use a 9-inch or a 10-inch oven-safe skillet to make this frittata. If you do not have an oven-safe skillet, saute the asparagus, then transfer the veggies to a 9 or 10-inch cake pan or baking dish, pour the egg mixture over the vegetables and bake. You may need to add 5-10 minutes to bake time. 
    STORAGE TIP
    • Frittatas can be served warm, cold, or at room temperature. They are safe to leave for max 2 hours at room temperature.
    • Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. 
    Did you try this recipe? Tag @thepetitecook or use the hashtag #thepetitecook - Looking at your pictures makes my day!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 203kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 251mg | Sodium: 179mg | Potassium: 272mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 990IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 125mg | Iron: 3mg

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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    Comments

    1. Joseph says

      February 28, 2024 at 2:34 pm

      5 stars
      It is a great recipe. Mom always mad this for Easter morning. only diff was. Asparagus was left whole and placed on to like spokes of a wheel .and a round slice of tomato for the hub of the wheel. Broiler a must for me with all Frittatas .YEAHHHHHHHHHH

      Reply
    5 from 6 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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