Fluffy Classic French Omelette
This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy
I love eggs. I eat them almost every day. My favourite omelette recipe is my Classic Omelette. It’s a two-egg omelette with green chilies and onions. It’s very simple but so satisfying, and I love to have it in a bagel sandwich or on some toast! I also love to make a Creamy Breakfast Mushroom Omelette when I want a little more body to my morning eggs. On the light side, I love to make my Egg White Omelette.
What’s common between these three omelette recipes? They’re “American-style” omelettes! When you think of an omelette, do you think American or French? Let me tell you that there certainly is a difference! Both omelettes require patience and technique to achieve, which is why my Classic Omelette recipe also gives you a complete guide on how to cook the perfect omelette, and my Egg White Omelette recipe highlights key differences to consider when you cook egg whites versus whole eggs.
Let’s quickly discuss the differences between French omelettes and American omelettes.
French Omelette vs American Omelet. What’s the difference?
I like to describe French omelettes as “scrambled eggs inside an omelette.” You have a soft and silky exterior, and scrambled eggs are all bundled up inside. Additionally, a French omelette is folded up in a cylindrical shape. On the other hand, an American omelet is probably what you’re already making. You fold your omelet in half, and that’s one of the tricky parts of cooking an American omelet. Again, if you want details on how to master that technique, then be sure to check out either my Classic Omelette recipe or my Egg White Omelette recipe, depending on your dietary needs or what you’re in the mood for!
Your Burning French Omelette Questions Answered!
How Many Eggs?
No hard and fast rule here, I just found that 3 eggs were the perfect amount on my 10-inch skillet to make a nice and fluffy omelette. You need to have enough eggs that it does all cook the moment they go on the pan. And if it’s too many eggs and the skillet is not wide enough, it may make it hard to roll the omelette.
You should be able to get away with 2 eggs on a 10 inch skillet as well, just follow the other tips while cooking the french omelette.
What Pan Do I Use? What Size?
I would strongly recommend a non-stick pan to make your French omelette. This will be the key to ensuring your omelette doesn’t stick! My personal recommendation is the 10-inch ZWILLING - Madura Plus non-stick pan. (view on amazon)
I had my eye on this pan for the longest time and I was so glad to have received this pan as gift on my birthday. The investment is so worthwhile and I love the way it looks. More importantly, the pan is made out of a sturdy forged aluminium and is PFOA free. Zwilling claims that it is made out of 4-ply non-stick coating and is ultra durable.
I originally attempted to use a 12-inch non stick skillet, however, due to the large surface area, the eggs weren’t as creamy in the center since they cooked by the time I finished rolling, even with the heat off.
How Long do I COok the Omelette for?
There is no specific time I can tell you to cook the omelette for, the key here is to look for the right signs.
Think of this omelette as if you are making scrambled eggs, that you give up on and turn into an omelette. Yes, the other way! I know I have converted an omelette to scrambled eggs which I broke the omelette. Seriously though, you want to stir using a fork or spatula and stir until the eggs resemble wet scrambled eggs. Keep cleaning the sides of the pan as well.
As soon as you get to this stage, make sure you evenly spread out the eggs and then start rolling.
If you’re in a professional kitchen, you could see french omelettes flying out in a minute or so, if you’re just starting out, this could be 5-7 minutes. Just keep your eyes peeled.
How Do I Prevent the Omelette from Breaking?
Use a non stick pan and cook on moderate heat. If the butter is sizzling on the pan, the pan is too hot!
Keep stirring the eggs to create the egg curds/scramble the eggs until there’s always more egg to take its place as you stir. If the eggs keep moving, they will not turn brown which in turn will make then easier to break.
To fold the eggs use a silicone spatula. Before you start folding, turn off the heat and then gradually roll, using your hands for support if needed.
To transfer the eggs to your plate and seal the fold of the omelette, you can use butter as sliding grease!
What to Serve with French Omelette?
I’ll be serving my French omelette with some buttered toast and some cherry tomatoes. I’ll show you in the instructions how to make these simple cherry tomatoes, to be sure to keep on reading! Additionally, I love topping my French omelette with some fresh chives.
Ingredients for Fluffy French Omelette
This is going to be a very short ingredient list! Of course you can fill your French omelette with whatever you’d like, as you do with an American omelette. This recipe will focus on the technique to master your French omelette, so once you feel comfortable with cooking the basic recipe, feel free to explore your favourite fillings! Let me know in the comments what you like in your French omelettes!
Here’s what you’ll need for a perfect fluffy French omelette:
Eggs
Milk
Butter
Salt (to taste)
Cherry tomatoes (to serve)
Bread (to serve)
Chives (for garnish)
How to Make a Classic French Omelette
Crack 3 eggs in a bowl, add a splash of milk, season with salt and whisk for 1-2 minutes. Whisk until you don't see any whites in the eggs.
Heat a 10-inch non-stick pan on medium heat and add 1 - 1 1/2 Tbsp butter.
Once butter has melted, pour in the eggs and immediately switch to a spatula. Start stirring the eggs, lifting them from the bottom of the pan to scramble the eggs and shaking the pan to even out the eggs. Clean the sides of the pan occasionally as well.
Repeat this action until the eggs resemble wet scrambled eggs and then use your spatula to even out the surface of the eggs. Turn off the heat and remove from heat if possible.
Use the spatula to begin rolling the eggs. In about 3 rolls, you should be near the far edge of the omelette. Fold the far side of the omelette and add remaining butter and push until the omelette to melt.
Slide the omelette to the edge of the pan and flip onto your serving plate. Brush with more butter to create a sheen and serve with blistered tomatoes, toast and fresh chopped chives as desired.
Making the Cherry Tomatoes
In a cast iron/non-stick pan on medium heat, add olive oil.
Then add the tomatoes in the oil and stir well.
Turn the heat to medium high and stir every 1-2 minutes until the tomato skin starts to wrinkle and tomatoes become soft, about 6-8 minutes.
Remove from the pan and season with salt, pepper and chopped basil if desired.
WATCH HOW TO Cook the Perfect Fluffy French OMelette HERE:
Let me know what you think of this recipe in the comments! If you’ve tried this recipe, be sure to post it on social media and tag it with #cookingwithanadi and mention me @cookingwithanadi. Thank you!