Dinner tonight! Prosciutto and onion frittata

Heat a pan, add some beaten eggs and flavorings and slowly cook to puffed, golden-brown perfection. Frittatas are easy to make and are versatile, perfect for breakfast or brunch, even dinner. Serve slices hot, fresh out of the pan, or make the frittata ahead of time and cool to room temperature before setting slices out on the table.

Flavor the frittata with whatever you’ve got on hand: sautéed vegetables, leftover meats, fresh herbs, whatever cheese sounds good at the moment. A frittata cooks up quickly — ready in no more than half an hour after you first heat up the pan. If you don’t finish the frittata in one serving, frittatas are model leftovers, whether you grab a cold slice for breakfast first thing in the morning or serve the remainder for dinner another night.

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Prosciutto and onion frittata

Total time: 30 minutes, plus cooling time for the frittata

Servings: 6 as appetizer, 4 as main course

3 tablespoons butter

1 cup thinly sliced onions

1/8 teaspoon salt

3 thin slices prosciutto (about 1 1/2 ounces), cut crosswise in 1/4-inch slivers

6 eggs

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, divided

1. Heat the broiler. Melt the butter in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onion and salt, then cover the pan and cook until the onions have softened, about 5 minutes. Remove the lid and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Stir in the prosciutto and cook until softened, 2 to 3 minutes.

2. While the onions are cooking, beat the eggs with a fork in a mixing bowl just until the yolks and the white are thoroughly mixed, but don’t overbeat, which can make the frittata dry. Beat in the parsley and 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano.

3. Add the egg mixture to the pan with the onions and prosciutto and stir well to combine. Reduce the heat to low and cover the pan. Cook, without stirring, until the eggs have set, leaving only a top layer uncooked, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons Parmigiano-Reggiano and place under the broiler until the top is browned and puffy, 1 to 2 minutes.

4. To unmold the frittata, let it cool slightly in the pan. Use a spatula to loosen it along the sides, and then bang it firmly on a cutting board to release the underside. Slide it out onto a serving plate. Serve either hot or at room temperature. If you’re going to refrigerate the frittata, let it warm to room temperature before serving.

Each of 6 servings: 164 calories; 8 grams protein; 2 grams carbohydrates; 0 fiber; 13 grams fat; 7 grams saturated fat; 237 mg. cholesterol; 1 gram sugar; 289 mg. sodium.