The word ‘omelet’ or ‘omelette’ derives from the French word ‘amelette’. The variation on the first vowel comes from the forms of ‘œuf’, which means ‘egg’. In fact, the word ‘amelette’ is said to stem from ‘alemelle’ which was used in the 13th century. Alamelle means ‘the blade of a knife’, referring to the flattened shape of the dish.
It's believed that the first person to have tasted the omelet was none other than Napoleon Bonaparte. The military leader and his army stopped at an inn near Bessieres, where the innkeeper served him an omelet. Napoleon apparently enjoyed the dish so much that he asked him to feed omelet to his entire army!
Later, it became a tradition to feed omelette de Pâques to the poor at Easter. Families would stand in their doorways and listen in fervent silence to the religious songs before placing gifts of eggs, black pudding, charcuterie, and wine into a basket as thanks. This way, the choir singers would acquire everything they needed to cook up a delicious Easter omelette.
Other sources indicate that the omelette is actually a version of the Iranian dish kookoo sabzi, a herb frittata that originated in ancient Persia.
There are innumerable ways to make omelette, and it can include any ingredients from spinach and herbs to cured meats and even truffles.
Why not start your day the right way with this delicious breakfast omelet, packed full of nutrient-dense vegetables, healthy fats and protein.
