The first time I met Spanish Chef Miguel Maestre at the Taste of Sydney food festival, he asked which company I was from. I answered that I was from a food blog called Not Quite Nigella and he proceeded to tell me how much he loved Nigella. He was over the top, effusively friendly, self promoting, not shy or short of ego and doing about a hundred things at once while telling me all about everything that he had achieved and flashing a whacking great big diamond in one ear. Then he asked me to invite Nigella to his restaurant El Toro Loco.
Mr NQN whispered to me “I think he thinks that you’re from Nigella’s company”.
“I know” I whispered back.
Clearing my throat I told him “Sorry but I’m not actually from Nigella’s company. I don’t even know her. My blog is just called Not Quite Nigella”.
“Oh great!” he said stirring the paella and giving me a taste.
“Well we’ll leave you as I’m sure you’re going to be busy…”
“OK well I’d love to see Nigella any time in the restaurant. Call me ok and we’ll get her a table. I would love to meet her!”‘ he said waving goodbye.
Moral of the story? Don’t try to talk to people when they’re trying to do a million things at once 
If you are having a rough day where you are juggling lots of things, or if you are like me and just like making delicious food out of run of the mill ingredients then you might just love this five minute Spanish potato omelette which is made using regular potato chips that have been crushed. This was from his new book called Miguel’s Tapas. I should mention that most of the recipes are not of the supermarket potato chip variety but of the proper Spanish food variety.
This dish however is brilliant in its simplicity and number of ingredients. You could of course use any potato chip you like and the whole thing is done and dusted in less than ten minutes (although I understand that omelettes themselves aren’t particularly painstaking creatures). The aioli or garlic mayonnaise is a must and I served this with some olives and salad.
The book starts with an introduction to his life and then segues into breakfast (with everyone’s favourite churros with chocolate), morning tea (chorizo cider style), lunch (vanilla infused wild boar cheeks-ooh lala!), desserts (a 36 egg yolk number called “Heaven’s Little Pig Caramel Delight) afternoon tea (sweet and savoury chicken pie) and dinner (home made chorizo encased in the skin from a duck’s neck). It ends off with a 3am chapter for evening snacks (sweet battered lemon leaves, wild rice popcorn) and the basics like infused oils and stocks. Am I up for making the home made chorizo or the 36 egg yolk dish? Only if I don’t have a million things to do at once
And if you are pressed for time you could try out my:
5 minute peanut butter and chocolate chip cookie
So tell me Dear Reader, what’s the fastest dinner solution you’ve got?
5 Minute Spanish Potato Omelette
Adapted from Miguel’s Tapas by Miguel Maestre. Published by New Holland $45RRP
Makes 1 x 24cm diameter omelette or 4 x 12.5cm omelettes with 2 eggs each
- 150grams of a 185gram bag of lime and black pepper potato chips (or use your favourite ones) and just eat the rest while cooking
- 6 eggs
- 2/3 cup grated cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil for frying
- Aioli to serve
- 1 -2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or chives
1. In a medium to large bowl add potato chips and crush lightly. In a small bowl beat the eggs and add to the chip mixture and allow to stand for 2 minutes.
2. Add a few teaspoons of oil to a frypan and add the omelette mixture into the pan and sprinkle with cheese and fry for a few minutes until it can be carefully flipped over and cooked briefly. Scatter some chopped parsley or chives on top and serve.
Copper pan by Mauviel
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77 Comments | Add your own
That is a version I haven’t tried yet but have seen a lot on the net. Your tortilla looks mighty scrummy.
Cheers,
Rosa
Potato chips in a quickie omelet….in my dreams! Love it
xo
He didn’t listen to you at all!
It’s no secret why his restaurant is the ‘the crazy bull’ because seriously he’s manic (in a good way!). This does look yummy and his restaurant only being in Manly is on the list for sure.
Maybe you, me and Nigella can book a table sometime in February ?
This looks like it would be perfect for a quick brunch!! Thanks for sharing!
My fastest dinner solution?? Grilled cheese on toast!
This is brilliant! I might add chorizo as well, to make it even more “Spanish”.
What a funny story, Lorraine, and that is quite the fabulous looking omelette with potato chips! Sounds like a wonderful book!
Hmmm, I am sure it would taste great… but I just don’t know. Your omlette looks gorgeous and fluffy though, and it is breakfast… I wondr if a chip omlette is still breakfast food
I love it! Perfect for when you just want to eat but don’t want to fuss. Looks so much easier than Jamie’s 30 minute dinners that I have been watching – it looks like a pretty full on 30 minutes, and way too much for me on a daily basis. My fastest dinner solution? Baked beans on toast!
I’ve never seen a recipe like this before – it would be perfect with cold coronas and lime.
Oooh – delicious! I saw Miguel make this on the Circle one morning and promised I would make it. Surprisingly (or perhaps not, if you know me) I never got around to it… Now I’m juts going to have to make it. I love the idea of it served with aioli – sounds too delicious for words!
My fastest dinner is poached eggs on toast. Or sometimes bread if I can’t be bothered toasting!
Potato chip omelette well I never. I truly would have loved that 36 egg yolk recipe.
Not sure I would like the potato chips. Worth a try though.
My goodness, I am fascinated. Who would have thought to put potato chips in their omelette. I so want to try this.
My fastest dinner? Bagel and cream cheese (or peanut butter). I love the stuff.
*kisses* HH
I knew I woke up early for a reason
Matthew
Oh I had a run in with him at the Food and Wine Show and was so excited to meet him as I loved Boys Weekend but he was really arrogant and inappropriate towards me while Stud was standing right there so its totally changed my opinion of him. Such a shame. I will still say that he cooks awesome food though.
That actually looks amazing…I can’t believe that it’s 9am and I am now having cravings for chips!
That looks very delicious.
my boyfriend will LOVE this
this looks amazing, I just bookmarked it & can’t wait to make it!
That reminds me of my high school days when my favourite lunch was salt & vinegar chips in a roll! I’ll have to try this recipe for sure.
My fastest dinner? Has to be an omelette minus the chips!
Funny story re Nigella.
This looks great and I never would have thought about making something like this with chips, I cant wait to tell my friend Laura who is a chip fiend! His book sounds great too, am thinking I might steer clear of that 36 egg yolk number though… scary! Sweet battered lemon leaves has me intrigued though
I can’t let my my kids see this, Potato chips for dinner? Maybe for a treat, it does look delicious! Miguel should consider himself lucky,I would rather meet you than the ‘real’ Nigella anyday!
I don’t know how I feel about potato chips in an omelette, but it’s a clever idea! And it does look quite nice… Hmm
Omelettes are our quick dinner fix.
I’ve been to his restuarnat as have always loved him on the show “Boys Weekends”. He cooks like he talks – manic. Watching them cook in the kitchen was like watching a production. They were laughing, singing and mucking around – lots of fun. And the food showed this – It was amazing. I would go back there in a heart beat. I love Tapas
Oh my.., if I had some potato chips on hand I’d be making this baby for brunch today, it looks just the thing, maybe I’ll go out and buy some chips
I think Chef Miguel Maestre was displaying a serious case of ‘hearing what he wanted to’, cheeky bloke
How many servings does the 36 egg yolk dessert make? I hope its more than 1!
Haha, I LOVE this idea, especially as there are some really funky crisp flovours to play with these day! Not sure if I could eat it at breakfast time, though… xxx
LOVE the C-R-U-N-C-H! Could enjoy this for brekkie, tea or lunch!
Have made potato chip chicken, too!
Can’t wait to peruse Manuel’s Tapas as with your blog, his recipes, inspire me to do! WHOO HOO!
Well that sure is different Lorraine …. Miguel seems to be quite the cheeky boy … funny story anyway …… might give it a go with the ships ….. i do love a good tortilla … my Spanish mammas is the best though well i think so anyway
Great idea, I love potatoes in all formats, be it fried, or on a pizza with rosemary, and my ultimate weakness, hot chips with chicken salt and/or gravy mmm
My fastest dinner option is a simple salad:
* can of 5 bean mix
* can of corn kernals
* can of tuna in olive oil
* 1 chopped tomato
* some hard boiled eggs
* handful of baby spinach/ rocket
* drizzle of soy sauce + S&P
I am bookmarking this! Potato chips in omelette! I am already addicted to the crunch!
You just gave me the most brilliant fast-tracked dinner idea ever! Since I went back to work after the Holidays, I’m still too tired to fix proper meals when I get home, so a chip-based omelette would work wonders!
Quickest meal? Open fridge door – pick out anything that looks fit for a mix-and-match salad, toss in some toasted pinenuts or slivered almonds, add a handful of torn herbs and your favourite salad dressing – et voila! Three minutes tops! You feel ‘saintly’ to boot! Love an occasional proper peasant potato/onion omelette, but, thank you, I’ll pass on the crisps!
Interesting recipe from a strange man! Hehehe
Potato chips in an omelette… why have I not thought of this before?! Sounds like a great hangover cure.
I *love* your 5-min recipes! in fact, I just found my print out of your cheesecake recipe this morning when cleaning my room
My favourite quick meal? Hmm. Block of chocolate, jar of peanut butter and spoon, and a carrot. ‘Cause I’m healthy.
What a unique recipe! Never in my life would I have thought to toss potato chips into an omelette. Thanks for sharing it, Lorraine
.
Wow, looks delicious and very easy to make. Very unhealthy too but that’s what I like about it
BuBbles
x.
What a great excuse to buy potato chips! Such a fun idea. For a quick meal I usually turn to grilled cheese sandwiches. The kids love them and you can dress them up as much as you like. xoxo Mum
By the cover picture on Miguel’s book,his behaviour fits the image.
My mother LOVES chips.I’m scared that if I make it for her it will send her on MHC tangent(must have chips),lol.
Fastest dinner fix?Tuna+olives+croutons +tom+ onion + raw mushrooms+ onion
salad.
but there is one question you haven’t answered (maybe a dumb one) – do the chips keep their crunch in the tortilla or do they soften up – I have made choc chip cookies with potato chips in them and enjoyed them but thought they were quite greasy
This potato omelette is very common here and I love it
In my country we add also chorizo, sorry drooling…
Have a Great 2011!
Gera
Sounds tasty but so easy Lorraine! My husband usually makes the omelettes here, so will have to get him onto it soon.
My fav quickest would have to be rice noodles with lightly stir fried cherry toms, basil, olive oil and parmesan. Yum
hehe, funny story. You so should have kept rolling with the yes, I work for Nigella story. LOL
Chips in an omlette- love it. Very Nigella indeed.
haha…! I have done that once and also I added bacon… of course right?
holy moley!
i will have to tell my mumma about this one. maybe this way she can actually eat chips for dinner and not have me tut-tut her!
LOL, that is hilarious….If Nigella actually has a company, I would love to work for her. If I were you I would have puffed up my chest and said, “I am NOT QUITE Nigella, because I’m twice as awesome as she is.”
Hahaha.. a case of mistaken identity!! Love it.. these look delicious!
What an amazing idea! I make my tortilla espanola in a smilar way, but I microwave whole potatoes and then slice them rather than using crisps. In Spain they fry or boil potatos and in restaurants in Argentina they use hot chips (divine) so I guess kettle chips or similar aren’t really that much of a stretch…
This reminds me of the time in high school when I used to buy a bread roll with melted cheese and a packet of chips from the canteen to make my own cheese and chip roll. I guess this takes the humble potato chip a notch further then =D Love the idea haha.
Miguel is the face of my old employer’s menu and I got to meet him, he is hilarious but definitely not short of ego!
this sounds delicious, I’m going to give it a try tomorrow night.
Oh dear, what an encounter! Ya, don’t talk too much to busy people…they don’t have time. It’s interesting how you used chips in your omelette. Looks very delicious. I would eat that
Wow, I’ve never seen a potato chip omelette before but can imagine it gives the omelette a nice crunch. Will definitely try this out!
4 minute microwaved salmon! Comes in many “flavors” too!
Eggs and potato chips- is a pretty comforting combination
Quick meal at ours also involves eggs- scrambled with some pesto thrown in, with toast and fresh tomato… But if I’m on my own it’s just as likely to be a glass of pink wine 
I love a good Omelette! Looks delicious Lorraine
Congrats on your book deal.Great tapas recipe.
Funny story about Miguel! He was at his restaurant when we dined there and he’s exactly as you described! haha
I actually saw this recipe in Good Food magazine and bought the lime and pepper chips. It was the first time I’d tried them and I ended up eating them all without making the omelette. They’re my favourite chips now.
I love a potato frittata but would never have thought to try using potato chips! What a good idea! I’m thinking quick holiday cooking! Pasta is my quick meal usually garlic and chilli sizzled in olive oil throw in a few olives and capers finish with parsley, toss through hot pasta with plenty of parmesan! YUM!
Who would have thought…ooooh yum! I love the idea of lemon & pepper chips in there, and ROFL about your wonderful tale! My quick dinner is a flavoured olive oil pasta & a simple bell pepper salad! And yes, potato chips makes it complete! HNY dear girl, and to Mr NQN too!
say…can you introduce me to nigella?
great idea for a snappy meal.
i jUst tried it with cream and onion chips and it turned out yyummmy
thanx
How cool is it that this uses potato chips??? LOVE chippies in any shape and form
I thought you meant hot chips at first! This looks really interesting!
I’m fascinated with the potato chips in this! I’d love it. And, a dessert with 36 egg yolks? Wow, I feel like I’ve gained weight just reading about it!
So yummy and love that it’s so quick to make! My daughter would love it for her supper!
I thought I was reading wrong… this is too good to be true, an omelette with chips??? How great is that. QUick and delicious to boot.. must be light as air.
My quickest dinner would be emergency leftovers in the freezer in individual servings that I can reheat in minutes. Sadly, I am fresh out now! Note to self, stash a few more away.
Not taken by the potato chips but can understand how it could make a quick meal. I’ve been spoilt by my Spanish friend , I’ve tasted her Tortilla and there’s no turning back after that, lol.
My quickest meal is Spaghetti Aglio e Olio, while the pasta is cooking you make the sauce, it’s that quick and simple, yet delicious.
Ha Ha Ha poor you! What a story and shame on him for not listening to you! I love this little, simple, quick savory dinner dish and it would so work for us! Rushed for time and husband takes a box of soup and fancies it up with refrigerator, veg bowl and cupboard items and usually creates something stunning!
The boys at home make potato chips sandwiches which I cringe at. Interesting, will have to give this a go. I also met Miguel at TOS, he is very energetic and full of life.
BTW when you have a chat to Nigella and book a table, feel free to book an extra spot for me ;p
Oh, it’s just like one Ferran Adria wrote about a couple years ago – he has a simple cookbook to make recipes fast yet still quirky. Good stuff! Glad it’s good – I’m going to give it a go soon!
Hilarious story! Maybe you should have told him YOU were Nigella? Sounds like he might have bought it ; ) This omelet looks great, and I am suddenly craving potato chips.
Looks very tempting!
Potato chips sandwiches is something we’ve done for a while but Chips in Omelette is a new one for me… looks tempting… must try it on the weekend….
Happy New Year!!!
Cheers
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