Whether theyre kept simple, light, and fluffy, or loaded with gooey cheese and a variety of fillings, omelets never fail to make an enticing option for breakfast or brunch. But sometimes, youll see omelet spelled omelette on menus. So are they the same dish? And if so, why do they have different spellings?
Omelet is the spelling youll see most commonly in American English while omelette is the French spelling for the egg dish and is also more commonly used in British English. The term omelette was officially originally used in the late 17th century in a French publication called Cuisine Bourgeoisie. Omelet also dates back to the 17th century as a term, and became the preferred spelling that Americans chose to use. But the roots of the cooked egg dish itself go back much further than that, with many countries and cultures having their own version, from the ancient Japanese to the Romans, who cooked beaten eggs with honey on a flat clay dish.
French culinary bible “Larousse Gastronomique” claims that the French word omelette comes from lamelle (meaning thin strip, referring to its flatter shape), and has also previously been referred to as alumelle, alumette, and then amelette. And the difference between French and American-style omelets extends beyond spelling and semantics; its also about style.
We know that this egg dish had been around for some time before making its way into classic French cookbooks. In fact, the Romans also had their own version that can be traced back to a Roman collection of recipes called the “Apicius”. After Menon introduced the word in his book, Napoleon Bonaparte put omelets on the map when he traveled through the south of France. There, an innkeeper fed him an omelet for breakfast and he was so impressed that he had the chefs make a huge omelet for his army. While this may just be a myth, the people of Bessieres, France, celebrate this tradition every year at Easter.
The word “omelette” first appeared in the French classic “Cuisine Bourgeois” written by François Menon. The origin of the word traces its roots to a 1400s iteration, alemele, which means, “blade of a knife or sword”, referencing the shape of the cooked omelet. Although the omelet has been around since the Persian Empire, this classic French cookbook put the word on the map along with other French culinary techniques. When the dish moved west, the colonialists simply dropped the “te,” as they did in many other words, and the term has since been commonly accepted as “omelet”.
Have you ever noticed how some restaurants and publications spell the word omelet as omelette? Youre not alone, and there is a good reason for the difference in spelling. As with all classic culinary terms, “omelette” is the original French word for the savory egg dish. Omelette is the preferred European version of the word, while in the west, we simply call it “omelet.”
Although France is attributed with the omelettes creation (both the word and the egg dish), the omelet has been traced to the early 1500s to the Spaniards and Aztecs and is thought to have been invented during the Persian Empire. Different regions not only determine the spelling of the word omelet — the way they cook omelets is also different. A classical French omelet is different from the American version; the former is thinner and focuses on the egg as the centerpiece of the dish, while the American version uses an array of toppings to fill theirs, resulting in a larger, thicker final product.
Even today, the word is spelled differently in Europe and America, but the pronunciation is more or less the same.
An omelette is no omelet
As well as being spelled differently, French and American-style omelets are also prepared in quite different ways concerning ingredients, methods of cooking, and serving. And theyre often intended as different meals, being more likely to be a dinner dish than served for brunch in France.
Just as French scrambled eggs differ in texture from American style, being much softer, silkier, and buttery with smaller curds, French omelettes also have a distinct texture. Theyre much softer, with the eggs lightly cooked until theyre still gooey, unlike American omelets which have a firmer exterior and more color.
But unlike French scrambled eggs, which are cooked slowly over a low heat and take a long time, making a perfect French-style omelette is quicker to cook than an American omelet. Thats partly down to it focusing on just a couple of ingredients (namely eggs and butter) when prepared in its simplest plain form, rather than a variety of different fillings, which take extra time. But its also to do with the technique of shaking the pan rather than keeping it still, so its lightly coated with an egg mixture, which is stirred with a fork. The delicately finished omelette is then served folded in three, like a roll, rather than a thicker American serving, often folded in half.
4 Levels of Omelets: Amateur to Food Scientist | Epicurious
What is the difference between omelet and omelette?
Omelet is the spelling used in American English. Omelette is the spelling used in British English. An omelet (or omelette) is a type of egg dish, often served at breakfast or brunch. Neither spelling is wrong, but there are some guidelines for when to use which. Where does the word omelet come from?
How do you spell omelette in English?
Omelet is the standard spelling in American English. In fact it appears about twice as often as omelette in American publications. But omelette beats omelet in British English. When you’re choosing which spelling you should use, pick the one your audience will be more familiar with and stick with it in your writing.
Should I use omelet instead of omelette?
In American English, the spelling “omelet” is more commonly used, and the extra “e” is usually dropped. Therefore, if you are writing for an American audience, it is advisable to use the spelling “omelet” instead of “omelette”. 2. Regional Variations
Is omelet a French word?
Despite the different spellings, omelette and omelet are pronounced the same way (ahm-let). However, the French version of the word makes use of all the letters and syllables in the word: oh-muh-let. “Omelette” or “Omelet”: Which Should You Use? It’s ultimately fine to use either omelet or omelette. The AP Stylebook may prefer omelet.