Caramelized Shallot Soft Scrambled with Comte

 

3 eggs, cold from the refrigerator

1/2 tsp. Diamond Crystal kosher salt, plus a pinch for the shallots

1 heaping T. cold creme fraiche

3 T. salted butter

1 large or 2 medium shallots, peeled and finely diced

1/4 C. grated Comte cheese

Flaky salt

Freshly cracked black pepper

 

Crack the eggs into a small bowl. Add the kosher salt. Use a fork to break the yolks, then forcefully whisk the eggs together for 30 seconds, or until totally homogeneous. Add the creme fraiche to the eggs in 5 or so little pieces (so it’s not all in one clump). Refrigerate the bowl while you cook the shallots.       Set a small to medium nonstick or well-seasoned carbon steel skillet over high heat. Drop in 2 T. of the butter. When it melts and foams, adjust the heat to medium-low and add the shallots with a pinch of kosher salt. Saute, keeping the heat moderate to avoid burning the butter, for 8 to 10 minutes, until the shallots are translucent and browning around the edges and they taste sweet and concentrated. Turn the heat to low and push the shallots to the sides of the skillet. After about 1 minute, add the remaining 1 T. butter. Add the cold eggs. Do not touch them for 90 seconds! Seriously, I’ll know. After 90 seconds, the eggs should have begun to set up around the sides, like the very early stages of a French omelet. Rotate the pan 180 degrees, so its handle is facing the opposite way it was facing before. Use a silicone spatula to draw in the eggs and shallots from the edges, almost to the middle, but off to one side by a few degrees, like the spatula is a pilot taking a plane just off course. As you scrape toward the middle, be sure to scrape under the set eggs you’ve just drawn inward before moving on to the next stroke. Don’t touch for another 90 seconds! I’ll definitely know. After 90 seconds, repeat this spatula motion. Sprinkle the grated Comte over the middle of the eggs, where the large, set curds are hanging out. Turn the heat up to medium and finish cooking for 20 to 40 seconds any runny egg around the edges that has stubbornly refused to start firming up. Pull the eggs from the heat while still glossy on top and slide onto a plate. Serve topped with flaky salt and black pepper.