Big Little Recipes

This Cheesy Omelet Is Our Everything

September 15, 2020

A Big Little Recipe has the smallest-possible ingredient list and big everything else—flavor, creativity, wow factor. Psst: We don't count water, salt, black pepper, and certain fats (specifically, 1/2 cup or less of olive oil, vegetable oil, and butter), since we're guessing you have those covered. Today, we’re giving an omelet everything it ever wanted.


As a child of the ’90s, I have never known a world without everything seasoning—the all-in-one combo of poppy and sesame seeds, garlic and onion bits, and salt that freckles the luckiest bagels and gets hopelessly stuck in your teeth.

According to David Farley for Taste, “A handful of middle-aged men think they invented [the everything bagel],” either in the 1980s or 1970s, depending on who you ask. Since then, it skyrocketed into a must at bagel shops, polka-dotting not just white bagels, but also whole-wheat and pumpernickel.

Thanks to its savory oomph and crunch-crunch-crunch, people now use everything seasoning for, well, everything else too. Which makes sense—it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a Big Little superhero. Just like chili powder and za’atar and berbere, this ready-to-rumble blend is a one-ingredient way to pack any recipe with a ton of flavor. (1)

Photo by TY MECHAM. FOOD STYLIST: ANNA BILLINGSKOG. PROP STYLIST: AMANDA WIDIS.

Picture this: everything scones. Or pigs in a blanket. Or cheese puffs. Or spiced nuts. Or, in this week’s Big Little Recipe, an ooey-gooey, cream cheese–stuffed omelet.

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Top Comment:
“It was delicious; and, I felt like I was eating a creamy bagel due to the Everything Seasoning. I will decrease the cream cheese or increase my eggs the next time I make this recipe. Yummy 😋 ”
— PM H.
Comment

Because, while everything seasoning is most often used in the bagel sense—as a crust or last-minute sprinkle—it’s just as powerful as a mix-in. By whisking it with the eggs and shaking it all over the finished omelet, you get the best of both worlds: savoriness and texture throughout, with a crackly topping.

And sure, cream cheese isn’t as popular an omelet filling at diners as, say, American or cheddar. But it should be. Just as it excels at spreading on toast, cream cheese is second to none at turning molten and melty at the mention of a hot skillet.

In the video above, I serve my omelet with buttered toast. It goes without saying that crispy potatoes or hashbrowns would be equally welcome. Likewise, a mound of vinaigrette-slicked arugula. Or, tucked into an everything bagel? A dream come true.

(1) Indeed, you can DIY. But honestly, why would you, when there are so many great options available? I haven’t met a blend I don’t like, and am especially fond of Trader Joe’s and King Arthur’s.

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  • Phishstyx
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Emma was the food editor at Food52. She created the award-winning column, Big Little Recipes, and turned it into a cookbook in 2021. These days, she's a senior editor at Bon Appétit, leading digital cooking coverage. Say hello on Instagram at @emmalaperruque.

22 Comments

Phishstyx October 1, 2020
yumm! the cream cheese was slated for elsewhere, so I subbed fromage de chevre & it was superb. I agree that cream cheese is a great filler for any interior molten cheese dish (on the outside, it just runs off the food TT).
 
PM H. September 17, 2020
I used 2 eggs to make my omelette. It was delicious; and, I felt like I was eating a creamy bagel due to the Everything Seasoning. I will decrease the cream cheese or increase my eggs the next time I make this recipe. Yummy 😋
 
Gatorgirl September 16, 2020
I’m so encouraged to see all the food items you can use the Everything Seasoning on but WHERE CAN I BUY IT? Or is there a recipe that someone is willing to share with me?
Thanks in advance......
 
roncabe September 16, 2020
Trader Joe's has it. They call it Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend. If your local TJ is out of it, people sometime resell it on Amazon or eBay at an up charge. Happy eating!
 
Gatorgirl September 17, 2020
Thank you SO much for answering my question!
 
Emma L. September 17, 2020
Ditto to Trader Joe's. King Arthur also sells a blend: https://shop.kingarthurbaking.com/items/everything-bagel-topping-8-oz
 
sonjacharde September 29, 2020
You can also find it at Aldi's if you don't have a Trader Joes close by. It's the exact same ingredients and sodium amount :) Enjoyyy! It's so great on literally everything.
 
Phishstyx October 1, 2020
yes, TJ, but also Aldi, most supermarkets, even saw it at a $ store.
Kinda surprised at the question: I live in Bakersfield, so I figure if it's everywhere here, it's probably somewhere at any other town in N America. Anyway, here's a TJ copycat:

1 part poppy seed
1 part flaky salt
2 parts each:
white sesame seed
black sesame seed
dried minced onion
dried minced garlic
In case you're wondering, black sesame has an earthier taste than white. (If you only have white, I'd use 1.5 parts of sesame, but that's just my opinion.) Mix & store airtight.
HTH; gl
 
Rosalind P. October 13, 2020
King Arthur Flour also sells everything bagel topping. Lots of places don't have a TJ.
 
Lynne W. September 16, 2020
i just made this for lunch. delicious. thank you!
 
Gatorgirl September 16, 2020
Where can you buy Everything Seasoning ? Or what’s in it so I can make it myself.
Just started watching her so if she has already answered this somewhere I’m sorry!
 
Kortviomd15 September 16, 2020
Amazon
 
Andrea R. September 16, 2020
Everything Bagel Blend ‘EBB’ on Cottage cheese w chopped tomatoes
 
Christina September 16, 2020
I swap out the cream cheese for chevre in omelets or on bagels.
 
Hn September 16, 2020
Farm fresh eggs from my flock were piling up. This was just the recipe I needed this morning. It was delish. Many thanks.
 
mdelgatty September 15, 2020
I love the way you flip the omelet with your whole body...!
 
Dean M. September 15, 2020
This is a grandmother omelet—browned and rubbery. Why not also show how to make a proper French omelet, all yellow, creamy and soft?
 
Tootsie September 15, 2020
Before browning - I sprinkled Everything Seasoning on the buttered sides of my grilled cheese sandwich!
 
M September 15, 2020
Breakfast blends can be a total game-changer if you've never had them before, from everything spice to Lawry's (whether for flavour or I'm-too-tired ease).

But why DIY? Bc you can make a smaller amount that fits the amount of use, use up older spices or scrums before you re-fill, customize it with other tasty things, and often make it for much cheaper.
 
EAlfiero September 15, 2020
I use Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel.
 
EAlfiero September 15, 2020
I use it on avacado toast.
 
Suzanne C. September 16, 2020
I broil salmon with a little bit of olive oil and Everything But the Bagel.