Health-conscious cooks routinely toss the yolks and stick with the whites when preparing eggs. And that's not necessarily a good idea.
Eggs are packed with nutrients, and most of them — vitamins A and E, folate, calcium, iron and lutein — are in the yolks. Sure, yolks also pack dietary cholesterol, but many scientists now think saturated fat is the bigger culprit in raising blood cholesterol.
Besides being loaded with nutrients, eggs are satisfying, so eating them can help you curb between-meal hunger.
Of course, if you're really trying to limit your fat and cholesterol intake (the yolk does contain all the fat), an egg white omelet or scrambled egg whites are fine. But they can be rubbery and lack the flavor of whole eggs.
A good strategy is to hedge your bets by using some, but not all, of the yolks. For instance, prepare an omelet using one whole egg and two egg whites.
When using eggs in baked goods, quiches or custards, you usually can substitute egg whites for up to half the yolks without substantially changing the dish. Use two egg whites in place of one whole egg.
This South-of-the-Border Frittata calls for a reduced number of egg yolks, yet still has great flavor and texture.
The beaten eggs are combined with reduced-fat shredded cheese and poured over a bed of cooked, diced potatoes and chunky tomato salsa before being slowly baked. To make the dish even faster to prepare, use pre-diced potatoes, which you can find in the refrigerated cases of most supermarkets.
A wedge of this frittata, served with a salad and some crusty bread, is perfect for a light supper or brunch. It reheats well, so leftovers make a convenient meal the following day.Copyright © 2015, The Baltimore Sun