Did you know the Italian word frittata used to be a catch-all for any type of egg dish cooked in a skillet? In the past century, it evolved to be a more specific dish that’s often described as a crustless quiche or an open-faced omelette. This particularly dairy-free ham & broccoli frittata also draws influence from the Spanish omelette, with the addition of potato and the omission of cheese. Yes, there’s no need to settle for subpar alternatives. This dish is naturally dairy-free and delicious.
Dairy-Free Ham & Broccoli Frittata made with No Cheese of any Kind
This recipe uses a helpful little cheat – frozen Potatoes O’Brien. I didn’t even know that was a thing, but now I’m hooked! Potatoes O’Brien is essentially skillet-fried potatoes with diced bell peppers. The frozen versions are made with little else, and are typically dairy-free, too. You can also par-boil your own diced potatoes, and sauté diced bell pepper with them, if you prefer.
To keep the saturated fat low, this recipe uses mostly egg whites. You can substitute whole eggs if preferred. Just see the notes in the recipe for the amount. If you confuse eggs with dairy, you’re not alone! See this post: Are Eggs Dairy?. If you need an egg-free option, try our Tofu Frittata Recipe.
The preparation of Potatoes O’Brien (from the package) does call for a little more oil – about 2 tablespoons. We use less with good results. If you are following a low-oil or low-fat diet, you can alternatively use cooking spray.
This dairy-free ham & broccoli frittata recipe and photo was shared with us by the American Heart Association for their KnowDiabetesbyHeart.org campaign.
Special Diet Notes: Ham & Broccoli Frittata
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, and vegetarian.
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 2 cups frozen potatoes O’Brien, thawed (see below)
- 2½ cups small broccoli florets
- 8 large egg whites
- 1 large egg
- 4 ounces dairy-free ham, cut into ¼-inch cubes
- ¼ cup unsweetened dairy-free milk beverage
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Preheat your oven to 400°F.
- Heat the oil in a medium ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Remove from the heat. Add the potatoes and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, turning occasionally, until the potatoes are golden brown.
- Steam the broccoli for 3 to 4 minutes, or until crisp tender.
- Stir the broccoli into the potatoes.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the egg whites and egg. Whisk in the ham, milk beverage, and pepper. Pour the mixture over the potatoes and broccoli; stir well.
- Bake the frittata for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the eggs are set.
Potatoes O'Brien: This is essentially cubed cooked potatoes with bell peppers. Ore-Ida makes a frozen brand, but many major grocers have their own house brand in the freezer section. All that we've seen are dairy free. You can also make your own. Simply par-boil cubed potatoes, for about 5 to 7 minutes, then saute with diced bell peppers, as directed in the recipe above. You might need to saute them a little longer.
Salt: The only notable salt in this recipe is in the ham. So the amount of sodium will depend on the ham you use. If you are not on a low salt diet, you can season the potatoes as they cook to punch up the flavor.
More Dairy-Free Egg Breakfast Dishes
Paleo Sheet Pan Eggs with Plant-Based Pecan Breakfast “Sausage”
Joel’s Perfectly Creamy Dairy-Free Scrambled Eggs
Healthy Apple Cinnamon Dutch Baby Pancake
