Craving a hearty, filling, and healthy breakfast but short on time? Enter shakshuka (also spelled shakshouka), a delicious Mediterranean dish made of eggs poached in a rich, spicy tomato sauce. It’s super easy to whip up in a cast iron skillet, and while eggs and tomato are the star of the dish, you can add peppers, garlic, and a variety of spices and seasonings to your liking. A great way to get those veggies and protein in the morning. I’m definitely starting to love Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and North African dishes a lot more as an adult – any recs on what I should make next?
Shakshuka
Ingredients
- 6 vine-ripe tomatoes, chopped (~6 cups)
- 6 large eggs
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 2 green peppers, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp paprika, regular or smoked
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
- extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat 3 tbsp of olive oil in a large cast iron or other heavy-bottom skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onions, green peppers, garlic, spices, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Sauté the veggies down, stirring occasionally. After about 5 minutes the onions and pepper should start to soften.
- Add the chopped tomatoes and tomato sauce. Stir to mix thoroughly, and then cover and let simmer for ~15 minutes. (I didn't have a lid for my skillet, but a sheet pan worked in a pinch!) Uncover the skillet and let the veggie mix continue to cook down and thicken, you don't want it to be super runny. Taste it now and adjust seasonings to your liking.
- Using a wooden spoon or spatula, make 6 evenly spaced wells in the veggie mix. I did one in the middle with 5 surrounding it. Carefully crack your eggs into the wells. Reduce the heat to low and cover the skillet until the whites of the eggs have set. If you prefer a sunny-side up look to your eggs, don't cover them.
- Remove from the heat, and garnish with the chopped parsley and mint. Serve immediately, preferably with some good bread!
- Enjoy!
