Awarded the best brunch food on earth, a classic dish from the Mediterranean that you’ll make over and over again. Shakshouka is an unforgettable dish with undeniable flavor and superb texture.
A great thing about shakshuka is that you can make it your own adding whatever vegetables that you like to the sauce. Check out this shakshuka version here with potato.
Shakshouka
I’ve grown up to shakshuka bi-weekly and sometimes even weekly. We had it for breakfasts and suppers. There are many versions of shakshuka, the Egyptian version that I grew up having is the same as this one with the exception that we always scrambled the eggs.
My mom sometimes skipped the onions and garlic if she wanted to make it lighter and easier for digestion. Also we did not use cheese on it, so it is optional.
Variations
Eggs stewed in tomato is found all over Middle East and North Africa, and there’s an Italian, Mexican and Spanish version too. Here are some suggestions:
* Morocco style: add some ground coriander, allspice, cinnamon, turmeric, and saffron to the spice mixture. You can also add sliced green olives.
* Greek style: think oregano, add more feta and olives.
* Italian style: use basil, oregano and Parmesan.
What goes into shakshuka?
Here are shakshuka ingredients feel free to make it your own and substitute whatever makes sense or whatever you have. Do not limit yourself. Personalize with the additions of vegetables that you like to the sauce.
Step by step
- Heat oil on medium and sauté onion.
- Add garlic, bell pepper and hot Chili pepper, if using, and sauté.
- Mix in the tomatoes and all the spices. Cook until juices reduce.
- Add cilantro and parsley and mix well.
- Make 4 or 6 dents and crack an egg in each.
- Lower the heat, cover and cook to your liking.
A recipe that is tasty, easy, quick, cheap, and has easy clean up? Can you believe that?.
If you like this recipe do not forget to give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating and attach a photo of your finished dish. It is always a pleasure of mine to see your photos and check your own take of the recipe. Thank you.
Shakshouka
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil. Note1
- 1 large (250g) onion, diced.
- 1 large bell (200g) pepper, any color. Diced
- 1 Chili pepper chopped. Optional. Note2
- 2 garlic cloves. Note3
- 2 1/2 cup ( 5 tomatoes Roma (277g)) tomato chopped.
- 2 Tablespoon chopped cilantro.
- 2 Tablespoons chopped parsley.
- 1 1/2 teaspoon cumin.
- 1 teaspoon paprika sweet or smoked.
- 1/2 teaspoon salt.
- A dash of black pepper.
- 4 Large eggs.
- Feta crumbled, Chopped cilantro or parsley for garnishing.
Instructions
- In a cast iron or a non stick pan heat oil on medium.
- Add onion and sauté for two minutes.
- Add garlic, bell pepper and hot Chili pepper, if using, and sauté for another minute.
- Add the tomato and mix in all the spices until well combined.
- Simmer until tomato juices evaporate.
- Mix in chopped cilantro and parsley.
- Make four holes in the pan and crack an egg in each hole.
- Cover and let the egg poach on low to your liking about 3-5 minutes. Note4
I absolutely love your weekly inspirations. Shakran kteer, Amira.
Not at all Rania, happy you find it useful.
This recipe is excellent! I’ve tried the original as well as the Greek variation (I added oregano, olives, and feta cheese like you suggested). I did not have bell peppers, but it still turned out so delicious!! Thank you!
Aisha, thank you so much for sharing your photos with us. Looks amazing, I love oregano so much, I’m gonna try it next time.
You are a wonder, Amira.
I have confidently 5-starred this, B4 even making it.
The only question I have remaining: why did I never think of this, during 45 years, hovering over a skillet?
Thanks Nate, it is really a delicious and very adaptable dish… my question is why didn’t I attempt to make this classic dish during my almost 8 years of blogging?!! we are on the same boat here :).