Shakshuka (pronounced “shack-shoe-kuh”) is a classic North African and Middle Eastern dish and one that can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Made from everyday ingredients, Shakshuka literally means “a mixture” and the traditional version uses tomatoes, onions, peppers and spices with eggs poached right in the sauce.
Although the traditional recipe is very satisfying and packed with flavor, there are many versions using the flavorful sauce as a base. It can be served with crusty bread or pita bread for sopping up the tasty sauce and dipping into the soft egg yolks. Steamed rice or couscous are both good accompaniments. For a heartier dish, add some chickpeas to the sauce. One of my favorite variations is to serve it over polenta with grilled Italian link sausage – delicious with or without the eggs. And although feta cheese is not traditional, I love the way it melts into creamy, salty puddles of yumminess around the eggs. Or make a batch of Zhoug (see the cookbook) to serve on the side. Once you have the sauce, you can make a meal in minutes. The sauce freezes well, so consider making extra to use when you need a quick, delicious meal any time of the day.
Shakshuka
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ large yellow onion peeled and diced
- ½ red bell pepper diced
- ½ Poblano pepper diced
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon coriander or cumin
- ½ teaspoon Pimenton (I like Pimenton Piccante to add a little spiciness)
- 1 can (14 ounces) fire roasted tomatoes with chilies (I recommend Muir Glenn)
- 1 cup Mezzetta Spicy Marinara or tomato sauce
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro or Italian parsley plus additional for garnish
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh mint
- 4-6 eggs
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the onion, peppers, and salt. Cook until the onions are soft, about 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic and spices and continue cooking for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Pour in the tomatoes, tomato sauce and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for about 15 minutes.
- Using the back of a spoon, make indentations in the sauce and crack an egg into each one. Spoon a bit of sauce over each egg white, being careful not to cover or disturb the egg yolks.
- Cover the pan and cook over low heat for 5-8 minutes until the whites are set but yolks are soft. When eggs are almost cooked to your liking, sprinkle the feta cheese around the eggs.
- Garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley.