Shakshuka

5 from 5 votes
4 Comments

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Shakshuka is a delicious, savory dish that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! This easy shakshuka recipe includes poached eggs, rich tomato sauce, and fresh cilantro.

Shakshuka in a cast iron pan with a loaf of bread and a bowl of cilantro.
Featured with this Recipe
  1. Shakshuka Origins
  2. What Ingredients are in Shakshuka?
  3. What Does Shakshuka Mean?
  4. Recipe Tip
  5. Frequently Asked Questions
  6. More Unique Breakfast Recipes
  7. How to Make Shakshuka
  8. Shakshuka Recipe Recipe

Shakshuka Origins

When we are looking to switch up our meal rotation, we always try to incorporate recipes from other countries! We love to make dishes from all over the globe! This recipe hails from Israel, but some of our other favorites are ItalianMexicanAsian, and Hawaiian.

Shakshuka is a savory dish that is popularly enjoyed in the Middle East. Some say it originated in Yemen in North Africa, however others say it goes all the way back to the Ottoman Empire. Different regions put different twists on it, but at its heart it is simply eggs poached in a tomato sauce in a cast-iron skillet.

What Ingredients are in Shakshuka?

  • Tomato Sauce: This recipe starts with a savory or spicy tomato sauce base. First you saute peppers, onion, and garlic in olive oil until they are very soft. Then, add diced or crushed tomatoes and spices.
  • Spice Mix: Shakshuka features a unique blend of spices. After you add the tomatoes to the sauce, add paprika, cumin, cayenne, and nutmeg. Next, simmer for 20 minutes to allow the flavors time to mingle.
  • Large Eggs: Next comes the eggs. Make little wells in the tomato sauce and then crack the eggs into the wells. Next, sprinkle the eggs with a little salt. Cook until the egg whites set up, but yolk is still soft.
  • Fresh Cilantro: After the eggs finish cooking, sprinkle the whole dish with fresh cilantro. This adds a brightness to the dish that you won’t want to miss!
  • Crusty Bread or Pita Bread: Finally, serve your Shakshuka with warm, crusty bread or warm pita bread for dipping.
A slice of sourdough bread with shakshuka on top


What Does Shakshuka Mean?

Shakshuka is an Arabic word meaning “a mixture”. It refers to the mix of peppers, onion, and tomato in the sauce. If you scramble the eggs instead of poaching them, then you have the Turkish version called “menemen”. However, my personal favorite name for it is the Italian name “uova in purgatorio”, meaning “eggs in purgatory”. Uova in Purgatorio closely resembles Shakshuka with the addition of anchovy paste, parsley, and parmesan cheese.

Recipe Tip

Tomato sauce in a cast iron pan

For the tomato sauce, you can use diced or crushed tomatoes, depending on how chunky you like your tomato mixture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Shakshuka spicy?

While it does have very flavorful spices in it, Shakshuka doesn’t have a hot spicy taste. If you are worried about it, then you can omit the cayenne.

Is Shakshuka a breakfast food?

Shakshuka can be enjoyed any time of day! Since it has eggs, most people in the US consider it a breakfast food, but it also makes a great brunch, lunch or dinner.

What other ingredients can you add to Shaksuka?

If you want to add any meat to shakshuka, beef or lamb would compliment well. Or if you want to add some more spice or flavor, red peppers, red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, or black pepper. Feta cheese is also a great addition to this recipe.

Is this recipe gluten-free?

Yes, as long as you use a gluten free bread with it.

READ NEXT: 33+ Breakfast Ideas

More Unique Breakfast Recipes

How to Make Shakshuka

Shakshuka in a cast iron pan with a loaf of bread and cilantro

Shakshuka Recipe

5 from 5 votes
Shakshuka is a delicious, savory dish that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! This easy recipe includes poached eggs, rich tomato sauce, and fresh cilantro.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Breakfast, Dinner
Cuisine Israeli
Servings 4

Video

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 onion diced
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 28 ounces diced or crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
  • crusty bread or pita bread for serving

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a large pan. Add onion, pepper, and garlic. Cook until soft.
    Peppers and onions and garlic in a cast iron pan
  • Add tomatoes, cumin, paprika, nutmeg, and cayenne. Simmer for 20 minutes.
    Tomato sauce in a cast iron pan
  • Make small wells for the eggs. Crack an egg into each well. Sprinkle a little salt on the eggs if desired. Cook until the egg whites are firm, but the yolks are still soft. Sprinkle with cilantro.
    Shakshuka in a cast iron pan with a loaf of bread and a bowl of cilantro.
  • Serve with crusty bread or pita bread for dipping.
    A slice of sourdough bread with shakshuka on top

Notes

Recipe Tips:

  • If you want to add any meat to shakshuka, beef or lamb would compliment well. Or if you want to add some more spice or flavor, red peppers, red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, or black pepper. Feta cheese is also a great addition to this recipe.
  • For the tomato sauce, you can use diced or crushed tomatoes, depending on how chunky you like your tomato mixture.
  • Nutrition facts do not include bread.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 219kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 10gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 164mgSodium: 331mgPotassium: 807mgFiber: 6gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 2597IUVitamin C: 58mgCalcium: 120mgIron: 5mg

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About the author

Kelsey Crist

Kelsey lives in Washington with her husband, Alex, and two cats, Diana and Nova. Her happy place is in the kitchen listening to an audiobook and trying new recipes. When she's not in the kitchen you can find her hiking, shopping at Trader Joe's, or playing Animal Crossing. Her favorite food is pasta and Alex loves when she makes Homemade Oreos.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I’d never heard of this before, but we are always looking for new meals to try and this was perfect! Going to try it for breakfast next time.

  2. 5 stars
    I grew up eating Shakshuka and this was nothing short of my mom’s version. The flavors blend so well and it is easy to make. If you are a fan of breakfast for dinner, it is must try.