Shakshuka gets everyone to the breakfast table, usually for seconds! This easy hearty breakfast recipe is easy to make, packed with flavor and starts the day with a bang!
This recipe will break you out of a breakfast rut AND be the star of any brunch.
Don’t let the exotic name scare you! It’s an easy, homey recipe for a protein-packed breakfast you’ll love.
This savory breakfast makes a delicious meal has lots of flavour. It’s a stunning dish to serve for brunch too.
Jump to:
What is Shakshuka?
Shakshuka is a poached eggs recipe cooked in a thick, rustic homemade spicy tomato sauce.
Indentations in the sauce allow the eggs cook IN the sauce rather than being added before serving.
A large scoop of the sauce is served with one or two of the eggs.
The aromatic spices of cumin and smoked paprika seduce anyone in the kitchen from the smell alone!
Sautéed onion, sweet bell pepper and spicy jalapeno pepper pair with the sweet crushed tomatoes in the Shakshuka sauce in a way even tomato-haters love.
Some recipes call for artichoke hearts, ground beef or ground lamb.
Where is it from?
Shakshuka is generally thought of as a popular Middle East or North African dish.
Some believe it came from Yemen. Others say the Ottoman Empire.
Wherever it originated you’ll be glad it’s on your dining table after just one bite.
Not Just for Breakfast
Add some crusty bread for dipping and you’ll have a perfect meal!
Typically this is a breakfast recipe but it’s so delicious, savory and filling you’ll eat it for brunch, lunch and dinner too.
How Is ‘Shakshuka’ Pronounced?
‘Shock-shoe-kah’ or ‘shack-shoe-kah’ are the most common pronunciations.
Recipe Ingredients + Notes
The ingredients are easy to find and wholesome. The spices are what gives the smoky, spicy depth of flavor!
Olive Oil. Used for sautéing the vegetables.
Yellow Onion. Finely chopped.
Jalapeno Pepper. Seeded and finely chopped. Wash hands well after chopping chile peppers and do not touch eyes or nose!
Red Bell Pepper. This will be seeded and chopped. Other colors of bell peppers can be used as well.
Garlic Cloves. Diced.
Spices: Cumin, Smoked Paprika, Cayenne Pepper. These are the heart and soul of the earthy flavor.
They add depth, smokiness and some spicy heat but not too much.
Kosher Salt. We recommend this type of salt which has a better flavor.
Fire Roasted Crushed Tomatoes. These canned tomatoes have some extra flavor perfect for the shakshuka sauce. If ‘fire roasted’ is not available regular crushed tomatoes can be used.
Eggs. You’ll use 6 eggs. They will all need to fit into the skillet as shown in the photos so select medium or large eggs depending on your skillet size.
Cotija cheese or Feta Cheese. Both of these cheeses are crumbly with big flavor. Salty feta cheese can be purchased in ‘crumbles’ or whole.
This will be sprinkled on top before serving.
Cilantro or Italian Parsley. One of these fresh herbs will be sprinkled on top before serving. Fresh parsley or cilantro each bring a wonderful flavor to the dish.
How to make this Shakshuka Recipe – Step by Step
Use a non cast iron skillet. I recommend using a non cast iron skillet if possible to produce the best tasting Shakshuka. See FAQ’s below for more details.
STEP 1. Make the tomato vegetable sauce
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, bell pepper and jalapeno pepper. Cook stirring often until soft (photo 1).
Add the garlic, aromatic spices and salt; cook for 2 minutes.
Add the crushed tomatoes. Simmer for 20 minutes. The sauce will thicken as it cooks.
STEP 2. Cook the poached eggs
Create small divots (indentations) in the tomato mixture with a large dining spoon, large enough to fit one egg (photo 2). Gently add the egg taking care not to break the yolk (photo 3).
Add all the rest of the eggs in this same way.
STEP 3. Cook the Shakshuka
Cover the skillet and cook on a gentle simmer allowing the eggs to poach in the sauce for 8-10 minutes (photo 4).
Cook just until the egg whites of the eggs are cooked. Then you’ll still have runny yolks when they are cut into.
Sprinkled with the crumbled feta cheese or cotija, and cilantro or parsley before serving. Red pepper flakes can be added for color and more spicy heat.
How to Serve it
A scoop of the sauce, an egg or two are served with crusty toasted sliced of good bread!
Trick to not to Break the Egg Yolk
Instead of breaking the eggs directly over the Shakshuka sauce, there is a trick to get them exactly where you want them with unbroken yolks:
- Gently crack eggs into a ramekin or small bowl (individually).
- Then gently slide the egg into the select spot.
This controls both the egg placement and aids in not breaking the yolk!
How to save time chopping the vegetables
I prep everything I can in my mini chopper. I use it to chop the onions, bell pepper, jalapeno pepper and the garlic cloves. It cuts the chopping time down significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
That highly acidic foods, like citrus or tomatoes, will leach metal from the cast iron pans into the food.
According to America’s Test Kitchen, the issue is not danger from consuming the trace amounts of metal. The concern is that you can taste it in the recipe being made. Using a well-seasoned skillet is a must.
‘Well-seasoned’ means it will have a semi-glossy surface from cooking. This coats the pan in such a way that the metal from the skillet is protected.
The coating helps prevent the metal from easily leaching into the tomato-based food.
Cook until the egg whites are cooked and the yolk will still run when cut into. Approximately 8-10 minutes.
Storing Leftovers
This is a dish best served hot and as soon as it is cooked.
Though the sauce will reheat well the eggs will not have the same consistency when reheated.
My recommendation is to eat it when it is prepared.
More Delicious Breakfast Recipes You’ll Love
- Spicy Chipotle Chicken Breakfast Chilaquiles
- Christmas Breakfast Enchilada Casserole: an Easy Breakfast Casserole All Year Round!
- Bacon-and-Egg Cheese Breakfast Burger Recipe
- Jalapeno Ham Hash (a favorite leftover ham recipe)
Recipe
Shakshuka
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1 medium Yellow Onion peeled and chopped
- 1 Jalapeno Pepper destemmed with seeds scraped out; diced
- 1 Red Bell Pepper stems and seeds removed; chopped
- 4 Garlic Cloves diced
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
- 1 tablespoon Smoked Paprika (not hot smoked paprika)
- ¼ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 28-ounce can Fire Roasted Crushed Tomatoes
- 6 Eggs
- 2 tablespoons Crumbled Cotija or Feta Cheese
- ¼ cup chopped Cilantro or Italian Parsley
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil’s surface ripples add the onion, red pepper and jalapeno. Cook until soft (5-7 minutes).
- Add the garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper and salt; cook 2 additional minutes.
- Lower heat to medium or medium-low, add the tomatoes with any liquids; simmer uncovered for 20 minutes stirring periodically.
- To add the eggs: crack an egg into a ramekin or small bowl. Using a larger dining spoon, make a divot or indentation in the tomato sauce large enough to fit the egg (planning out enough room for all 6 eggs with space between). Gently pour the egg into the divot and repeat for remaining eggs.
- Cover and cook over medium heat until whites are done but yolk is still runny; 8-10 minutes.
- Serve with a scoop of the sauce, egg and crusty bread.
Video
Nutrition
Originally published: May 7, 2018
Shakshuka is a hearty, wholesome breakfast recipe that’s easy to make and sure to please!
Lynn Brick says
Is this really spicy? Want to make it for family breakfast with young children.
Toni Dash says
The two ingredients that add spiciness are the jalapeno pepper and the cayenne pepper. Unfortunately jalapenos can range from not spicy at all to very spicy so I couldn’t tell you if it will be really spicy or not.
If you are concerned you can always leave out those two ingredients and offer hot sauce when serving for adult who would enjoy it more spicy.
Judith says
I love this recipe, unfortunately my husband will not eat eggs unless they are in the form of an omelet or scrambled. We lived in North Africa for 5yrs and learned to make it while there. There are just the two of us at home now.
Toni Dash says
Sounds like you get it all for yourself!
Syl says
Made this for a light supper.. Quick and easy to make. LOVE the flavors in the sauce!!! First time around wasn’t as successful for me—the eggs ended up cooked a little more to “medium-boiled” which was still good, but I could just taste how it would’ve been if poached in the sauce just perfectly—richness of perfectly poached egg with the spiciness if the sauce—-mmmm!!! Definitely a keeper!!!
Toni Dash says
I’m so happy to hear this Syl! It’s such a delicious recipe and really for any meal of the day. Now I’m craving some….Thanks for taking your time to leave your comment.
wilhelmina says
This is a great shakshuka recipe! A perfect brunch!
Katie says
This is such an amazing way to make eggs! I love the many flavors and I often make this for supper as well as breakfast!
Julie Blanner says
This looks so filling and delicious! Can’t wait to add this to the breakfast rotation.
Katie says
Never heard of this dish before! It looks AMAZING. Can’t wait to try!
Sara says
Holy goodness! I can’t wait to make this for brunch this weekend. This recipe sounds so yummy!
Natasha says
Wow, never heard of this before! My dad loves poached eggs, will definitely have to make this for him!!
Kristyn says
I haven’t had this before, but I am excited to try it!! Love all kinds of eggs & this sauce sounds delicious!!
Sara Welch says
,I know what I will be having for breakfast tomorrow! Going to start my day off right! Yum!