If eggs poached in an easy homemade spicy tomato-vegetable sauce topped with crumbled cheese and cilantro sounds good to you, you’ll love to start your day with this Shakshuka recipe! Crusty bread for dipping too.
I love a spicy protein-filled breakfast especially on the weekend when I have a bit more time to cook. With Cinco de Mayo, I have been craving Mexican flavors for about a month now (check my Instagram Stories for regular margarita and taco appearances).
Today’s easy Shakshuka recipe is filling and pungent with earthy spices, and also easy to make.
How Is ‘Shakshuka’ Pronounced?
First, you may be looking at the word ‘shakshuka’ wondering how to pronounce it. ‘Shock-shoe-kah’ or ‘shack-shoe-kah’ are the most common pronunciations for this Northern African dish.
What is Shakshuka?
Shakshuka is a poached eggs recipe cooked in a thick, rustic homemade spicy tomato-vegetable sauce. It includes a fun trick of making indentations in the sauce itself so the eggs cook IN the sauce rather than being added before serving.
A healthy scoop of the sauce is served with one or two of the eggs (my teen son came back for a total of three helpings) and some crusty bread for dipping.
Even Tomato Haters Love This Shakshuka Recipe
Tomatoes seem to be a polarizing vegetable, at least in my family. The dislike runs more strongly in the males for some reason. Just the remark of their presence can turn some off before the first bite.
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 lend a wonderful contrasting set of flavors to the sweet crushed tomatoes.
How to make this Shakshuka Recipe – Step by Step:
Olive oil is heated in a large skillet to sauté chopped onions, bell pepper and jalapeno pepper until soft.
Aromatic spices and kosher salt are added to the vegetables to cook for 2 minutes. Finally the crushed tomatoes are added and simmered for 20 minutes making a flavorful thick sauce.
Once the sauce has simmered, divots or indentations are made with a large dining spoon, large enough to fit one egg.
PRO TIP: instead of cracking the egg directly into the prepared indentation in the spicy tomato sauce, the egg is first cracked into a ramekin or small bowl. Then the egg is gently slid into the select spot. This controls the egg placement and aids in not breaking the yolk!
Once all the eggs are in place, the skillet is covered and the eggs allowed to poach gently in the sauce for 8-10 minutes until the whites are cooked and the yolk will still run when cut into.
A scoop of the sauce, an egg or two are served with crusty toasted sliced of bread!
TIME SAVING PREP TIP: 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 is a definite time saver.
Is It OK to Cook Tomatoes in a Cast Iron Skillet: Yes or No?
I dug into the caution to NOT cook acidic food in cast iron skillets after running into tomato-based dishes in cast iron skillets all over Pinterest.
The issue or belief is that highly acidic foods like citrus or tomatoes will leach metal from the cast iron into the food. Apparently, according to America’s Test Kitchen, the issue is not danger from consuming the trace amounts of metal but that you can taste it in the recipe being made.
Using a well-seasoned skillet is a must. ‘Well-seasoned’ meaning it will have a semi-glossy surface from cooking that coats the pan in such a way that the metal from the skillet is protected. This would aid in the metal not being easily leached into the tomato-based food.
Despite there not being consumption safety issues, I would recommend using a non cast iron skillet if possible to produce the best tasting Shakshuka.
More Hearty 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
If you’ve tried this Shakshuka recipe or any other recipe on BoulderLocavore.com please don’t forget to RATE THE RECIPE and let me know where you found it in the comments below, I love hearing from you!
Please SUBSCRIBE and FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK , TWITTER , INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more delicious food, travel and what I’m up to!
Shakshuka
Shakshuka is a delicious spicy homemade tomato-vegetable sauce which eggs are poached in. It's an easy recipe and one that always dazzles for breakfast or another time of the day!
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.
robin rue says
I had never heard of shakshuka before and this is the 2nd time I have seen it today! It’s totally a sign that I need to make it.
Toni Dash says
Definitely!
Scott says
That’s a dish I’ve never even heard of! But looking through the ingredients, looks like something I’d really enjoy. Any chance of just sending some over?! 😉
Melissa Chapman says
I love the idea of making eggs a completely new way ike this. I would love to try this for my son who always needs a new recipe for eggs which he will always eat.
Colleen Cayes says
Heavens to Betsy, this looks good! I can almost smell the aroma by looking at the pictures. And it looks pretty easy to make. I can just see myself coming back for third helpings! This would be a fantastic brunch for guests this summer – not what they are expecting, something unique with special flavors. Thank you!
Snegolenka says
I’ll tell you honestly, I’m a real gourmet maniac! I adore good dishes that are not only delicious, but also beautifully look it’s just my paradise for the eyes and stomach 🙂
Thank you for your recipes, which you describe step by step, and for wonderful photos. It’s after your photos I want to go to the kitchen and “create” 🙂
Krystel | Travel on a Budget says
I really had no idea what poached eggs are but this looks really good. Would love to try
Toni Dash says
Have you ever had Eggs Bennedict by any chance Krystel? Poaching eggs is a way to cook them in water usually. You gently crack an egg into simmering water then fish them out with a slotted spoon and eat them on toast (or an English Muffin in the case of Eggs Bennedict). Shakshuka poaches them in the tomato sauce directly so they cook as you see in the photos and then are eaten with some of the sauce. It’s delicious and easy to make!
Krista says
This is one of my favorite brunch recipes! I cannot wait to try your recipe!
Maureen says
This looks like a really delicious idea to make. I am going to give your easy shakshuka recipe a try soon. I will have to just pick up the ingredients.
Autumn Reo says
This is a great idea for a classic elegant brunch! And it’s super easy too! I love everything about this recipe.
Jennifer Hawkins says
Oh my gosh! Now that is the way to start a morning!! I think my friends would love this for brunch next weekend!
Amy says
I have never tried this recipe before but I think it sounds fabulous!! I would love to try some on some crusty bread.
Claudia Krusch says
It sounds so interesting! I can’t wait to try your recipe!
Kathy says
Yum, this looks amazing! I’ve never even heard of this before. Now I know I must try it. It looks so good!
krystal says
Soooo… I’ve never had SHAKSHUKA…. and I’ve never heard of it either! Where has this been hiding?! Looks awesome.
I Heart Naptime says
What a great idea! This looks fabulous!
Theresa says
We are tomato lovers here, so it would definitely be a dish my whole family would love. I have never even heard of Shakshuka before today, but now that it’s on my radar, I can’t wait to try it for myself!
Sinisa says
This is such an amazing dish. I wish I could make it every day. Simple and tasty
Erin Dee says
This looks so delicious! I would love to start my day with this breakfast!
Janis says
Shakshuka is one of my favorite Sunday meals. Yours looks absolutely delicious and I must try making your recipe when my kids come home from college.
Demeter says
This looks like such a great breakfast option when company is over. So creative!
Dee says
This sounds like the perfect weekend breakfast. Love the flavors here!
daw says
Shakshuka sounds like a delicious way to start my mornings. The flavor combos are making my mouth water!
Toni Dash says
Plus it’s fun to say outloud lol!
My Teen Guide says
Oh wow. Looks so hearty! I haven’t tried Shakshuka yet but this sure looks like something I would love to try! Another one to add to our list of favorite dishes!
Reesa Lewandowski says
I have never made poached eggs, but this sounds like something I can do. What a great brunch recipe, especially with the crusty bread!
Sarah says
This is one yummy looking dish! I would eat this up so quick. I need to try making it for a brunch soon.
Allyson Zea says
I love making shashuka and I love how heathy it is too! I can’t wait to try your version! YUM!
Megan says
Definitely going to try this at our next brunch gathering. The flavors look amazing.
Toni Dash says
It’s really SO good and so easy to make! Will you let me know what you think once you’ve made it?