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    Home » Recipes » Breakfast » Easy Shakshuka Recipe (Poached Eggs in Spicy Tomato Sauce)

    PUBLISHED: May 11, 2021 • By Toni Dash 68 Comments

    Easy Shakshuka Recipe (Poached Eggs in Spicy Tomato Sauce)

    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    shakshuka in a skillet - titled image

    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!

    shakshuka in a skillet - titled image

    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?
    • Where is it from?
    • How Is ‘Shakshuka’ Pronounced?
    • Recipe Ingredients + Notes
    • How to make this Shakshuka Recipe – Step by Step
    • How to Serve it
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Storing Leftovers
    • More Delicious Breakfast Recipes You’ll Love
    • Recipe

    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.

    cooked shakshuka in skillet with bread

    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.

    sautéing vegetables for shakhuka sauce

    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.

    cooked shakshuka in skillet

    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.

    shakshuka recipe steps 1-4 photo collage

    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.

    shakshuka in a bowl with bread slice

    How to Serve it

    A scoop of the sauce, an egg or two are served with crusty toasted sliced of good bread!

    making space for cooking eggs in shakshuka

    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:

    1. Gently crack eggs into a ramekin or small bowl (individually).
    2. Then gently slide the egg into the select spot.

    This controls both the egg placement and aids in not breaking the yolk! 

    adding eggs to shakshuka

    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

    Can tomatoes be safely cooked in a cast iron skillet?

    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.

    What is a well seasoned skillet?

    ‘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.

    How long to cook Shakshuka?

    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.

    cooked shakshuka in skillet close up

    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)

    Did you make it? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

    Please SUBSCRIBE and FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER and PINTEREST!

    Recipe

    shakshuka in a skillet with crumbled cheese square image

    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!
    5 from 42 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: North African
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 141kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
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    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

    Calories: 141kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 168mg | Sodium: 517mg | Potassium: 169mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1560IU | Vitamin C: 30.3mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 1.4mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!

    Originally published: May 7, 2018

    Shakshuka is a hearty, wholesome breakfast recipe that’s easy to make and sure to please!

    « Spicy One Pot Pasta recipe
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    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutrition Coach and the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavore®. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her seasonal recipes bring excitement to the dining table for both gluten-free and gluten diners. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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    Comments

    1. Lynn Brick says

      February 04, 2021 at 9:25 am

      Is this really spicy? Want to make it for family breakfast with young children.

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        February 04, 2021 at 10:08 am

        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.

        Reply
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    About Toni Dash

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    Welcome! I’m Toni. I’m a Certified Nutrition Coach and my goal is to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER with delicious, well-tested recipes and travel tips! More About Me …

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