Shakshuka

A holiday breakfast egg dish with vibrant and bright tomato sauce topped with cheese and poached eggs.

Posted On: Mar, 30 |  Author:
Shakshuka
Diet Info: DF GF F LF Na LS VG V Fa

Sharing today, amazing Shakshuka recipe with tomatoes, bell pepper, herbs, and spices cooked to a delicious sauce topped with cheese and soft baked (poached) eggs. Eggs cook on top of sauce. A delicious magic happens when runny egg yolks combine with tangy tomato sauce. It is a simple and easy breakfast recipe with humble every-day ingredients. But the flavors are such bold and addictive that it is often in our Sunday brunch menu.

Shakshuka or Shakshouka is popular in North Africa and Middle East. Traditional version is made with only eggs, tomatoes and spices. I layer cheese in Shakshuka sauce to balance the flavor of tangy tomatoes. Cream cheese is not traditional Shakshuka ingredient but it makes this humble egg and tomato dish extra special. (I highly recommend it)

The bright flavor of sauce, delicious flavor of spices (my obsession), creamy cheese and fresh herbs give this dish lots of color, flavor and festive presentation. Just bring a bread and brunch table is set.

Today, I'm also including a tutorial on how to adapt Shakshuka Recipe to your family's diet preference. Also sharing alternate cooking method if you have oven full of other holiday dinner dishes.

So, what do you say? Let's make Shakshuka!

Baked Egg and Cheese Shakshuka Recipe

Shakshuka Spice Blend:

Spices used in Shakshuka vary from region to region. I like Shakshuka with following spices:

1. Paprika and Chili Flakes Or Cayenne: Paprika for color and flavor. Chili flakes for heat or cayenne for mild kick. 
2. Cumin: Roasted cumin seeds ground. The roasted cumin is base spice flavor of Shakshuka.
 I'm addicted to flavor of cumin and paprika in Shakshuka. Once you try recipe yourself, you can adapt it per taste and use other spices.

(I still recommend a little touch of cumin.)

How to make Shakshuka in Skillet:

You can also prepare Shakshuka all the way in skillet and no baking. In last step of recipe where I suggest to bake Shakshuka with eggs. Simply add eggs, set the stove to medium-low. Cover and let cook until egg set to your liking. The heat from cooked peppers and tomatoes, and covered pan create an oven effect to poach the eggs. 

In short, this recipe is Holiday Approved. Even if oven is busy cooking all other dishes for dinner. Shakshuka can be prepared on stove for delicious family brunch.

Shakshouka Recipe

Shakshuka Eggs:

My family likes half-set (perfect poached) eggs for Shakshuka. I mean, egg whites set and yolk runny. The runny yolk adds creaminess to tomatoes once sauce is mixed with it. If you want same. Keep an eye while last few minutes of baking. Serve immediatly or eggs yolk will start to set. You can also bake eggs fully. Like I can't eat half-baked eggs due to diet preference. So, I take a portion of Shakshuka and cook it all way through for me (in a separate small skillet once brunch is served).

This reminds me, this recipe doubles easily. Also, can be halved easily. As a rule of thumb, add at-least one egg per person. Choose the size of baking dish/bake-safe-skillet accordingly.

How to serve Shakshuka:

Shakshuka is traditionally a breakfast or brunch recipe. I have visited Israeli restaurant once during Passover. During that time bread was not served. If you serving Shakshuka for informal Easter brunch... Serve side of bread to scoop the amazing zingy Shakshuka sauce. Pita bread, French bread, or even Naan works great. 

If serving for a formal Easter lunch. I recommend using your traditional side dishes.  

In my home, Shakshuka is also famous breakfast-for-dinner dish. I love serving it over a bowl of Spaghetti. The runny egg and tomato sauce mimics a good creamy pasta sauce. Works like charm every time. This reminds me of my Ratatouille recipe. It is also a tomato-based dish and favorite of my family. It always receives rave reviews. I highly recommend trying it.

Low-carb Tip: Serve it over zucchini noodles for wholesome low-carb Shakshuka for dinner.

Shakshuka with bread dipped in egg yolk

Make-Ahead Shakshuka:

Shakshuka recipe has signature baked (poached) eggs which are runny when broken-into to give sauce silky texture. So, to make-ahead I like to prepare only Shakshuka Sauce - that is sauted bell pepper, tomatoes, garlic, onions with spices. I leave the step of adding cheese and baking eggs for just before serving. Eggs bake in 8-12 minutes. So, it is not a labor intensive or time-consuming step.

Okay, to make ahead:

1) Cook sauce at night. Refrigerate.
2) When ready to use, transfer sauce to baking dish. Top with drizzle of olive oil to revive the flavor of tomatoes. Top with cheese (if using). Top with eggs. Bake and serve!

Easy Shakshuka recipe with baked eggs

 Nothing beats the flavor of spices singing with garlicky tangy tomato pepper sauce coated in egg yolks. It is an easy and flavor-packed breakfast recipe. Specially great for sharing with family for holiday get togethers.

I hope you will like it as much as we do.

Happy Easter my friends.

Enjoy!

Shakshuka

5 (8 reviews)
Shakshuka
Total Time: Prep Time: Cook Time: Cuisine: Mediterranean () Difficulty: Easy
Yields: 4-5 Servings - Serves: 5
(No. of servings depends on serving size.)

Ingredients

Smart Swap: For dairy-free Shakshuka, use vegan cheese or skip cheese.

Directions

  • 1. Preheat oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat oil in a wide saute pan (make sure pan has cover-able lid for later step). Add sliced onion and bell pepper with pinch of salt. Saute until veggies are very soft. (5-6 minutes)
  • 2. Add all the spices with garlic. Saute for 30 seconds.
  • 3. Add diced tomatoes (including cherry tomatoes) with a 1/2 tsp salt. Mix well. Cook for 12-15 minutes or until tomatoes has almost disintegrated and created a thick sauce. If sauce seems sticky at bottom add splash of water. I also cover it with lid after first 5 minutes for more even cooking.
  • 4. Once sauce has cooked. Taste and adjust salt. Fold in half of the herbs. (make sure sauce is not too thin. If so cook 1-2 minutes on rapid heat). Transfer sauce to a baking dish (9.5 inches). Fold in diced cream cheese spaced 1-2 inch apart. Top with cracked eggs (yolk intact) one in each corner. Additional Notes: I arrange eggs in circle pulling any whites inside so white not set at corners.
  • 5. Season eggs with salt and black pepper. Bake at 375 for 8-12 minutes or until egg whites are set. Take out. Garnish with remaining fresh chopped herbs. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Savita's Notes:

*Try to add 1 egg per person. 9.5" dish (that I used) holds 5 eggs well. For more eggs use wider dish.

**Tomatoes: About 4-5 medium, very ripe roma tomatoes or cherry tomatoes on the vine. Tomatoes should be deep red and ripe. Sweetness of tomatoes is important for delicious tasty Shakshuka. Firm or raw tomatoes are not for this dish.

Cheese: Other common cheese paired with Shakshuka are: feta cheese, goat cheese. If using feta, make sure to adjust salt to taste since feta has salt in it.

Disclaimer: Recipe slightly inspired from Cooking NYTimes
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19 Responses

  1. Hi! I just made this (still in the oven) and I didn't see where to put the halved cherry tomatoes in. Also, if you could tell me how to adapt the recipe for canned diced tomatoes, I would love that! Thank you!
    Hi Julie, Thanks for pointing out. I cook cherry tomatoes with regular diced tomatoes in Step - 3. I should have mentioned it. Updated it now. Idea to use to cherry tomatoes was to add some sweetness as sometimes large tomatoes are not that ripe and sweet. This recipe can be easily adapted for canned diced tomatoes. In Step - 3, add canned tomatoes with juice, without salt if canned tomatoes have salt added, or otherwise add 1/2 tsp. Mix well. Cook for 8-10 minutes or until tomatoes are cooked, and thicken creating a thick sauce (no water hanging around). Follow rest of the steps as-is. I hope it helps. I hope you enjoy, Shakshuka.
  2. Hi there, Do you add the halved cherry tomatoes at the same time as the diced tomatoes? Thanks, look forward to trying this!
    Hi Samantha, I add all tomatoes at once - cherry tomatoes along with diced tomatoes. Idea of adding cherry tomatoes is more for sweetness than texture. If you have good ripe and sweet tomatoes in-hand, you can even skip cherry and replace with 2 more tomatoes. Recipe notes describe why ripe tomatoes are important for this recipe. I hope it helps. Happy cooking.
  3. Hadnt enough tomatoes so used left over tomato paste, but recipe still worked...family delighted with new breakfast treat. This was big experiment for me, as learning to use new herbs & spices in my cooking. Thank you.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    Hi Cynthia, I'm so glad to hear your family enjoyed Shakshuka. It was smart to use tomato paste instead of portion of tomatoes. I can imagine the tang it can provide. Herbs and spices always define delicious for me. High Five for trying new herbs and spices in cooking. Thanks for letting me know your feedback. I appreciate it.
  4. I’m was so excited to find this easy and sinfully delicious recipe. For my taste, I use an extra pinch of cumin and use a Smoked Spanish Paprika. Pepare in a cast iron skillet, so I can make, bake, and serve all in one dish. Accompany with a side of warm flour tortilla to scoop up the juices. (I live in New Mexico) My guests rave about this dish and always ask for the recipe.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    Virginia, thank so much for sweet words. Sound like you are also a big shakshuka fan. Cumin is my favorite flavor in this dish and I like to use roasted cumin for pronounced flavor. I love your idea of serving warm flour tortillas on side. (on my to-try list) Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
  5. THIS is quite possibly the most memorable Shakshuka Ive ever seen {and I dont say things just to flatter people}. I am soooo adding this to my make that list. Meanwhile, Ill be pinning it to all the boards :) Love the ingredient combo, the colors, the textures! Cant wait to make it!
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    Traci, thanks so much for such sweet words. Your feedback made me very happy. I hope you get chance to try my version sometime.
  6. This sounds amazing- I love the idea of making shakshuka for a big holiday brunch, especially as a hearty main that can be cooked all the way on the stovetop!
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    That was the idea! Make homemade breakfast yet spare the oven to cook everything dinner. I hope you get chance to try it. Thanks for stopping by.
  7. That Shakshuka and its sauce looks amazing! I would gladly dunk my bread into that all day long. Love your spices!
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    Spices rock my world. And this shakshuka was no exception. It's meant to have some earthy flavor of cumin. I'm glad you like it.
  8. I'm such a fan of shakshuka and make it all the time. But your version is extra vibrant and sounds delicious. Will have to give it a try!
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    Lisa, thanks for sweet words. Don't they say, "we eat with eyes first". The colors of shakshuka are best to sell this dish to a first-time-try. Once they try, I often get requests to make again. :)
  9. This is one of my favourite meals and we often eat it for dinner too. We add loads of feta to ours.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    Thanks Dannii. I like to keep check on amount of cheese we eat. It's okay for festive breakfast, for dinner I never load it with cheese rather reduce to half or not use it.
  10. All of my favorite ingredients in one dish! Heaven.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★