Shakshuka is, in a broad interpretation, popular throughout much of north Africa. It’s commonly thought to have originated in Libya or Tunisia, though various accounts exist with some claiming its origin is Yemenite or even Ottoman.
Whatever the origin, Israelis and the Jewish diaspora can probably take much of the credit for the dish’s trendy turn throughout much of the west in the last decade or so.
With a simple dish such as shakshuka, the possibilities are endless. I prefer mine simple. The key is, like virtually all cooked tomato based sauces, to leave the tomatoes to cook for long enough for the flavour to really develop.
If you like, throw in some of your favourite spices, cheese or even sausage.
I usually make the sauce the night before. That way, all I need to do in the morning is to reheat the sauce, crack in the eggs and enjoy…
Serves 3-6, depending on what else is on offer.
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, halved and thinly sliced
- 2 red romano peppers, cored and cut into long strips
- 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- ½ fresh chilli, finely chopped (optional)
- 1 Tbsp tomato paste, optional – only needed if your tomatoes aren’t amazing
- 800 g tomato, fresh or tinned, chopped
- 6 eggs
- flat-leaf parsley, to garnish
- pul biber (Aleppo pepper), or other chilli flakes
- salt and pepper
How I make it
- Heat a large, thick bottomed pan with high sides over medium heat. Fry the onion and peppers in the olive oil until the vegetables are softened but not coloured, 10-15 minutes, stirring regularly to ensure they don’t colour.
- Add the garlic, chilli (if using) and tomato paste (if using). Stir constantly until it smells fragrantly of garlic but the garlic, about a minute. Stir constantly and make sure the garlic doesn’t colour.
- Add tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Stir well, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low and leave to simmer, covered, until the sauce is thick and delicious, at least 15 minutes, preferably half an hour or more. You can make ahead until this point and store for up to two days in the fridge before reheating and continuing, adding a splash of water if the sauce has become too thick.
- Make six dents in the shakshukah and break the eggs in. Put the lid back on and continue to simmer on low/medium heat until the eggs are as you like them. I prefer a runny yolk, with the whites just cooked – that takes 4-5 minues. Serve immediately topped with a sprinkling of freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley and Aleppo pepper.
2 responses
I just made this recipe. It turned out so delicious and easy to make. My family loved it. Thank you!
Vidar, absoluted delicioussssss
Many thanks
Milena