Yotam Ottolenghi's Shakshuka Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Serves a Crowd

by: Food52

November29,2016

4

23 Ratings

  • Cook time 30 minutes
  • Serves 4

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Author Notes

This shakshuka comes from the inimitable Yotam Ottolenghi and his cookbook Jerusalem (10 Speed Press, 2011). Great for breakfast at dinner or the most comforting brunch ever. Homemade harissa makes it even better. —Food52

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

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Yotam Ottolenghi'sShakshuka

Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoonsolive oil
  • 1 teaspoonharissa (homemade, if you'd like)
  • 2 teaspoonstomato paste
  • 2 (2 cups / 300 grams) large red peppers, diced in 1/4-inch pieces
  • 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoonground cumin
  • 5 cups(800 grams) very ripe tomatoes, chopped; canned are also fine
  • 4 large eggs, plus 4 egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup(120 grams) labneh or thick yogurt
  • 1 pinchsalt
Directions
  1. In a large frying pan over medium heat, warm the olive oil and then add the harissa, tomato paste, red peppers, garlic, cumin, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Saute for about 10 minutes, until the peppers soften. Add the tomatoes, bring to a gentle simmer, and cook for another 10 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.
  2. Make eight little dips in the sauce. Gently break the eggs and carefully pour each int its own dip. Do the same with the yolks, Use a fork to swirl the egg whites a little bit with the sauce, taking care not to break the yolks. Simmer gently for 8 to 10 minutes, until the egg whites are set but the yolks are still running. Remove from the heat, leave for a couple of minutes to settle, then spoon into individual plates. and serve with the labneh or yogurt.

Tags:

  • Middle Eastern
  • Cumin
  • Vegetable
  • Egg
  • Serves a Crowd
  • New Year's Day
  • New Year's Eve
  • Vegetarian
  • Food52 Pantry
  • Entree
  • Breakfast
  • Side

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Barbara J Kilian

  • Frank

  • Terri

  • Macheese

Popular on Food52

9 Reviews

Terri April 15, 2022

Just found this channel on my Roku TV.
Can’t wait to try all these yummy recipes. Starting with Shakshuka from Otto. Yum!!

Macheese October 25, 2021

I love this recipe! I made it in my IP. Sauteed the red peppers/ cumin/ harissa etc first then added in tomatoes and cooked 5 minutes on manual setting. Didn’t quick release. Added 4 whole eggs and then did the manual setting for 1 minute. I was doing several other things at home and wanted the luxury of not having to tend to it. Came out delicious. I did not quick release after the eggs were done so the yolks were well cooked- next time I’m going to quick release so I can see if they’re a bit softer.
Super easy and I’m already planning a brunch with this as the main 😃😋

Barbara J. September 22, 2019

Before I heard of satshuka, I used to do this with left over Ethiopian food. Then when I learned to make Ethiopian food, I did it as a main dish. I do a similar satshuka without bell pepper (a loathed ingredient in my home). Tips for getting the eggs cooked: out a lid on it or tos under broiler.

Susan B. April 13, 2019

We enjoyed this dish. However, my eggs were still raw after the 8-10 mins. of simmering called for by the recipe. And I did spoon the sauce up over the whites. After 20 minutes, including turning it up to a higher simmer and using a lid, I went ahead and served it. I think it could have cooked even longer but my wife had to leave. I’ve seen another version where one takes a fork and drags the eggs into the sauce at the end of cooking time which might explain the 4 egg yolks to add a creamier texture. I served it with fresh cauliflower rice cooked with coconut oil, plenty of salt and a small pinch of white pepper. I’ll definitely make it again as it was super easy and different. Next time I’ll allow plenty of time for the eggs to poach. Also, I may add another 1/2 tsp of harissa. 1 tsp. of harissa made for just a mild heat.

JESSICA September 19, 2019

I add a full tsp of harissa (we like it spicy) and I usually pass this under the broiler to cook the eggs right. I also add some crumbled feta and sprinkle Za'atar on top at the end.

Anonymous November 29, 2020

I just make the sauce, of any shakshuka recipe, plate enough for just my husband and myself (that would be half of this recipe) and top with a fried egg. That way I have control on the doneness of the eggs (my husband likes hard yolks, and I like runny). And then I save the rest of the sauce for another meal, and top with fried eggs again. So much easier!

melissa December 20, 2016

is there a reason to use 4 eggs + 4 yolks, rather than just 8 eggs?

X January 1, 2017

I just used 4 "Happy Eggs" which are huge, and didn't stir them into the sauce but rather poached them. It came out really good.

Frank November 11, 2018

I would assume to add a creamy richness without the "egg" flavor.

Yotam Ottolenghi's Shakshuka Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Yotam Ottolenghi's Shakshuka Recipe on Food52? ›

Shakshuka typically has a deeper, more intricate flavor from the blend of spices used, with whole, runny eggs that mix into the sauce. Menemen, in contrast, showcases the freshness of its primary ingredients, with less emphasis on spices.

What's the difference between shakshuka and menemen? ›

Shakshuka typically has a deeper, more intricate flavor from the blend of spices used, with whole, runny eggs that mix into the sauce. Menemen, in contrast, showcases the freshness of its primary ingredients, with less emphasis on spices.

What time of day is shakshuka eaten? ›

Popular in Israel, shakshouka is a savory egg entree made with tomatoes, peppers and onions. Though it's most commonly served as a main dish for breakfast, it's also eaten for lunch and dinner.

What is traditionally served with shakshuka? ›

Shakshuka is a classic North African and Middle Eastern breakfast dish. This recipe is simple and satisfying, featuring eggs poached in a bell pepper and tomato sauce. Serve it with pita or crusty bread for breakfast or brunch...or dinner!

Is shakshuka Israeli or African? ›

Even though many people today associate shakshuka with Israel, it actually originated in North Africa and the Ottoman Empire: the only reason shakshuka is eaten in Israel is because North African Jewish immigrants brought it there.

Is shakshuka Arabic or Israeli? ›

Shakshuka is a staple of Tunisian, Libyan, Algerian, and Moroccan cuisines traditionally served up in a cast iron pan with bread to mop up the sauce (most important). It is also popular in Israel, where it was introduced by Tunisian Jews. These Sephardic Jews came from Spain, Portugal and the Middle East.

What kind of bread to eat with shakshuka? ›

Bread or pita bread.

For a very western version, you'll want to make a classic no-knead bread (super easy!) for the occasion. But for a Middle Eastern version like the one I'm suggesting here, you'll swap white bread with pita bread!

Can you eat day old shakshuka? ›

Yes! Shakshuka is one of my favorite recipes to meal prep because it reheats beautifully. Honestly, it may even taste better the next day…

How do you not overcook eggs in shakshuka? ›

After breaking the eggs into the sauce, gently spoon some of the sauce over just the whites. This helps the whites cook faster so they set before the yolks overcook. Cover and rotate. Covering the skillet allows the eggs to steam-cook, which moves things along.

What is the chefs secret to best scrambled eggs? ›

The approach is simply to crack the eggs into a non-stick sauce pan, add in a few pats of cold butter, turn on the heat and begin to stir constantly and vigorously, on and off the heat. The result of this technique is creamy, soft, silky scrambled eggs. You won't believe the difference.

What religion is shakshuka? ›

In Jewish culture, a large batch of tomato stew is made for the Sabbath dinner and the leftovers used the following morning to make a breakfast shakshouka with eggs.

What country is shakshuka from? ›

Traditional shakshuka originally came from North Africa--Tunisia is said to be its place of birth--but it is quite popular in the Middle East and you'll find variations of it in Palestine, Israel, Egypt and many other places.

What is the ethnicity of shakshuka? ›

Sephardic Jews from Libya and Tunisia brought shakshuka to the newly created state of Israel in the 1950s and 1960s but it wasn't until the 1990s that the dish became a mainstay of menus there. Much of its current popularity in Israel is due to Bino Gabso, the son of Jewish emigrés from Tripoli.

Do you eat shakshuka with a spoon? ›

It's a quick, flavourful, and satisfying meal, especially after a long day. Also, it is perfectly acceptable to eat shakshuka straight out of the pan, using wedges of pita bread as your spoon. Of course, if you prefer a knife and fork, spoon the eggs with their sauce over lightly toasted bread.

What to eat with shakshuka without bread? ›

Eat Shakshuka on its own or serve it with some low carb sides such as sauteed or oven roasted vegetables such as Oven Roasted Moroccan Cauliflower, or low carb bread. To serve as a main meal, try serving it with a simple salad and some Cauliflower Cous Cous.

What does menemen mean in Turkish? ›

Menemen is a Turkish breakfast staple. It's their version of scrambled eggs. It's eggs cooked with non spicy green chilies and tomato. There are of course variations of it that use Sujuk which is a Turkish sausage, Pastrima which is a cured beef cold cut and even versions with onions.

Are Turkish eggs the same as shakshuka? ›

Turkish menemen is very similar to shakshuka, but there's a lesser-known Turkish eggs recipe that's incredibly delicious too. This, called cilbir, involves poaching eggs, then laying them on a swirl of garlic-infused yoghurt, topping with a nutty chilli butter and fresh dill fronds.

What is menemen made of? ›

Menemen is basically scrambled eggs with tomatoes, peppers and, sometimes, onions. The seasoning is quite simple and often includes a dash of dried herbs (I used oregano) and a touch of heat from some chili flakes.

What country is known for shakshuka? ›

Shakshuka is a simple dish made of gently poached eggs in a delicious chunky tomato and bell pepper sauce. Said to have originated in Tunisia, this breakfast recipe is popular in many parts of North Africa and the Middle East. It is so satisfying, you can serve it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

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