Tomato and Pepper Shakshuka

Shakshuka cooks eggs directly in a simmering tomato and pepper sauce. Make small wells so the whites set evenly, and cover the pan briefly if the tops need help cooking. Serve from the skillet with bread for the sauce. This recipe serves four.

Serves: 4
Prep: 12 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
• 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt, plus more to taste
• 4 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• Warm flatbread or crusty bread, to serve

Method

1. Warm the olive oil in a wide lidded skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook for 6 to 8 minutes until softened.
2. Stir in the garlic, cumin, paprika, and red pepper flakes for 30 seconds.
3. Add the crushed tomatoes and salt. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook uncovered for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick enough to hold shallow wells.
4. Make four wells in the sauce and crack an egg into each one. Cover the pan and cook over low heat for 5 to 8 minutes, checking until the whites are set and the yolks are as firm as you prefer.
5. If the whites remain translucent on top, cover for another minute and check again. Keep the sauce at a gentle simmer rather than a hard boil.
6. Scatter parsley over the pan and serve with warm bread.

Variations

Add a handful of spinach to the sauce before the eggs, or crumble feta over the top at serving. Use two 14.5-ounce cans of diced tomatoes in place of crushed tomatoes and simmer until the sauce thickens.

Storage and reheating

For best texture, poach only the eggs you plan to serve. Refrigerate extra sauce promptly in a covered container for up to 4 days, then reheat it in a skillet and cook fresh eggs in it.

Try the breakfast plan for early-start weeks and grocery list for a week of breakfasts when planning brunch. Schedule the ingredients in the Lucru Home meal planner.