↑

Classic & Original Homecooking Recipe

The Best of Homecooking

  • Home
    • About Me
    • Work With Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Subscribe!
  • Recipes
    • Popular Posts
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Healthy Dishes
    • Soup
    • Salad
    • Sandwich
    • Cauliflower
    • Drink
    • Cocktail
  • How To
  • Instant Pot
    • Instant Pot Main Dishes
    • Instant Pot Side Dishes
    • Instant Pot Soups
  • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Chicken
    • Beef
    • Seafood
    • Pork
    • Chili
    • Pasta
    • Slow Cooker
    • Vegetarian
  • Dessert
    • Cheesecake
    • Cake
    • Cookies
    • Chocolate
  • Holidays
    • Easter
    • Cinco de Mayo
    • Mother’s Day
    • Father’s Day
    • BBQ
    • 4th Of July
    • Fall Recipes
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas Dinner
    • Christmas Baking
    • Holiday Leftover Recipes
    • New Year’s
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Super Bowl Recipes
    • St. Patrick’s Day
Home » Breakfast » Shakshuka

Shakshuka

Created: May 31, 2021 Updated: July 18, 2022 by Lyuba Brooke 2 Comments

319 shares
Jump to Recipe

Shakshuka is a bright and vibrant tomato based egg dish with a mouthwatering touch of spice. It’s a wonderful one-dish breakfast recipe make with eggs, then cooked in a bed of chunky tomato and vegetable sauce that’s spiced with the perfect amount of cumin, paprika, and red pepper flakes.

A few slices of bread are placed next to a black skillet filled with shakshuka.

Shakshuka

So, what exactly is shakshuka? This incredible egg dish originated in North Africa back in the Ottoman Empire rule. Although, the true origin is a little fuzzy because several other countries claim to have first created this entrée, like Morocco, Yamen, Turkey, and several others. Today, this dish is very popular in Israel, and several other Middle Eastern countries have their own variation. Some include meat, different vegetables and slices of bread.

With as many variations as there are, this one is my favorite. This vegetable version of this tomato stew-like dish with poached eggs is the traditional Israeli version. While you may automatically see this as a breakfast dish because of the eggs, in Israel, it can be served for lunch and dinner as well! Once you try it and experience how delectable it really is, you’ll understand why it’s enjoyed during all hours of the day.

When serving this spicy, mouthwatering Israeli, be sure to also serve some rustic bread, pita, or challah alongside it! The delicious red tomato sauce is so spiced with mouthwatering seasonings, you won’t want to miss a single drop of it. While the dish as a whole is show stopping itself, the piece of bread on the side is like the bow on top of a beautiful gift – it ties it all together!

Ingredients for Shakshuka

The ingredients for shakshuka are placed on a wooden cutting board.
  • Olive Oil – In a pinch, another neutral flavored cooking oil like avocado or vegetable oil will also work.
  • Vegetables – yellow onion and red bell pepper are the main vegetables after tomatoes. The sweetest of the bell peppers pairs well with the slightly sweet yellow onions.
  • Garlic – garlic cloves create a perfect level of depth to the dish as a whole, while also giving just enough of a garlicky flavor to blend well with the other ingredients. However, if you really love garlic, consider adding an additional clove.
  • Whole Peeled Plum Tomatoes – Many might not know this fact about canned tomatoes, but they are in fact picked fresh from the vine before being peeled and canned. I tend to steer clear of most canned vegetables, but canned tomatoes are surprisingly very fresh. Just go with the brand you know and trust.
  • Cumin – Cumin is warm and earthy, which gives even more depth to the dish.
  • Paprika – Made from red peppers, paprika is both sweet and vibrant in color.
  • Crushed Red Pepper Flakes – If you really want to turn up the heat and make this dish spicy, double the amount of crushed red pepper this recipe calls for.
  • Sugar – Use white granulated sugar for best results. You’ll only need a very small pinch.
  • Black Pepper
  • Salt
  • Eggs – 4 to 6 eggs is ideal for this recipe.
  • Cilantro – Fresh minced cilantro is too delicious for words when used in this spicy shakshuka recipe! Among all of the warm, savory ingredients, cilantro adds a touch of freshness that balances everything perfectly.
  • Bread – Use your favorite type of bread to scoop up the rich tomato sauce!
  • Feta Cheese – Adding crumbled feta cheese to this dish is optional, but very highly recommended.

Is Shakshuka Spicy?

It can be spicy or mild – it all depends how much heat you want to add. Some people use cayenne pepper to spice up this dish. I, on the other hand, like to use red pepper flakes because it adds heat to the dish without overpowering other flavors and completely numbing your tongue! You can always increase the amount of red pepper flakes to make it spicier.

How to Make Shakshuka

Add the chopped onion and bell pepper to to a large skillet that’s heated over medium heat with olive oil. Cook the chopped veggies for a few minutes, until they’ve softened.

Onions and peppers are chopped and placed in a skillet.
Garlic is added to the skillet.

Add garlic to the center of the pan and sauté until it’s fragrant. Then, mix it in with the peppers and onions.

Tomatoes are being added to the skillet.
Seasonings have been added to the tomato mixture in the skillet.

Add the entire can of tomatoes to the skillet. With a wooden spoon, gently crush the tomatoes.

Mix in all of the seasonings to the tomato mixture, then lower the heat to medium-low. Stew the vegetables for approximately 20-25 minutes. Make sure to stir from time to time!

Eggs are being cracked into the tomato mixture.
A skillet has been covered, showing raw eggs and tomato stew cooking inside.

Using the back of a spoon, make shallow wells in the tomato stew. Then, crack the eggs into each well.

Cover the skillet and cook for approximately 7-10 minutes. This length of time is determined by how well done you prefer your eggs.

Eggs are fully cooked in the middle of tomato stew and garnished with fresh greens.

When your eggs are cooked to your liking, remove the pan from the heat.

Sprinkle some fresh minced cilantro and feta cheese on top of the shakshuka, if desired, and serve with the bread of your choice. Enjoy!

Shakshuka is garnished and ready to eat.

What do I serve with shakshuka?

Bread, of course! You will almost always see a side of bread with this dish, be it challah, pita, or other regional breads. You will use the bread to scoop up the tomato stew. It’s truly divine! Also, I love to sprinkle crumbled feta cheese on top of the shakshuka just before serving. It’s deliciously complimentary to the tomatoes and eggs.

Can I make it ahead of time?

You can make the tomato stew ahead of time, just don’t let it stew for quite as long. Then, store it in the refrigerator until ready to make the dish for up to 2 days. It’s easy to reheat it in the skillet over medium to medium-low heat, then poach the eggs as described in the recipe.

Bread is placed on the side of Shakshuka.

More Great Breakfast Recipes!

Crustless Quiche – a low-carb quiche made with bacon, cheddar, mushrooms, and spinach, but without crust.

Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise Sauce – soft, poached eggs over warm Canadian bacon, toasted English muffin, and topped with an easy, homemade Hollandaise sauce.

Biscuits and Gravy – soft and fluffy homemade buttermilk biscuits fresh from the oven and topped with easy white sausage gravy.

The BEST French Toast – This classic breakfast recipe features sweet egg-soaked Brioche bread simply cooked in a pan and served with your favorite toppings.

PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER

A few slices of bread are placed next to a black skillet filled with shakshuka.

Shakshuka

Shakshuka is a bright and vibrant tomato based egg dish made with eggs cooked in a bed of chunky tomato and vegetable sauce that's spiced with the perfect amount of cumin, paprika, and red pepper flakes.
4 from 1 vote
Print Pin SaveSaved! Rate
Course: Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 6 (serves 4-6)
Calories: 171kcal
Author: Lyuba Brooke

Ingredients

  • 2-3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion
  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 28 oz can whole peeled plum tomatoes
  • 1 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 1/2-1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 tsp white granulated sugar
  • black pepper
  • salt to taste
  • 6 eggs
  • 2-3 tbsp fresh minced cilantro
  • bread for serving
  • 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese* optional
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Finely chop onion and bell pepper. Smash and mince garlic cloves.
  • Preheat a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil.
  • Add onion and pepper and cook for a few minutes, until completely softened.
  • Push vegetables aside and add garlic to the pan. Sauté garlic until fragrant and mix it in.
  • Add the entire can if whole plum tomatoes to the pan and carefully crush and bread up the tomatoes with a wooden spoon.
  • Mix in salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, sugar, and red pepper flakes. Mix everything well and lower the heat to medium-low. Stew the vegetables for 20-25 minutes. Make sure to stir them from time to time to avoid burning on the bottom.
  • Make a small well (not too deep) with the back of a spoon in the tomato stew and crack and egg into it. Cover the pan with a lid and cook for 7-10 minutes, depending on how well done you like your eggs.
  • Take off the heat when the eggs are done enough.
  • Sprinkle some fresh cilantro on top and if you wish, sprinkle some crumbled feta cheese as well.
  • Serve with bread.

Nutrition

Calories: 171kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 171mg | Sodium: 351mg | Potassium: 419mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1442IU | Vitamin C: 40mg | Calcium: 123mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @willcookforsmiles and tag #willcookforsmiles

LYUBA

ABOUT LYUBA

I’m Lyuba Brooke, mother of 2, the cook, recipe developer, photographer, and author behind willcookforsmiles.com. I share many classic and original recipes, cooking tips, and tutorials. My passion is sharing delicious meals for everyone to try. Read more...

319 shares

Filed Under: Breakfast, Brunch, Eggs, Gluten Free, Middle Eastern

All images and text ©Lyubov Brooke for ©Will Cook For Smiles. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If using my posts in collections and features, please link back to this post for the recipe. Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have variations.

Comments

  1. Kim says

    October 23, 2021 at 8:11 am

    4 stars
    Shakshouka originated in North African countries of Libya and Tunisia. Shakshouka is Arabic for ” mixture ” in Tunisia dialect. It is the quintessential meal 😋 of the Arab world cuisine traditionally served in a cast iron pan or a Tajine as in Morocco. Thank you

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      October 25, 2021 at 11:29 am

      You are so welcome, Kim!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Well, hey there!

I’m Lyuba Brooke, mother of 2, the cook, recipe developer, photographer, and author behind willcookforsmiles.com. I share many classic and original recipes, cooking tips, and tutorials. My passion is sharing delicious meals for everyone to try. Read More.

Easter Recipes

closeup squared view of several potato rolls in a bowl.

Potato Rolls

closeup of scooping out mashed potatoes.

Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes

closeup of sliced prime rib with sauces around.

Prime Rib

squared closeup of baked ham with orange ham glaze.

Baked Ham with Orange Honey Ham Glaze

squared image of scooping out creamy brussels.

Creamy Baked Brussels Sprouts

closeup squared image of scooping out creamed spinach.

Creamed Spinach

pulling part a dinner roll to show the cheesy center.

Cheesy Dinner Rolls

closeup whole vanilla cheesecake with whipped cream.

Vanilla Bean Cheesecake

Our Popular Recipes

top view of chicken piccata in sauce on a plate

Chicken Piccata

closeup of scooping baked ziti out of the baking dish

Baked Ziti

Potato Pancakes

blue baking dish filled with spicy creamy shrimp enchiladas on a white cloth as viewed from above

Spicy Creamy Shrimp Enchiladas

A glass is filled with ice and rum runner cocktail.

Rum Runner

The Best Homemade Hot Chocolate

Top Rated Recipes

The Best French Toast

Cauliflower Parmesan Crisps

Christmas Cheesecake (Cranberry Jam White Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake)

Avocado Salmon Rice Bowl

round decorative bowl filled with apple pie bread pudding topped with ice cream and a fork leaning on the side of the bowl viewed close up.

Apple Pie Bread Pudding

Smores cheesecake on a wooden table

S'Mores Cheesecake Recipe

Sides

30 Min

Pasta

Salads

Breakfast

Drinks

Soups

Gluten Free

FEATURED ON:

featured on

[cp_popup display="inline" style_id="32674" step_id = "1"][/cp_popup]
Buffalo Chicken Wrap with Homemade Ranch

Buffalo Chicken Wrap with Homemade Ranch

January 30, 2023
Delicious,...
The Best Classic Tiramisu

The Best Classic Tiramisu

January 14, 2023
Tiramisu...
Baked Ham with Orange Honey Ham Glaze

Baked Ham with Orange Honey Ham Glaze

December 2, 2022
This...
Chicken Piccata

Chicken Piccata

August 11, 2022
Chicken...
Pad See Ew

Pad See Ew

August 10, 2022
Pad...
Chicken Meatballs

Chicken Meatballs

July 15, 2022
These...
Baba Ganoush

Baba Ganoush

July 1, 2022
Baba...
Painkiller

Painkiller

June 30, 2022
A...
Truffle Fries

Truffle Fries

June 28, 2022
Truffle...
Thai Pineapple Fried Rice

Thai Pineapple Fried Rice

June 21, 2022
Thai...
Privacy Policy
©2023, Classic & Original Homecooking Recipe. Design by Pixel Me Designs