Shakshuka Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes | Aline Made (2024)

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Poached eggs in a tomato sauce with beautiful flavors and a handful of fresh herbs – that’s Shakshuka! Serve it with fresh bread, and you have a wonderful one-pot meal!

Shakshuka Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes | Aline Made (1)

Shakshuka Origin

Shakshuka (also spelled shakshouka) is a vegetarian meal born in North Africa, though its origin may go back to the Ottoman Empire.

Today it’s strongly associated with the Middle East and Israel in particular, where Jewish immigrants introduced it. It has become more popular in the western world during the last years and is a signature dish among the Levant kitchen.

What Is Shakshuka?

It’s a very simple dish that is easy to cook with no pitfalls. Shakshuka essentially means “mixed up”, which reflects its casual composition.

Garlic, onion, bell pepper, and fresh tomatoes are cooked among some fresh herbs and spices. Once the sauce has bubbled for a while, wells are formed into the sauce. Raw eggs are cracked directly into them and poached in the sauce. This is the classic version, yet you can vary it greatly!

Some like to top it with crumbled feta, and others prefer a green shakshuka made with green vegetables.

Shakshuka Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes | Aline Made (2)

Shakshuka is typically served for brunch or breakfast and can be eaten straight out of the pan. I love to serve it with one of those homemade crusty bread:

  • Turkish Pide Bread
  • Pita Bread
  • No-Knead Bread

Such an easy recipe that is bursting with flavor and a must-try if you love the Arabic cuisine. The use of fresh mint, ground cumin, and cayenne pepper gives this dish its typical middle eastern taste.

Fresh Tomatoes

Shakshuka with fresh tomatoes is my favorite way to cook it. The tomatoes should be very ripe and, therefore, sweet and juicy.

If you don’t have ripe tomatoes at hand, use canned peeled tomatoes instead.

One last note:As you serve it directly in your pan, it will keep the temperature quite long. Keep in mind that the eggs will still cook a little more once you take them from the heat. Therefore, reduce the cooking time if you love your eggs runny.

Shakshuka Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes | Aline Made (3)

How To Make This Shakshuka Recipe

Read through this visual step-by-step guide with lots of extra tips!

The exact quantities and everything else you need to know for the recipe can be found in the recipe card below.

  • Heat a skillet with olive oil. Add garlic, onion, and bell pepper, sauté for a few minutes until fragrant.
Shakshuka Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes | Aline Made (4)
  • Stir in tomato paste, paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper, and sugar.
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  • Cook for an additional minute while stirring constantly.
Shakshuka Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes | Aline Made (6)
  • Add diced tomatoes, water, and half of the mint and parsley.
Shakshuka Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes | Aline Made (7)
  • Cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Shakshuka Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes | Aline Made (8)
  • Use a spoon to make three wells in the sauce and crack an egg into each well.
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  • Cover and cook for another 5-10 minutes over low to medium heat until the eggs are almost cooked through (or done to your liking).→ Keep in mind that the eggs will still cook a little more once you take the skillet from the heat.
  • Sprinkle with the remaining mint and parsley and serve with fresh bread.
Shakshuka Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes | Aline Made (10)

Recipe FAQ & Tips

How long does it stay fresh?Leftovers can be stored for up to 2 days in the refrigerator.

Fresh Tomatoes:I love to use fresh and ripe tomatoes to make shakshuka. It’s ideal to use up leftover tomatoes, which you wouldn’t want to use for salad anymore.

Canned Tomatoes:Feel free to replace fresh tomatoes with a can of peeled tomatoes. If so, skip the water used in the recipe and reduce the cooking time in step 2 to 10 minutes.

Skillet:I recommend using a 9.5 inch (24cm) skillet to fit 3 eggs.

More Recipes You’ll Love:

  • Fresh Tomato Sauce
  • Hummus
  • French Crepes

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📖 Recipe

Shakshuka Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes | Aline Made (11)

Shakshuka

Poached eggs in a tomato sauce with beautiful flavors and a handful of fresh herbs – that's Shakshuka! Serve it with fresh bread, and you have a wonderful one-pot meal!

Author : Aline Cueni

4.74 from 19 votes

Click on the stars to leave a vote!

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Prep Time :5 minutes mins

Cook Time :30 minutes mins

Total Time :35 minutes mins

Servings : 2 -3

Calories : 242kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 onion minced
  • ½ red bell pepper seeded and diced
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp ground paprika
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • ½ tsp sugar
  • 14 oz (400 g) ripe tomatoes chopped OR a 14.5oz can of peeled tomatoes
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water skip if using canned tomatoes
  • ½ bunch fresh mint chopped
  • ½ brunch fresh parsley chopped
  • 3 eggs
  • salt & pepper

Instructions

  • Heat a skillet with olive oil. Add garlic, onion, and bell pepper, sauté for a few minutes until fragrant. Stir in tomato paste, paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper, and sugar, cook for an additional minute while stirring constantly.

  • Add diced tomatoes, water, and half of the mint and parsley. Cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

  • Use a spoon to make three wells in the sauce and crack an egg into each well.

  • Cover and cook for another 5-10 minutes over low to medium heat until the eggs are almost cooked through (or done to your liking).→ Keep in mind that the eggs will still cook a little more once you take the skillet from the heat.

  • Sprinkle with the remaining mint and parsley and serve with fresh bread.

Notes

Fresh Tomatoes: I love to use fresh and ripe tomatoes to make shakshuka. It’s ideal to use up leftover tomatoes, which you wouldn’t want to use for salad anymore.

Canned Tomatoes: Feel free to replace fresh tomatoes with a can of peeled tomatoes. If so, skip the water used in the recipe and reduce the cooking time in step 2 to 10 minutes.

Skillet: I recommend using a 9.5 inch (24cm) skillet to fit 3 eggs.

Leftovers can be stored for up to two days in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Calories: 242kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 246mg | Sodium: 175mg | Potassium: 808mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 3649IU | Vitamin C: 71mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 3mg

Shakshuka Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes | Aline Made (16)

Aline Cueni

I’m a girl who loves to cook and bake delicious homemade food. Let me help you to incorporate more plant-based foods into everyday life! Vegetarian & vegan recipes can be anything but boring.

Shakshuka Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes | Aline Made (2024)

FAQs

Should you cook tomatoes before blending? ›

If you're working with an immersion blender, feel free to stick it right into the pot to purée. For a food processor or stand blender, let the cooked tomatoes cool for about 10 minutes before blending. Depending on the size of your blender, you may have to work in batches.

How not to overcook eggs in shakshuka? ›

Then return the skillet to a gentle simmer at medium-low heat. Spoon some of the sauce over the whites. 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.

How do you thicken shakshuka? ›

Options for the latter include adding flour, cornflour mixed with cold water, a beaten egg, cream cheese, or making a beurre manié from equal parts softened butter and flour. Stir well and give your thickener of choice a few minutes to work its magic.

What is the easiest way to process fresh tomatoes? ›

Freezing tomatoes is the easiest way to keep ripe tomatoes until you're ready to use them. You don't have to peel them first—in fact, the act of freezing them itself makes the tomatoes insanely easy to peel! —and you can freeze as many or as few at a time as you like.

How do you keep the yolk runny in Shakshuka? ›

As he describes on Serious Eats, take a spoon and scoop up some of the tomato sauce, running it over the uncooked egg whites; the warm sauce will help efficiently cook the eggs faster. This way, you speed up the setting of the egg whites while keeping the runny yolk as is.

Should eggs in shakshuka be runny? ›

Crack in the eggs and simmer

Ottolenghi advises using a fork to swirl the egg whites around in the sauce, all the while being careful not to break the yolks. Simmer until the egg whites are just set and the yolks are still slightly runny. Remove from the heat and let stand about 2 minutes before serving.

What pan is best for shakshuka? ›

Shakshuka is traditionally made in a cast iron pan and is simple to prepare. You start by making the sauce on the stovetop, then you gently crack the eggs into wells in the sauce and cook briefly before finishing the dish under the broiler.

What is shakshuka called in spanish? ›

a breakfast dish of baked eggs in a tomato sauce that sometimes also contains vegetables. huevos al horno con salsa de tomate, huevos shakshuka.

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.

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.

How do you know when shakshuka eggs are done? ›

Carefully transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 8-12 minutes, checking often once you reach 8 minutes. You know when the eggs are done when the egg whites are an opaque white and the yolks have risen a bit but are still soft. They should still jiggle in the centers when you “shimmy” the pan.

Can you eat shakshuka the next day? ›

It's a great nutritious option for lunch or for a vegetarian dinner with a side of crusty bread for dipping.. How to store: Carefully plate any leftovers into an airtight container. Shakshuka will last for 3-4 days, but the poached eggs yolks may not taste as good after a day.

Do you cook vegetables before blending? ›

Before you can begin blending your puree, you need to soften any hard produce. Wash and cut up your fruits and vegetables, removing any stems, skins or inedible seeds. Steam, roast or sautee your fruits and vegetables using your preferred technique.

Do you have to cook tomatoes before milling? ›

In her very direct, non-fussy way, Hazan instructs to halve your tomatoes and cook them in a covered pot for ten minutes before pureeing them in a food mill. After that they are ready to become whatever tomato sauce you prefer. You can even freeze what you have and then defrost and cook the sauce when you are ready.

Can a blender blend tomatoes? ›

Put the tomatoes, salt and garlic (if using) in a blender or food processor and pulse a few times until tomatoes are broken down. Next, blend the tomatoes while slowly streaming the olive oil in until you reach a smooth consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning to your preference.

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