Recipe: Shakshuka

Poached eggs nestled in a peppery and flavourful tomato sauce

Method

•  Heat the olive oil in a medium-sized skillet and sauté the onions until they become translucent. Add garlic to the mix and cool until you can smell the aroma.

•  Stir in the chopped tomatoes and cook the mixture on medium heat for about five minutes or so.

•  Add the tomato puree and remaining spices to the skillet and mix thoroughly. Cook until all the ingredients combine and the sauce begins to thicken, stirring occasionally. You may adjust the seasoning according to your preferences.

•  Make wells in the sauce and crack in the eggs, making sure the yolk doesn’t break. Put a lid on the skillet and reduce heat to a lower temperature.

•  Allow the eggs to cook for about 15 minutes on low flame. (You can adjust the flame according to how you like your yolk.)

•  Uncover and remove the dish from the stove, sprinkle some salt, pepper and coriander before serving it with bread.

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 25 minutes

Yield: Serves 2

Helpful tips for the perfect Shakshuka

•  If the tomato sauce is too dry and sticking to the pan, pour in some water and mix well. But remember that Shakshuka is supposed to be dry and not a watery liquid. Be mindful of how much water you add.

•  You can add bell peppers, jalapenos and other spices to the sauce. Some crumbled feta cheese on the top also tastes great with Shakshuka.

•  This dish can also be baked in the oven. Once the tomato sauce is prepared, crack in the eggs, place the skillet in a pre-heated oven and bake.

The best breads for Shakshuka

A Shakshuka is designed for scooping and swiping. If you wish to lay off carbs, then you can have it with a spoon but you will be missing out big time! Shakshuka is a great dish to dunk some soft, warm bread in, especially on lazy Sunday mornings. Try out these bread types which taste delicious with a Shakshuka. We promise you’ll forget all about watching carbs.

•  Plain white or brown bread.

•  French bread (the size and shape of the slices allows easy dunking).

•  Garlic bread (the cheese and garlic flavours enhance the taste).

•  Cheese toast (this is a great alternative to adding cheese to the Shakshuka itself).

•  Parathas (plain or minced-meat ones).

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, May 10^th, 2015.