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You are here: Home / Breakfast / Shakshuka – Eggs Poached in Tomato Sauce

Shakshuka – Eggs Poached in Tomato Sauce

October 20, 2016 By Joe Boyle 3 Comments

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Last Updated on November 8, 2024

Shakshuka is a North African dish of eggs poached in a spicy tomato sauce.  To be honest, I’d never heard of it until I ran across an article in Better Homes and Gardens.  It just looked so dang good.  After researching a lot of different recipes, each having similar ingredients, I settled on my own version.

Shakshuka in a skillet with bread. Crushed tomatoes, onion, poblano chile peppers, lots of garlic, paprika, cumin, and salt.  I also threw in some za’atar for good measure. Oh, and eggs!

Tomato sauce being heated up and a wooden spatula.

Making Shakshuka

The cumin and paprika give the dish an earthiness that when combined with the heat of the poblanos is really flavorful.  Although I didn’t use any, many recipes include feta cheese.  

It’s easy to understand why it is used as a breakfast, lunch or dinner meal.  You’ll also want to serve a hearty bread with this to soak up all the juices.

If you use Italian spices instead, you’ll be making Eggs in Purgatory, which is what it’s called in Italy.

When you make shakshuka, you should cook it down a bit to reduce the amount of liquid in the tomatoes…10 minutes or so.  And, when you add the eggs, make a little depression with a spoon to pour the egg into.  

Cover the pan and turn the heat up to medium.  Check the eggs after 4 minutes.  Shake the pan to see how set the eggs are.  If you like runny yolks (which is how it’s traditionally served), take the skillet off the stove a little earlier than you would think.  

The tomato sauce stays hot for a long time and the eggs will keep cooking for several minutes.  Believe me…after setting the skillet up to take a few photos, the yolks were pretty much cooked through, (Boo).  So, stovetop to the table and serve is the way to go.

Spicy tomato sauce with poached eggs in a skillet.

Another thing about this too, is that the sauce will freeze well if you’d like to make extra, just like an Italian marinara sauce.  You can freeze up some individual-sized portions to cook up in a small pan on short notice.  It would make a yummy lunch!

Shakshuka in a skillet ready to serve and eat.

This is a really good, versatile dish that you could serve for any meal.  Tasty, satisfying, and easy.

Enjoy!

Finished shakshuka with poached eggs in a skillet.

Shakshuka-Eggs Poached in Tomato Sauce

Ideal breakfast or brunch recipe.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Main dish
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Keyword: shakshuka, shakshuka in tomato sauce
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 16 minutes minutes
Total Time: 26 minutes minutes
Servings: 3 servings
Calories: 273kcal
Author: Joe Boyle

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion , diced
  • 2 poblano chile peppers , diced
  • 5 cloves garlic , minced
  • 1 28 oz . can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tbsp sweet paprika
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp z'atar
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • pepper to taste
  • 5 large eggs
  • Flat leaf parsley for garnish if desired
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Instructions

  • In a large lidded skillet, on medium heat, add the olive oil and diced onion, cook for 2 minutes.
  • Add the diced chile peppers and cook an additional 2 minutes
  • Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds or so
  • Add the tomatoes, tomato paste and spices and cook on medium heat 10 minutes
  • Using a spoon, make a slight depression in the sauce to place an egg, (I broke the individual eggs into a small bowl, then poured the egg into the sauce), continue for all the eggs
  • Cover and cook for 4 minutes, then check the firmness of the eggs by shaking the skillet.
  • Cover and continue to cook, if necessary, checking every 30 to 45 seconds for firmness.
  • Remove from heat and serve right away, garnish with parsley if desired.
  • Serve with a good crusty bread

Notes

  1. Some recipes call for crumbled feta cheese to be sprinkled on just before the eggs are dropped. That could be a very yummy additional flavor!

Nutrition

Calories: 273kcal

 

 

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Filed Under: Breakfast, Lunch

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Comments

  1. Art Andkitchen

    October 31, 2016 at 12:19 pm

    Looks delicious! I’ve discovered shakshouka a few years ago and now I’m a fan of it! I prepare it according the ingredients I have a to home an I love to add add z’atar as well ! 🙂

    Reply
    • Joe

      October 31, 2016 at 2:57 pm

      Thanks for the comment. I like how easy it is to put together and the ability to use what you have at home. Great point!

      Reply
  2. Alan Howie

    October 22, 2016 at 10:53 am

    5 stars
    This is a welcome recipe for another way to use eggs, especially when eggs seem to be such a recent bargain at the grocery store, (forty-nine cents a dozen in the Twin Cities>,

    Reply
5 from 1 vote

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