Yotam Ottolenghi's Shakshuka Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Do you eat shakshuka with spoon or fork? ›

It's a quick, flavourful, and satisfying meal, especially after a long day. Also, it is perfectly acceptable to eat shakshuka straight out of the pan, using wedges of pita bread as your spoon. Of course, if you prefer a knife and fork, spoon the eggs with their sauce over lightly toasted bread.

Many think of this dish an Israeli breakfast food because it is quite popular in places like Tel Aviv, but these eggs in tomato sauce are something you'll find in many parts of North Africa and the Middle East. Fun fact, the origins of the word shakshuka comes from the Arabic for "all mixed up" or "shaken."

The best way to serve a shakshuka is to make it the centerpiece of the meal, then create a multitude of small plates to serve along. They usually involve some bread, simple vegetable salads, and spreads.

Shakshuka is a classic North African and Middle Eastern breakfast dish. This recipe is simple and satisfying, featuring eggs poached in a bell pepper and tomato sauce. Serve it with pita or crusty bread for breakfast or brunch...or dinner!

This delicious shakshuka recipe may not be something to cook on a daily basis, but it makes a great healthy brunch dish for the weekend.

Shakshuka is a staple of Tunisian, Libyan, Algerian, and Moroccan cuisines traditionally served up in a cast iron pan with bread to mop up the sauce (most important). It is also popular in Israel, where it was introduced by Tunisian Jews. These Sephardic Jews came from Spain, Portugal and the Middle East.

Shakshuka (also spelt with an O, shakshouka), is a staple dish on any Israeli breakfast table. In fact, they eat it at breakfast, lunch and dinner – both at home and in restaurants. The dish is so popular here that it's considered right up there with falafels and hummus as the best of Israeli cuisine.

Serving Suggestions

While the spicy tomato sauce and runny egg yolks practically beg for crusty bread, bread is not mandatory! A fork and a knife (plus a spoon) are just as efficient when enjoying shakshuka.

shakshouka, a Maghrebi (North African) dish, popular throughout the region, featuring poached eggs in a spicy tomato sauce, seasoned with peppers, onion, garlic, and various spices. The word shakshouka comes from Maghrebi Arabic dialect and means “mixed.”

The best side dishes to serve with shakshuka are crusty bread, pita bread, hummus, sauteed spinach, avocado fries, gluten-free bread, Israeli salad, couscous, labneh, roasted potatoes, olives, and feta cheese.

What religion is shakshuka? ›

In Jewish culture, a large batch of tomato stew is made for the Sabbath dinner and the leftovers used the following morning to make a breakfast shakshouka with eggs.

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.

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.

Etiquetteer recalls his line “I pride myself I do it rather neatly.” Holding the egg cup steady with your left hand, you may use either spoon or knife to open it up*. Tap the top of your egg with your teaspoon to crack it, and then the tip of your spoon to open it wide enough to get the spoon inside.

Use a fork, not a whisk

To achieve the latter, go with a fork instead, and use an ellipse motion as you mix the whites and the yolks. You want to beat them until they're fully incorporated so you avoid stripes of white in the scrambled eggs.

The most basic way to make scrambled eggs is to whisk eggs in a bowl with a fork or whisk, add salt and pepper to taste, and then cook in a non-stick pan over low heat, stirring frequently until the eggs are set but still creamy.