Easy Shakshuka Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make shakshuka thicker? ›

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.

Shakshouka (Arabic: شكشوكة : šakšūkah, also spelled shakshuka or chakchouka) is a Maghrebi dish of eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, olive oil, peppers, onion, and garlic, commonly spiced with cumin, paprika and cayenne pepper.

Spoon a little bit of the sauce around the whites of the eggs to help them set just a touch faster than the yolks, cover the pan, and let it simmer and steam just until the whites are barely set and the yolks are still golden and soft.

My favorite sides are perfectly toasted challah bread, avocados seasoned with lime juice, Israeli white cheese, and a simple Israeli salad. Most restaurants serve shakshuka with tahini on the side as well.

Cover the dish so that some of the liquid can evaporate by about 1/3. (~15-20 minutes). We don't want our Shakshuka to be too watery so this step is important.

Are the yolks supposed to be runny or set? Shakshuka is traditionally served with runny yolks, and this is my personal preference. But if that's not your thing, you can adjust the cooking time to a jammier or more set yolk.

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.

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!

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. (Keep in mind, the eggs will continue to cook after you pull the dish out of the oven.)

The main difference between shakshuka and eggs in purgatory is the spices and herbs. Skakshuka features Middle Eastern spices, such as cumin and sweet paprika. Eggs in purgatory does not include these spices and uses Italian herbs, such as oregano and basil.

What do you put on eggs to make them taste better? ›

Hard-boiled: Sprinkling your hard-boiled eggs with some good old salt and pepper is a classic way to enjoy this egg dish. Or, liven up your hard-boiled eggs with the flavors of garlic, chili powder, or smoked paprika. Omelet: Omelets were made to be smothered in delicious spreads like pesto, salsa, or roasted garlic.

Bread or pita bread.

For a very western version, you'll want to make a classic no-knead bread (super easy!) for the occasion. But for a Middle Eastern version like the one I'm suggesting here, you'll swap white bread with pita bread!

Turn off the heat and add the feta cheese if using, which will melt just a little bit, enough to incorporate. Then you can scoop your shakshuka onto a plate with bread or any other side dishes and enjoy warm.

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.

Make a cornstarch slurry for a fast and easy thickener.

Use one tablespoon of cornstarch per cup of liquid you would like to thicken. Stir out all the lumps. A few minutes before your casserole is done, add it a little at a time until you are happy with the thickness. Then, let the casserole finish baking.

The basic technique is to beat the yolks until smooth, then slowly whisk in the liquid oil or butter. If one of these sauces is too thin, your best recourse is to start with a new egg yolk, and gradually whisk in the original sauce, rather than adding an additional yolk to the sauce.

If I could offer you only one piece of advice regarding scrambled eggs, it would be “Add cornstarch.” When whisked with a little cream to create a slurry, the common thickening agent produces the most tender, creamy, almost velvety pile of scrambled eggs.

Cornstarch: Make a slurry of half water, half cornstarch and whisk until smooth. Cornstarch is a powerful thickener, so start by whisking in no more than 1 tablespoon of the mixture per 2 cups of simmering sauce; stir and simmer for 2 minutes, check the thickness, and repeat with more slurry as needed.