Easy Shakshuka

This easy shakshuka recipe features poached eggs in a flavorful tomato sauce. It comes together quickly and can be served any time of the day!

Since making shakshuka for the first time a few years ago, Isaac and I have become obsessed. We’ve tried it a couple different ways, but I think this version with bell pepper, feta and curry is my absolute favorite and the best I’ve ever tasted.

If you’re new to the dish, don’t be scared away by the name. It’s way easier to cook than it is to pronounce. Just kidding, it’s pretty easy to pronounce as well… shock-shoo-kah.

The best part about this dish (besides how delicious it tastes) is that you cook everything in one pan! I don’t know a single person that doesn’t love easy, one-pan meals like this!

What’s not to love — cooking everything in one dish not only makes the prep super simple, but you’re also cutting way back on the amount of dishes you have to wash. Less dishes = winning!

What is Shakshuka?

Shakshuka (also spelled shakshouka or chakchouka) is a dish of eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, usually with olive oil, peppers, onion and garlic, as well as, spices. From my online research it seems as though the dish originated in North Africa. That said the dish has existed for centuries and is popular in Palestine, Israel, Egypt and other countries in the Middle East as well.

Ingredients in Shakshuka

• onion
• orange bell pepper
• garlic cloves
• olive oil
• seasonings and spices – cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper, turmeric, sea salt and pepper
• curry powder
• canned diced tomatoes
• eggs
• feta cheese
• fresh cilantro and parsley for serving

Substitutions & Notes

Curry powder – Curry powder is an untraditional ingredient for shakshuka but it adds a ton of flavor. If you don’t love curry flavor you can leave it out but I highly recommend it.

Vegetables – The fun thing about shakshuka is that you can customize the sauce! Don’t love bell peppers? Leave them out. Want to add greens, add them in with the tomatoes! Have fun experimenting with different vegetables in your shakshuka.

Need it to be dairy-free? The feta adds a lovely creaminess to the dish, but if you’re dairy-free or paleo, you can easily leave the cheese out.

How to Make Shakshuka

Sauté vegetables – Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, bell pepper and garlic to the skillet and cook until the vegetables are soft and fragrant – about 5-10 minutes.

Add spices – Stir in the cumin, paprika, cayenne, curry, turmeric, salt and pepper to the onion mixture and cook while stirring to combine for an additional minute.

Add tomatoes and cheese – Add the diced tomatoes to the skillet and bring sauce to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens a bit – about 10 minutes. Sprinkle the feta cheese to the tomato mixture and stir.

Add eggs – Crack the eggs into the tomato sauce, spacing them out so you get 4-5 eggs in the large skillet. Cover and let the eggs cook, undisturbed for about 5 minutes or until the egg whites are cooked through. Remove the skillet from the heat, uncover and let sit for an additional 1-2 minutes before serving.

How to Serve Shakshuka

To serve shakshuka, spoon 1-2 eggs along with a big serving of tomato sauce onto a plate. Garnish with extra feta cheese and fresh cilantro and parsley. Serve with toast, veggies or a whole grain like quinoa or brown rice for a complete meal.

Since the main protein source for this dish is eggs, you can serve it for just about any meal — breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. It comes together quickly and works great as a fast weeknight dinner option. Plus, you can reheat the leftovers for breakfast… score!

More Middle Eastern Dishes:

• Creamy Hummus
• Fattoush Salad
• Easy Baked Falafel
• Israeli Salad
• Mediterranean Lentil Salad

More One Pan Recipes:

• Tempeh Butternut Squash Bake
• Asian Chicken Sheet Pan Meal
• Vegetarian Sheet Pan Dinner
• One Pan Roasted Chicken with Butternut Squash
• Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas

If you end up trying this shakshuka recipe be sure to leave a comment and star rating letting me know how it turned out! Your feedback is so helpful for me and other EBF readers!

Easy Shakshuka

5 from 29 votes

This easy shakshuka recipe is a healthy one-pan dish with poached eggs in a flavorful tomato sauce. It comes together quickly and can be served any time of the day! 

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 orange bell pepper, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1-2 teaspoons curry powder
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
• 28 ounce can diced tomatoes
• 4-5 eggs
• 1/2 cup feta cheese
• fresh cilantro and parsley, for serving

Instructions

 

• Sauté veggies: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper and garlic to the skillet and cook until onions are soft and fragrant — about 5 to 10 minutes.
• Add spices and tomatoes: Add cumin, paprika, cayenne, curry, turmeric, salt and pepper. Give the mixture a stir and cook for about 1 minute more. Add diced tomatoes to the skillet and bring sauce to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens up a bit, about 10 minutes. Add feta cheese to the tomato mixture and stir.
• Add eggs: Crack eggs into tomato sauce. You should be able to fit 4-5 eggs in a large skillet. Cover and let the eggs cook for about 5 minutes, or until the egg whites are completely cooked through. Remove skillet from heat, uncover and let sit for a 1-2 minutes before serving.
• Serve: Spoon 1-2 eggs along with a big serving of tomato sauce on to each plate. Garnish with extra feta cheese and fresh cilantro and parsley. Serve with toast, veggies or over a whole grain like quinoa or brown rice for a complete meal.

Notes

• Curry powder – Curry powder is an untraditional ingredient for shakshuka but it adds a ton of flavor. If you don’t love curry flavor you can leave it out but I highly recommend it.
• Vegetables – The fun thing about shakshuka is that you can customize the sauce! Don’t love bell peppers? Leave them out. Want to add greens, add them in with the tomatoes! Have fun experimenting with different vegetables in your shakshuka.
• Need it to be dairy-free? The feta adds a lovely creaminess to the dish, but if you’re dairy-free or paleo, you can easily leave the cheese out.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4 of recipe Calories: 284kcal Carbohydrates: 17g Protein: 14g Fat: 18g Saturated Fat: 6g Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g Cholesterol: 224mg Sodium: 620mg Fiber: 3g Sugar: 8g

Author: Brittany Mullins

Course: Lunch/Dinner

Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Keyword: shakshuka

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