This easy shakshuka recipe features poached eggs in a flavorful tomato sauce with curry powder. 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!
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.
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.
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.
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! Try my green shakshuka next!
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Great recipe, had some eggplant chopped left over from another recipe so used that peppers onions herbs and all the spices. Used a touch of broth to help the eggplant cook up a bit more, added eggs and did use some feta on top. A favorite.
Woo! So pumped to hear that this recipe was a hit, Frances. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a review. It means the world to me!
Hi Brittany,
I’m a little late coming to the table for this recipe, but I just stumbled upon it tonight. It reads like a really good novel, where you can completely visualize the characters and plot development in your head. With a good recipe, you can practically taste the ingredients as they meld together to create a dish layered in taste and texture sensations. Delicious! There is one layer in this concoction, however, that neither my husband nor I have ever enjoyed: poached eggs. Do you think any other type of egg could be substituted and still make a tasty meal? I would so appreciate your ideas! Thank you.
Terri
Hi, Terri! I occasionally make leftovers with an over-easy egg but you could easily do over-hard if that’s what you prefer! Just omit the step where you add the eggs to the shakshuka and make your eggs how ever you like them and serve them together.
Instead of peppers, used shredded zucchini and spinach. Just let them cook with the onions to get the moisture out. Another great EBF recipe!! Delish!!
Woo! So glad to hear that, MP! Thanks for letting me know what additions you made and coming back to leave a review. It means the world to me!
So we’ve made this recipe no less than 20 times. It’s our go-to recipe. I have tried others but don’t like it. This has the best flavor profile with spices. It barely feeds the two of us though! Lol. I’ve made it before with 6 eggs and the same amount of tomato / spice mixture when we have company over. Overall, a winner! Thank you!
Woo!! Happy to hear you’ve been loving this recipe, Mina! Thanks so much for the review. I really appreciate it!
Do you think I could substitute goat cheese for the feta cheese?
Totally!!