Shakshuka: The origin and an easy, healthy recipe! This one-pan Shakshuka is bursting with aromatic spices, flavor, and nutrients. Serve this rich, tomato and egg soup with crusty bread.
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Shakshuka. You’ve seen this traditional dish all over the internet. Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram - you name it! What does it look like? Red tomato sauce, tender poached eggs, vibrant green spinach, and plenty of Middle Eastern Spices.
Shakshuka is like an Arabic version of the Mexican favorite Huevos Rancheros. And I'm guessing that it’ will soon become your favorite go-to easy weeknight meal. This tomato dish is delicious for breakfast or brunch too, especially served with a thick slice of crusty bread.
This easy, one-pan, healthy Shakshuka recipe is incredibly tasty, thanks to plenty of garlic, cumin, and paprika. The dish originates in North Africa and the Middle East and it's full of nutrient-dense vegetables. Plus, shakshuka is one of my favorite recipes to feed a crowd. It's vegetarian, quick to throw together, and a healthy comfort food for chilly months.
Finally, you can top your healthy shakshuka with any of your favorite flavorings, from crumbled cheese to fresh herbs to extra-dried spices.
Serve it with Homemade Turkish Bread and try my Shakshuka with Feta Recipe or this Easy Tomato Omelette Recipe.
Shakshukas Origin
Shakshuka (or Shakshouka) originates in North Africa and the Middle East. However, the exact origin of Shakshuka is disputed. Some say Tunisians invented the savory egg and tomato dish. Others say it originated in Morocco, and still, others say Yemen or Turkey. However, regardless of where it came from, shakshuka is a staple dish all over North Africa. It’s traditionally served directly out of a cast-iron skillet or a tajine.
So, What is Shakshuka?
Shakshuka is a dish that always includes eggs poached in an aromatic tomato and red pepper sauce. Classic shakshuka recipes include sautéed onions and garlic, plus fragrant cumin and paprika. The result is a vibrant, healthy, and comforting dish for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Is Shakshuka Healthy?
Absolutely! Shakshuka is a naturally vegetarian, gluten-free and vegetable-filled dish.
With a tomato-based sauce, this recipe packs a lot of vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K. In addition, tomatoes are an excellent dietary source of the antioxidant lycopene. Studies link this compound to many health benefits, including a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer.
Furthermore, eggs are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, as well as vitamins A, D, E, and K, and lecithin. Finally, the shakshuka spices cumin and paprika offer important benefits, including aiding digestion.
Why we love Shakshuka
- This is a quick and easy one-pan dinner recipe. It’s easy to throw together and easy to clean up!
- Shakshuka is fresh tasting and healthy. It's full of vegetables and spices.
- You can make this recipe to feed one person or many! For a bigger batch, use a larger cast iron pot and double the recipe to feed a crowd. Likewise, use a smaller skillet and just two eggs to prepare a filling meal for one.
- Finally, you can easily add other ingredients to mix up the flavors in the traditional shakshuka recipe.
Here are some ideas to spice up your homemade shakshuka:
- Extra veggies: I always add spinach, but other greens, radishes, carrots, zucchini, and broccoli all add crunch and color to shakshuka
- Meat, such as minced lamb, minced beef, or sausage
- Plant-based proteins like tofu or tempeh
- Cheese, especially crumbled feta, queso fresco and halloumi add creaminess to shakshuka
How do you like to flavor your shakshuka for breakfast or dinner? Let me know in the comments, I can't wait to try it!
An Easy, Healthy Shakshuka Recipe
Here is my quick and easy one-pan recipe for savory and satisfying shakshuka at home:
- Heat oil in a pan on low/medium heat. Then add garlic, onions, and red bell peppers to the pan and sauté for a few minutes. Next, add cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper to taste. Finally, Stir and cook for 1 minute.
- Add tomato purée and stir for 1 minute. Then, add 1 can of tomatoes and stir.
- Bring to a boil and leave to simmer for 10 minutes (adjust the seasoning if necessary).
- Add spinach and stir. Then create 4-5 wells and crack the eggs open into each well. Cover the pot with a lid and leave to cook for 5-7 minutes.
- Finally, sprinkle parsley on top and serve.
FAQs
Yes. You can quickly reheat leftover Shakshuka in a microwave or on the stove. If you're short on time and doing some meal planning, you can always make a big batch of shakshuka ahead of time and reheat it when hunger strikes.
Yes, you can freeze shakshuka in an airtight container for up to two months. Or, refrigerate the dish for 3-4 days. Ultimately, however, shakshuka is truly best when it's hot off the stove. The eggs will cook further each time you reheat them, so if you love runny egg yolk, eat it fresh.
Absolutely, I always rely on canned tomatoes for the most flavorful tomato sauce. However, you prefer fresh, they will also work. Simply chop them up and add them as directed in the recipe. The sauce may need to simmer a little longer to thicken up with fresh tomatoes.
Yes, in fact, Shakshuka is an ideal dish to prepare for one. Simply half the ingredients and follow the recipe as written, using a smaller skillet or clay pot.
Alternatives
- Traditionally, shakshuka is served with feta sprinkled on top. Feta adds a lovely tangy bite to the dish.
- For a meatier Shakshuka, add chopped chorizo or sausage pieces. Add the chorizo just a few minutes before the eggs.
- If you’d like more protein, feel free to add beans to your Shakshuka. Chickpeas are usually the first beans of choice, but feel free to add your favorite kind. To use beans, add a drained and rinsed can or pre-cooked beans a few minutes before the eggs.
Have you made this recipe? I'd love to know! Share it with me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, or leave a star rating below!
Easy One-Pan Shakshuka
Equipment
- Pan or Skillet
- chopping board
- knife
Ingredients
- 1 can tomato chopped
- ½ red bell pepper chopped
- 2-3 tablespoon of tomato purée
- ½ onion chopped
- 1-2 cloves garlic crushed
- 4-5 eggs
- 1 handful spinach chopped
- ¼-1/2 teaspoon cumin
- ¼-1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Salt to taste
- ¼ teaspoon mixed herbs optional
- vegetable oil a splash
- parsley to garnish, roughly chopped
Instructions
- Heat oil in a pan on a low/medium heat.
- Add garlic, onions and red bell peppers to the pan and sauté for a few minutes.
- Add cumin, paprika, salt and pepper to taste. Stir and cook for 1 minute.
- Add tomato purée and stir for 1 minute. Then add tomatoes and stir.
- Bring to a simmer and leave to simmer for 10 minutes (adjust the seasoning if necessary).
- Add spinach and stir. Create 4-5 wells and carefully crack an egg into each well.
- Cover the pot and cook for 5-7 minutes, until the eggs are set but soft.
- Sprinkle with parsley and serve with crusty bread.
Video
Sarah
Always love a good shakshouka!
This recipe is great and easy! I did replace the tomato with one 14.5 oz. can of diced fire roasted tomatoes (with juice), because I bought my groceries well before I was going to make this and didn't want to risk a fresh tomato going bad. It worked well!
admin
Hi Sarah, I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe! Shakshouka is one of my favourites as well! This recipe is easy to customize so I am happy to hear that it worked with one 14.5 oz. can of diced fire roasted tomatoes. Thanks for stopping by and commenting! 🙂
admin
Thank you for your kind words! 🙂
admin
Awww thank you so much! I really appreciate your kind words.
Janet
Such an amazing recipe. My family loved this one.
Marta
You're so right! This shakshuka made a great weeknight meal. We had it for dinner last night and everyone raved about how amazing it was. Definitely a keeper!
Kate
So glad I came across this recipe! It came in handy last week when my kids and I got home late from the playground and I had to put up quickly a healthy meal. The flavors worked so well together, I cannot wait to make this again!
Robin
I had never tried Shakshuka. So it was a delight to find that it is tastes amazing.
Jen Sim
Thanks Robin!
Jessica
Breakfast for dinner is a regular occurrence in our house so we made this last week for a quick meal. It was SO good! Thanks for the inspo.
Crystal DaCruz
This was my first time trying shakshuka and I was blown away by how delicious it came out! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe!
Chenée
This was my first time making shakshuka, and I loved it! So simple and easy, and SO good!
Kaluhi
Such a flavorful dish! This was the highlight of my brunch!!
Tamara
This is one of my favorite things to make and eat for breakfast/brunch. Your recipe was so full of flavor, and it was so comforting.
Lilly
This is such a great recipe! Thank you for the detailed history and instructions! I made this for brunch this past weekend and my family loved it!
Jazz
Thanks for the history around this recipe. I like to know a bit about what I cook and eat and be considerate of the culture related to it so a post like this with everything in one stop is perfect. The Shakshuka was marvelous, as well!
kristen
This is such a great shakshuka recipe! Thank you!
Jen Sim
You're welcolme!
Elizabeth
What a fabulous recipe! We made this for brunch and everyone loved it!
Jen Sim
It really is a lovely, filling brunch option. I'm glad you all enjoyed it
Shadi Hasanzadenemati
Just tried this recipe and my family loved it. Thank you so much!
Jen Sim
You're welcolme!
Beth
My hubby and I absolutely loved this for dinner. Such a great recipe and packed with so much flavor! Excited to make this shakshuka again!
Jen Sim
I'm so glad you and your husband enjoyed it, Beth!
Sara Welch
Enjoyed this for dinner last night and it did not disappoint! Very flavorful and hearty; my whole family loved it!
Jen Sim
Thank you so much, Sara! My family loves this dish too.