{"format":"dagwood/rgf@1","slug":"shakshuka","title":"Shakshuka","blurb":"Eggs poached in a cumin-spiced tomato and pepper sauce, topped with feta and herbs, and scooped up with warm pita.","servings":4,"tags":["eggs","brunch","vegetarian","one pan"],"cuisine":"North African","difficulty":"easy","image":"/img/shakshuka.webp","imageAlt":"A cast iron skillet of shakshuka with eight runny-yolked eggs set in a thick red tomato and pepper sauce, topped with crumbled feta and chopped herbs, next to warm pita","lines":[{"id":"shakshuka","name":"Shakshuka"},{"id":"bread","name":"Warm bread"},{"id":"toppings","name":"Toppings"}],"ingredients":[{"id":"oil","name":"olive oil","qty":3,"unit":"tbsp","line":"shakshuka"},{"id":"onion","name":"large yellow onions","qty":1,"unit":"","line":"shakshuka"},{"id":"peppers","name":"red bell peppers","qty":2,"unit":"","line":"shakshuka","subs":[{"name":"jarred roasted red peppers","qty":1.5,"unit":"cup","note":"Sweeter and silkier. They melt right into the sauce"}]},{"id":"garlic","name":"garlic","qty":4,"unit":"clove","line":"shakshuka"},{"id":"sauce-salt","name":"kosher salt","qty":1,"unit":"tsp","line":"shakshuka"},{"id":"jalapeno","name":"jalapeños","qty":1,"unit":"","prep":"seeded and minced","line":"shakshuka","optional":true},{"id":"cumin","name":"ground cumin","qty":1.5,"unit":"tsp","line":"shakshuka"},{"id":"paprika","name":"sweet paprika","qty":2,"unit":"tsp","line":"shakshuka","subs":[{"name":"smoked paprika","qty":2,"unit":"tsp","note":"Smoky and a little bolder"}]},{"id":"cayenne","name":"cayenne pepper","qty":0.25,"unit":"tsp","line":"shakshuka","optional":true},{"id":"tomato-paste","name":"tomato paste","qty":1,"unit":"tbsp","line":"shakshuka"},{"id":"tomatoes","name":"whole peeled tomatoes","qty":1,"unit":"can","prep":"28 oz","line":"shakshuka","subs":[{"name":"crushed tomatoes","qty":1,"unit":"can","note":"Smoother sauce, no crushing needed"}]},{"id":"sauce-pepper","name":"black pepper","qty":0.5,"unit":"tsp","line":"shakshuka"},{"id":"eggs","name":"large eggs","qty":8,"unit":"","line":"shakshuka"},{"id":"egg-season","name":"salt and black pepper","line":"shakshuka","toTaste":true},{"id":"pita","name":"pitas","qty":4,"unit":"","line":"bread","subs":[{"name":"crusty bread","qty":8,"unit":"slice","note":"Heartier. Toast the slices in the skillet with a little oil"}]},{"id":"feta","name":"feta","qty":3,"unit":"oz","line":"toppings","subs":[{"name":"goat cheese","qty":3,"unit":"oz","note":"Creamier and tangier"}]},{"id":"herbs","name":"cilantro or parsley leaves","qty":0.5,"unit":"cup","line":"toppings"}],"steps":[{"id":"chop","line":"shakshuka","verb":"Chop","text":"Dice {onion} and {peppers}, and thinly slice {garlic}.","min":7,"hands":"on","after":[],"uses":["onion","peppers","garlic"]},{"id":"soften","line":"shakshuka","verb":"Cook","text":"Cook the onion and peppers in {oil} with {sauce-salt} in a 12 inch skillet over medium heat, stirring now and then, until soft and starting to brown.","min":10,"hands":"off","after":["chop"],"uses":["oil","sauce-salt"],"heat":"medium","tool":"12 inch skillet with lid","checks":[{"at":4,"text":"Stir the vegetables"},{"at":7,"text":"Stir again"}]},{"id":"bloom","line":"shakshuka","verb":"Bloom","text":"Stir in the garlic, {jalapeno}, {cumin}, {paprika}, {cayenne} and {tomato-paste}. Cook, stirring, until fragrant and the paste darkens, about 2 minutes.","min":2,"hands":"on","after":["soften"],"uses":["jalapeno","cumin","paprika","cayenne","tomato-paste"],"heat":"medium"},{"id":"simmer","line":"shakshuka","verb":"Simmer","text":"Add {tomatoes} with their juice, crushing them with a spoon, and {sauce-pepper}. Simmer until thick enough that a spoon dragged through leaves a trail.","min":12,"hands":"off","after":["bloom"],"uses":["tomatoes","sauce-pepper"],"heat":"medium-low","why":"A thick sauce holds the eggs in place. A thin one swamps them.","checks":[{"at":4,"text":"Stir and crush any big pieces of tomato"},{"at":8,"text":"Stir and taste for salt"}]},{"id":"add-eggs","line":"shakshuka","verb":"Crack","text":"Make a well in the sauce for each egg and crack {eggs} into them. Season the eggs with {=egg-season}.","min":2,"hands":"on","after":["simmer"],"uses":["eggs","egg-season"]},{"id":"poach","line":"shakshuka","verb":"Poach","text":"Cover and cook until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny.","min":7,"hands":"off","after":["add-eggs"],"uses":[],"heat":"medium-low","tool":"lid","checks":[{"at":5,"text":"Peek: if the whites are set, it's done"}]},{"id":"warm-bread","line":"bread","verb":"Warm","text":"Warm {pita} one at a time in a dry skillet over medium heat, about 30 seconds per side, then cut into wedges.","min":4,"hands":"on","after":["add-eggs"],"uses":["pita"],"heat":"medium","tool":"skillet","why":"Doing this while the eggs cook means the bread is still warm at the table."},{"id":"crumble-feta","line":"toppings","verb":"Crumble","text":"Crumble {feta}.","min":1,"hands":"on","after":[],"uses":["feta"],"optional":true},{"id":"chop-herbs","line":"toppings","verb":"Chop","text":"Roughly chop {herbs}.","min":1,"hands":"on","after":[],"uses":["herbs"],"optional":true},{"id":"serve","line":"shakshuka","verb":"Serve","text":"Scatter the feta and herbs over the eggs, if using, and serve from the pan with the warm bread.","min":1,"hands":"on","after":["poach","warm-bread","crumble-feta","chop-herbs"],"uses":[]}],"serve":"serve","notes":["Pull the pan when the whites are just set. The yolks keep cooking in the hot sauce.","Make the sauce up to 3 days ahead. Reheat it in the skillet before adding the eggs.","If your skillet is smaller than 12 inches, use 6 eggs."],"license":"CC BY 4.0"}