Shakshuka
I became obsessed with Shakshuka when I visited Tel Aviv for the first time. In Tel Aviv you will find this vegetarian dish on every breakfast menu. The middle eastern classic gains it’s flavour from tomatoes and most importantly a lot of garlic. Adding feta and olives is one of my favourite ways of making it but you can add various toppings.
Ingredients
Ingredients
Serves 3
2 tins of chopped tomatoes (400 g each)
4 eggs
100 g feta cheese
80g olives
6 garlic gloves
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp harissa
2 tsp sweet paprika powder
2 tsp oregano
2 tsp rosemary
1.5 tsp thyme
1.5 tsp salt
freshly cracked pepper
handful fresh coriander (or parsley)
6 tbsp olive oil
1/2 loaf of sourdough bread
2-3 stems of fresh thyme
Method
In a large frying pan, heat up 4 tbsp olive oil to medium heat. Add 6 minced (or finely chopped) garlic cloves and fry for 1 minute. Add 2 tsp oregano, 2 tsp rosemary, 1.5 tsp thyme, 2 tsp sweet paprika powder, 1 tsp harissa and 2 tbsp tomato paste and gently fry for 3 minutes on low heat so the flavours of the herbs can unfold.
Add 2 tins chopped tomatoes. Fill one tin with water and stirr the water into the tomatoes. Add 1.5 tsp salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste. Let simmer on low heat for 20 minutes.
In the meantime, preheat oven to 180°C. Chop 100 g feta into small cubes, cut 80 g olives into slices and roughly chop a handful of coriander.
Gently crack 4 eggs into the shakshuka. Cook for another 10 minutes or until the eggs are as cooked as you like them. If the eggs start sinking into the tomatoes, gently bring them up to the surface using a tablespoon. Garnish the Shakshuka with feta, olives and chopped coriander. For those of you who don’t like coriander: parsley is a nice alternative.
Cut 1/2 loaf sourdough bread into sticks and spread them over a baking tray. Drizzle with 2 tbsp olive oil and sprinkle with some salt and fresh rosemary. Bake for about 10 minutes or until nicely toasted.
Serve the shakshuka whilst warm with the breadsticks for dipping.
`בתיאבון (“enjoy your meal” in Hebrew)
