Shakshuka

Shakshuka is a popular middle eastern recipe, hearty, savory, and simply delicious. Onions, bell pepper, and olives are covered in a tasty tomato and pepper sauce. Made from pantry staples in under 30 minutes this is an amazing one-pot dish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

I have to tell you right from the start that this isn’t your traditional Shakshuka recipe. You know it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t add my own signature to a dish. What you get as a result is just so yummy, better than I even imagined in the first place.

A great tomato base is the key

The tomato base is important for this Shakshuka recipe as it provides the most amazing texture and taste. I tested different versions and, for me, using crushed tomatoes that I drained from excess liquid before using is the clear winner. It is the same trick I also used in my Creamy Tomato Pasta. When you use this, the tomatoes provide a thick sauce that is sturdy and hearty enough at the same time.

In contrast, with plain tomato sauce the result was ok, but it doesn’t provide enough flavor for me.

Shakshuka ingredients

What ingredients do we need to make Shakshuka? It all starts with olive oil for cooking, giving the dish a nice buttery but also fruity base taste.

I like to use red bell peppers these add a great slight sweetness to the dish. Garlic and onions are my a flavor favorites. When sautéing them, their aromas get absorbed quickly.

As I mentioned already you really want a nice and thick tomato sauce with lots of flavors. I drained crushed tomatoes through a sieve so all the juices will be removed. Combined with tomato paste you have that deep and rich tomato flavor that tastes as if the dish has simmered several hours – but only in a couple of minutes.

Smoked paprika adds a delicious smoky flavor and cumin is amazing for a warming touch with earthy notes. You will have seen the same combination used in my Eggplant Curry, the Tikka Masala Sauce, or even my Hot Dog Chili. 

I like to add a fresh chili for an extra bit of a spicy kick. It complements the other ingredients well, but if you are not a fan of spicy food, you can totally leave them out.

You can use both cilantro and parsley, or just one of them. My personal choice is both of them, because I like to mix things up, yum.

Olives are delicious any time. I like to add some black olives to make all more tasty and flavorful.

Vegan feta and unsweetened dairy-free yoghurt are used as toppings and provide a lot of flavor, creaminess, and richness to the Shakshuka when serving it.

Something optional, but friends it is so great: avocados. Slice or dice them and top the ready dish with them.

How to make Shakshuka

Preparation of the Shakshuka is as always easy. Start with a pan and heat the olive oil. When it is hot, add diced onions, garlic, chili and bell pepper. Cook all for around 5 minutes until everything just begins to soften.

Next, add crushed tomatoes and tomato paste together with the olives to the pan. Mix well and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium and let the sauce simmer for 8 minutes more.

Mix in fresh herbs. Now your Shakshuka is almost ready. Top it with with crumbled vegan feta, some dollops of dairy-free Greek yoghurt, and optional avocado.

Serve straight forward from the pan or on bowls. This is dish that is truly most delicious when you serve it immediately.

Tips and tricks

Keep in mind to add the crumbled feta and dollops of yoghurt really just before serving. Otherwise both will melt away and get mixed with the rest of the sauce. You really want the flavor, creaminess and texture separate.

Freezing is not recommend.

As I said before I use crushed tomatoes and drained them through a sieve. This is important for a really thick tomato sauce. You can’t skip this step, otherwise the result will be more saucy and not as thick and robust.

What to serve with Shakshuka

This Shakshuka recipe is wonderful as it is but you want to add something to it, here are some suggestions:

• Pita or any other crusty bread goes really well and is always yummy.
• Tzatziki Sauce, hummus, or just a splash of hot sauce.
• Any salads you can think of, like cucumber or Fattoush salad

Also you can add some canned lentils or chickpeas, so easy and wonderful.

Other recipes to try

• Bombay Potatoes
• Cheddar Bay Biscuits
• Spinach Pasta
• Truffle Mac and Cheese
• Zucchini Bake

Tag #contentednesscooking and show your remakes of this Shakshuka on Instagram or Facebook and leave a comment and star rating below!

Enjoy, Florian!