Shakshuka Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes | Aline Made (2024)

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Poached eggs in a tomato sauce with beautiful flavors and a handful of fresh herbs – that’s Shakshuka! Serve it with fresh bread, and you have a wonderful one-pot meal!

Shakshuka Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes | Aline Made (1)

Shakshuka Origin

Shakshuka (also spelled shakshouka) is a vegetarian meal born in North Africa, though its origin may go back to the Ottoman Empire.

Today it’s strongly associated with the Middle East and Israel in particular, where Jewish immigrants introduced it. It has become more popular in the western world during the last years and is a signature dish among the Levant kitchen.

What Is Shakshuka?

It’s a very simple dish that is easy to cook with no pitfalls. Shakshuka essentially means “mixed up”, which reflects its casual composition.

Garlic, onion, bell pepper, and fresh tomatoes are cooked among some fresh herbs and spices. Once the sauce has bubbled for a while, wells are formed into the sauce. Raw eggs are cracked directly into them and poached in the sauce. This is the classic version, yet you can vary it greatly!

Some like to top it with crumbled feta, and others prefer a green shakshuka made with green vegetables.

Shakshuka Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes | Aline Made (2)

Shakshuka is typically served for brunch or breakfast and can be eaten straight out of the pan. I love to serve it with one of those homemade crusty bread:

  • Turkish Pide Bread
  • Pita Bread
  • No-Knead Bread

Such an easy recipe that is bursting with flavor and a must-try if you love the Arabic cuisine. The use of fresh mint, ground cumin, and cayenne pepper gives this dish its typical middle eastern taste.

Fresh Tomatoes

Shakshuka with fresh tomatoes is my favorite way to cook it. The tomatoes should be very ripe and, therefore, sweet and juicy.

If you don’t have ripe tomatoes at hand, use canned peeled tomatoes instead.

One last note:As you serve it directly in your pan, it will keep the temperature quite long. Keep in mind that the eggs will still cook a little more once you take them from the heat. Therefore, reduce the cooking time if you love your eggs runny.

Shakshuka Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes | Aline Made (3)

How To Make This Shakshuka Recipe

Read through this visual step-by-step guide with lots of extra tips!

The exact quantities and everything else you need to know for the recipe can be found in the recipe card below.

  • Heat a skillet with olive oil. Add garlic, onion, and bell pepper, sauté for a few minutes until fragrant.
Shakshuka Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes | Aline Made (4)
  • Stir in tomato paste, paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper, and sugar.
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  • Cook for an additional minute while stirring constantly.
Shakshuka Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes | Aline Made (6)
  • Add diced tomatoes, water, and half of the mint and parsley.
Shakshuka Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes | Aline Made (7)
  • Cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Shakshuka Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes | Aline Made (8)
  • Use a spoon to make three wells in the sauce and crack an egg into each well.
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  • Cover and cook for another 5-10 minutes over low to medium heat until the eggs are almost cooked through (or done to your liking).→ Keep in mind that the eggs will still cook a little more once you take the skillet from the heat.
  • Sprinkle with the remaining mint and parsley and serve with fresh bread.
Shakshuka Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes | Aline Made (10)

Recipe FAQ & Tips

How long does it stay fresh?Leftovers can be stored for up to 2 days in the refrigerator.

Fresh Tomatoes:I love to use fresh and ripe tomatoes to make shakshuka. It’s ideal to use up leftover tomatoes, which you wouldn’t want to use for salad anymore.

Canned Tomatoes:Feel free to replace fresh tomatoes with a can of peeled tomatoes. If so, skip the water used in the recipe and reduce the cooking time in step 2 to 10 minutes.

Skillet:I recommend using a 9.5 inch (24cm) skillet to fit 3 eggs.

More Recipes You’ll Love:

  • Fresh Tomato Sauce
  • Hummus
  • French Crepes

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📖 Recipe

Shakshuka Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes | Aline Made (11)

Shakshuka

Poached eggs in a tomato sauce with beautiful flavors and a handful of fresh herbs – that's Shakshuka! Serve it with fresh bread, and you have a wonderful one-pot meal!

Author : Aline Cueni

4.74 from 19 votes

Click on the stars to leave a vote!

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Prep Time :5 minutes mins

Cook Time :30 minutes mins

Total Time :35 minutes mins

Servings : 2 -3

Calories : 242kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 onion minced
  • ½ red bell pepper seeded and diced
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp ground paprika
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • ½ tsp sugar
  • 14 oz (400 g) ripe tomatoes chopped OR a 14.5oz can of peeled tomatoes
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water skip if using canned tomatoes
  • ½ bunch fresh mint chopped
  • ½ brunch fresh parsley chopped
  • 3 eggs
  • salt & pepper

Instructions

  • Heat a skillet with olive oil. Add garlic, onion, and bell pepper, sauté for a few minutes until fragrant. Stir in tomato paste, paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper, and sugar, cook for an additional minute while stirring constantly.

  • Add diced tomatoes, water, and half of the mint and parsley. Cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

  • Use a spoon to make three wells in the sauce and crack an egg into each well.

  • Cover and cook for another 5-10 minutes over low to medium heat until the eggs are almost cooked through (or done to your liking).→ Keep in mind that the eggs will still cook a little more once you take the skillet from the heat.

  • Sprinkle with the remaining mint and parsley and serve with fresh bread.

Notes

Fresh Tomatoes: I love to use fresh and ripe tomatoes to make shakshuka. It’s ideal to use up leftover tomatoes, which you wouldn’t want to use for salad anymore.

Canned Tomatoes: Feel free to replace fresh tomatoes with a can of peeled tomatoes. If so, skip the water used in the recipe and reduce the cooking time in step 2 to 10 minutes.

Skillet: I recommend using a 9.5 inch (24cm) skillet to fit 3 eggs.

Leftovers can be stored for up to two days in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Calories: 242kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 246mg | Sodium: 175mg | Potassium: 808mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 3649IU | Vitamin C: 71mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 3mg

Shakshuka Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes | Aline Made (16)

Aline Cueni

I’m a girl who loves to cook and bake delicious homemade food. Let me help you to incorporate more plant-based foods into everyday life! Vegetarian & vegan recipes can be anything but boring.

Shakshuka Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes | Aline Made (2024)

FAQs

Why boil tomatoes before making sauce? ›

Start by plunging your tomatoes into boiling water for 1 to 2 minutes. This will loosen their skins, so they're much easier to remove later.

How long to cook tomatoes before blending? ›

Place the tomatoes in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until they've released some of their juices and are tender, about 10 minutes. Purée.

Which country is shakshuka from? ›

Shakshuka is a simple dish made of gently poached eggs in a delicious chunky tomato and bell pepper sauce. Said to have originated in Tunisia, this breakfast recipe is popular in many parts of North Africa and the Middle East. It is so satisfying, you can serve it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Is it better to roast or boil tomatoes for sauce? ›

Roasting brings out the full, wonderful flavor of tomatoes. Under heat, the natural sweetness of the tomato is heightened and concentrated, and there's a lot more depth to the flavor too.

Do you have to blanch tomatoes before making sauce? ›

You CAN make tomato sauce without removing the peels first, but if you want a smooth sauce that doesn't contain any bitterness from the peel then I would take the 20 minutes or so to blanch and peel the tomatoes first.

Can I leave the skins on tomatoes when making sauce? ›

Yeah, that's right: NO need to peel those tomatoes! The skins are delicious and nutritious, too! We like to throw in fresh oregano and basil at the end for an extra burst of flavor, and add salt and pepper to taste.

Do you peel tomatoes before blending? ›

An easier process because you don't have to remove the skins or seeds. You can simply blend the tomatoes using a high-speed blender to reach a smooth consistency.

Do you peel tomatoes before or after boiling? ›

The best way to peel a tomato is to boil the tomatoes first to loosen the skin. Unlike other methods, boiling is quick, easy, and scales efficiently. After boiling, the tomatoes will sit in a bath of cold water so that they are cool enough to peel with your hands.

Why remove skins from tomatoes? ›

Why would you peel tomatoes? The tomato skin is a different texture from the tomato flesh, and will remain so in sauces and purées—you'll get tiny chunks of skin instead of an uniformly smooth mixture. Moreover, the tomato skin is heavy in a kind of nutrient called flavonols, which impart a bitter flavor.

Do you simmer tomatoes covered or uncovered? ›

Carefully add tomato mixture (it may splatter) and basil, stirring to combine. Bring to a boil, covered, stirring occasionally, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring more frequently toward end of cooking, until sauce is thickened and reduced by half, 2 to 3 hours.

Was shakshuka made by Jews? ›

Whatever the true origins, it was eventually brought to Israel by Jewish immigrants from Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Libya. At a time when they were struggling financially, this hearty, affordable dish that was very easy to make and made a lot of sense to immigrants. Nowadays, you'll find it's just about everywhere!

What does shakshuka mean in English? ›

shakshouka, a Maghrebi (North African) dish, popular throughout the region, featuring poached eggs in a spicy tomato sauce, seasoned with peppers, onion, garlic, and various spices. The word shakshouka comes from Maghrebi Arabic dialect and means “mixed.”

What is another name for shakshuka? ›

Shakshouka
Shakshouka in a cast iron pan
Alternative namesShakshuka, chakchouka
Place of originOttoman North Africa
Main ingredientsTomatoes, harissa, eggs, olive oil
Media: Shakshouka
1 more row

What is the secret to good tomato sauce? ›

Starting with good quality tomatoes and crushing them by hand offers great flavor and texture later on. The combination of butter and oil releases fat-soluble aromatics and gives the sauce a creamy texture. Slowly cooking the sauce in the oven creates rich caramelization without burning.

What do boiling tomatoes do? ›

Research results indicated a significant drop in vitamin C, but in contrast, a substantial increase in lycopene. Steaming or boiling tomatoes is the preferred method of cooking to bring out more lycopene for optimal nutrition.

Do I need to boil tomatoes before using a food mill? ›

Place the tomatoes in a big stock pot or dutch oven and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer for about 5-10 minutes until the tomatoes are soft. Set up your food mill over a large mixing bowl or a pot. Ladle the tomatoes into the food mill and churn away…

How long to boil tomatoes to peel for sauce? ›

Add the tomatoes to the boiling water for 20 to 30 seconds until the skin begins to wrinkle and peel away from the flesh. Don't let the tomatoes sit too long in the water, or they will start to cook. Using a slotted spoon or a strainer, strain the tomatoes and transfer them to the bowl of ice water to cool.

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