The Zesty Easy Shakshouka Recipe You’ll Love at First Bite

Shakshouka, a vibrant Mediterranean dish, bursts with flavor and simplicity that reinvents ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary meal.

Eggs nestled in a robust tomato sauce create a stunning visual and gustatory experience for anyone craving comfort food.

Bright red peppers and aromatic spices dance together in this one-pan wonder, promising a delightful culinary adventure.

Traditionally enjoyed as a breakfast staple, this versatile recipe transcends meal boundaries with its hearty and satisfying profile.

North African and Middle Eastern cuisines celebrate this rustic dish that combines bold seasonings with fresh, wholesome components.

Nutritious and quick to assemble, shakshouka represents a perfect solution for those seeking a delicious, no-fuss cooking approach.

The magic of this recipe lies in its ability to deliver complex flavors through minimal effort and straightforward techniques.

Why Easy Shakshouka Deserves a Spot on Your Table

• Savor Bold Mediterranean Flavors: This shakshouka bursts with rich, zesty tastes from cumin, smoked paprika, and fresh herbs that dance beautifully across your palate.
• Quick and Simple Weeknight Wonder: With just one skillet and less than 40 minutes, you'll create a restaurant-quality meal that impresses without complicated techniques or endless prep work.
• Customize Your Comfort: Easily adjust spice levels by playing with pepper quantities, swap cheese types, or add protein like chorizo to make this dish perfectly suited to your personal taste preferences.
• Nutritious One-Pan Meal: Packed with vegetables, protein-rich eggs, and vibrant spices, this recipe delivers a balanced, wholesome dinner that feels indulgent while keeping health in mind.

Ingredients to Make a Simple Yet Bold Shakshouka

• Onion: Sweet and aromatic foundation for the dish, providing depth of flavor.
• Anaheim Peppers, Jalapeño Pepper: Mild to spicy peppers that add layers of heat and complexity.

• Diced Tomatoes: Juicy base that creates rich sauce with bright acidity.
• Vegetable Broth: Adds moisture and enhances overall savory profile of the dish.

• Ground Cumin: Warm, earthy spice that provides distinctive Middle Eastern flavor.
• Smoked Paprika: Adds smoky depth and beautiful reddish color to the sauce.
• Dried Oregano: Herbaceous note that complements tomato-based dishes.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings for balancing and enhancing overall taste.

• Eggs: Main protein that transforms the dish into a hearty meal, cooked directly in the sauce.
• Fresh Parsley: Bright, fresh herb for garnish and added color.
• Feta Cheese: Tangy, creamy topping that provides richness and traditional Mediterranean touch.

• Fresh Pita Bread: Perfect for scooping and enjoying the saucy dish.
• Olive Oil: Used for cooking and adding richness to the base of the recipe.

How to Prepare Easy Shakshouka in Just a Few Steps

Step 1: Warm Up the Skillet

• Chopped onion
• Anaheim peppers
• Jalapeño pepper

Cook while stirring occasionally until vegetables soften and start browning, around 7 minutes.

Step 2: Create Spicy Tomato Base

• Diced tomatoes
• Vegetable broth

• Ground cumin
• Smoked paprika
• Dried oregano
• Salt
• Black pepper

Let the sauce simmer and thicken for 20 to 22 minutes, stirring periodically.

Step 3: Nestle the Eggs

Gently create small wells in the tomato sauce. Carefully crack eggs into each well. Cover skillet with lid and cook 6 to 8 minutes until egg whites set and yolks remain slightly runny. For firmer yolks, extend cooking time by 1 to 2 minutes.

Step 4: Finish with Fresh Touches

• Chopped fresh parsley
• Crumbled feta cheese

Serve immediately with warm pita bread for dipping.

Tips for Perfect Eggs in Shakshouka Every Time

• Sizzle Smart: Use a wide skillet to ensure even cooking and prevent overcrowding of vegetables.
• Spice Precision: Adjust the jalapeño amount to control heat level, removing seeds for milder flavor.
• Egg Perfection: Create distinct wells in the sauce to help eggs cook evenly and maintain their shape.
• Sauce Texture: Simmer sauce uncovered to allow natural reduction and concentrate rich tomato flavors.
• Serving Hack: Warm pita bread briefly on a skillet to enhance its softness and bring out a subtle toasty flavor.

How to Store and Enjoy Leftover Shakshouka Later

• Refrigerate: Transfer leftover shakshouka to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Ensure the container is sealed tightly to maintain freshness and prevent odor absorption.
• Reheat Gently: Warm the shakshouka in a skillet over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to distribute heat evenly. Add a splash of vegetable broth if the sauce seems dry to restore moisture and prevent sticking.
• Avoid Freezing: Eggs and tomato-based sauces tend to separate and lose texture when frozen, so it's best to enjoy shakshouka fresh or within a few days of preparation.

Great Pairings for Your Easy Shakshouka

• Pair with Rustic Red Wine: Select a medium-bodied Spanish Tempranillo or Grenache to complement the rich tomato sauce and spicy peppers. These wines balance the dish's robust flavors with their subtle fruitiness and smooth tannins.
• Serve with Crisp Mediterranean Salad: Create a light cucumber and herb salad with fresh mint, lemon juice, and olive oil. The cool, zesty accompaniment cuts through the warm, spicy shakshouka and provides a refreshing contrast.
• Match with Herbal Mint Tea: Brew a traditional Moroccan-style mint tea to cleanse the palate and soothe the spicy notes. The tea's cool, sweet undertones perfectly balance the dish's warmth and intensity.
• Enjoy with Crusty Artisan Bread: Select a sourdough or whole grain bread to soak up the flavorful tomato sauce. The bread's texture and slight tanginess enhance the shakshouka's complex spice profile and provide a satisfying dining experience.

Shakshouka Flavor Variations You’ll Want to Try

• Mediterranean Veggie Boost: Replace Anaheim peppers with roasted red bell peppers and add zucchini and eggplant for extra vegetable richness and Mediterranean flair.
• Spicy Chorizo Kick: Incorporate crispy chorizo sausage pieces before adding tomatoes to infuse smoky, spicy flavors and provide additional protein.
• Green Shakshuka Style: Swap tomato sauce with a vibrant green sauce made from blended spinach, kale, and herbs like cilantro, maintaining the classic egg-poaching technique.
• Middle Eastern Herb Infusion: Enhance the sauce with additional herbs like za'atar, sumac, and fresh mint, creating a more complex and aromatic flavor profile.

Easy Shakshouka Recipe

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4.7 from 8 reviews

• Total Time: 43 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Moroccan shakshouka brings spicy tomato magic to your breakfast table with eggs nestled in a zesty pepper and onion sauce. Mediterranean comfort arrives quickly, promising a satisfying meal that delights with bold flavors and simple ingredients you’ll crave again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein:

• 6–8 eggs

Vegetables and Spices:

• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 Anaheim peppers, seeded and chopped
• 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped
• 1 28-ounce (794 g) can diced tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
• 0.5 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 0.25 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste

Liquid and Garnish:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 0.5 cup (120 g) vegetable broth
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 0.25 cup (40 g) crumbled feta cheese, for topping
• Fresh pita bread, for serving

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Instructions

1. Initiate the flavor foundation by heating olive oil in a spacious, deep skillet over medium-high temperature. Introduce chopped onions, Anaheim peppers, and jalapeño, sautéing until vegetables transform into a golden-tinged, tender medley, approximately 7 minutes.
2. Cascade diced tomatoes and vegetable broth into the skillet, creating a vibrant sauce base. Integrate ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Allow the mixture to gently simmer, occasionally stirring, until the sauce condenses and thickens over 20 to 22 minutes.
3. Craft delicate wells within the robust tomato sauce using a spoon. Delicately nestle eggs into these pockets, maintaining their structural integrity. Cloak the skillet with a lid, enabling eggs to poach for 6 to 8 minutes until egg whites solidify and yolks maintain a luxurious, slightly runny consistency.
4. Remove skillet from heat when eggs reach desired doneness. Embellish the shakshouka with a sprinkle of fresh parsley and crumbled feta cheese, introducing a bright, tangy dimension. Present immediately alongside warm pita bread for an immersive dining experience.

Notes

• Spice up your breakfast with this vibrant North African dish that transforms simple ingredients into a flavor-packed meal.
• Mediterranean comfort food meets quick weeknight cooking, delivering a one-skillet wonder that’ll impress everyone at the table.
• Perfect for those mornings when you want something beyond basic eggs, this recipe brings zesty tomato sauce and perfectly poached eggs together in pure culinary magic.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 33 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 280
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 400 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 20 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 14 g
• Cholesterol: 186 mg