Mealtime: Shakshouka

When life gives you tomatoes and eggs what would you do with them? Ask Israelis and they would say you could make Shakshouka. Shakshouka's origins are debatable, but many claim it originates from North Africa. Shakshouka made its way to Israel from North Africa with North African Jews that moved to Israel when their living situation in their countries became intolerable. Shakshouka is basically eggs poached in a spicy tomato sauce. Usually it is served in the same frying pan it was cooked in and is served with bread for dipping. It is a staple in the Israeli kitchen because the ingredients to make are usually on hand. There are as many recipes for Shakshouka as people how cook it. Everyone makes it differently. That what makes it a unique dish that everyone should try when they are in Israel. It is also extremely easy to make in the home kitchen so you should give this recipe a try next time you want to be adventurous.

Ingredients:

4 tomatoes

3 cloves of garlic

1 onion

tablespoon of chili paste

 1/4 cup water

1/4 cup tomato paste

cumin

salt 

pepper

eggs  

Method:

With the tomatoes make an x opposite the stem. Then place in boiling water for about 30 seconds to a minute. Take out of the water and rinse with cold water. This should make peeling the skin of the tomatoes easier. When the tomatoes are peeled, chop the tomatoes, and onion. After that you should mince the garlic. In a frying pan you should cook the chopped onions until they become translucent. Then add the garlic and chili paste until fragrant. Once fragrant, add the chopped tomatoes, cumin, tomato paste, salt, pepper,and a 1/4 cup of water. Cook until the sauce combines evenly. When the sauce is combined add the eggs and cook them to your liking.  I like my yolks a little runny so I cook my eggs for a shorter amount of time than other people. If you do not like runny egg yolks, then you should just cook the eggs longer. Serve in the same frying pan you cook with and alongside some bread for dipping. It is a delicious way to enjoy eggs in a non-conventional manner. It is good anytime of the day and just because it has eggs in it does not make it a breakfast only dish. I hope you decide to try Shakshouka in the future, it is delicious and healthy for you. Enjoy!