If you are looking for an easy meal that is bursting with flavour, super cheap to make and uses ingredients you probably already have in your cupboard, then give this Shakshuka recipe a try. Chunky veg and beans in a thick spicy tomato sauce with eggs cooked in it and then pita bread to dip in. Yum!
Jump to:
Why you will love it
- Really cheap to make
- Low calorie
- Can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner
Ingredients needed
- Eggs - We always use the best quality organic free range eggs. They are a little more expensive, but it is worth it.
- Beans - We used butter beans in this recipe, but they can be swapped for chickpeas. We used canned beans to save some time, but to make this a more budget friendly recipe, you could soak your own beans overnight and cook them to use in this.
- Tomatoes - Use the best quality tinned tomatoes you can, as you will really be able to taste the difference. Cheap tinned tomatoes are really watery and you will end up with a watery finished sauce.
- Onion - We used a small brown onion, however you can swap it for shallots for a sweeter flavour.
- Bell pepper - We used red bell pepper as they are the sweetest. However you could use other colours instead, or a mixture.
- Cayenne, cumin and paprika - This is was gives the lovely smokey flavour, with just a little kick of spice.
- Feta - We topped our shakshuka with feta. This adds so much creaminess to the finished dish. Try to use the best quality, authentic, feta as it has the best flavour.
- Parsley - This adds lots of freshness at the end, but it is optional.
- Olives - The saltiness of the olives pairs beautifully with the sweetness of the tomatoes.
- Pita bread - This is optional, but it's the perfect way to scoop up all the sauce at the end, and to dip in to the runny yolks.
A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
How to make shakshuka - Step by step
One: Chop the onion and red bell pepper and mince the garlic.
Two: Heat the oil in a large pan and cook the onion, bell pepper and garlic for 5 minutes.
Three: Add the tomatoes, beans and spices. Cook for a further 5 minutes. This will make your tomato sauce base.
Four: Make wells in the sauce and crack an egg into each one.
Five: Put a lid on and cook until the egg whites have cooked - about 10 minutes.
Six: Top the shakshuka with feta, chopped parsley and sliced olives.
What is Shakshuka?
Shakshuka (or sometimes Shakshouka) is a North African spicy dish of eggs stewed in a tomato and bean sauce. It is thought to have originated in Tunisia (but now really popular in Israel and Middle Eastern countries) and this is our twist on it, with a few changes and some extra ingredients just to make it even more tasty and nutrient dense.
In Arabic, Shakshuka translates to “haphazard mixture”, which this really is. It’s a mixture of tomatoes, eggs and beans, with plenty of herbs and spices to keep it far from bland. Chilli, paprika and cumin are the main flavours here, making it nice and smokey with a kick of heat.
It’s a really simple one pot dish that is usually enjoyed for breakfast or brunch, but equally suitable for lunch and dinner. It’s a hearty and satisfying meal on a budget.
Is it healthy?
If you are trying to cut down your food budget, then it’s always a good idea to add more egg and bean based meals to your meal plan. They are both protein packed, cheap and you probably already have them in your cupboard/fridge along with a tin of tomatoes.
What vegetables to use?
Onions and bell peppers form the base of this dish, but there is no reason why you can’t add some mushrooms and aubergines, or whatever veg you have that needs using up really.
Although not traditional, we have added a can of butter beans to ours to bulk it out and make it a protein packed meal. You could swap them for chickpeas, or simply leave them out.
You also want to use the best quality tomatoes possible. Tomato really is the heart of the dish, so choose the best brand you can afford, as they won’t be overly watery. We then add some tomato purée (tomato paste) just to intensify the tomato flavour.
What to top it with
Some creamy feta and fresh herbs are a must on Shakshuka. We used curly parsley, but you could use coriander instead if you wanted. We also sprinkled over some chopped olives, as the extra saltiness worked really well with the creaminess of the eggs and beans. Sometimes you will find anchovies on it too.
What to serve with it
It pretty much has everything you could want from a meal already in it, but we still serve ours up with some freshly grilled pita bread and some creamy hummus on the side.
You could always make some of our super easy flatbreads to use instead of the pita. They are great for mopping up the sauce.
FAQs
We cooked ours on the hob (stove), as it was already on there anyway. But once the eggs are cracked in to the tomato sauce, you can then put it in the oven to cook the eggs. They will take around 7 to 10 minutes in the oven to set.
We have given the cooking time as a guide, but it will depend on what heat you have it on. You don’t want to overcook the eggs, as a runny yolk is a must we think - it’s like an extra sauce. The eggs should still jiggle a little if you shake the pan.
If you don’t like poached eggs, you could cook the sauce and then serve it with scrambled or fried eggs, or even some halloumi for something a little different.
This is one of those meals that I wouldn't recommend reheating or freezing. The eggs would get overcooked whereas they are much better fresh. This serves 4, so if you are making it for less people, then just halve or divide the recipe (change the portion amount in the recipe card to automatically recalculate the ingredients).
More egg recipes
If you’ve tried this shakshuka recipe, or any other recipe on the blog, then let us know how you got on in the comments below, we love hearing from you!
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - we love sharing photos when people make our recipes. You can use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Shakshuka
Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- 200 g cooked butter beans (you could use chickpeas or any bean though)
- 800 g chopped tomatoes canned
- 3 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
- 0.5 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 30 g feta cheese
- 4 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- 2 tablespoon green olives sliced
- 2 wholewheat pita breads
- 0.5 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Chop the onion and red bell pepper and mince the garlic.
- Heat the oil in a large pan and cook the onion, bell pepper and garlic for 5 minutes.
- Add the tomatoes, beans and spices. Cook for a further 5 minutes. This will make your tomato sauce base.
- Make wells in the sauce and crack an egg into each one.
- Put a lid on and cook until the egg whites have cooked - about 10 minutes.
- Top with crumbled feta, chopped parsley and sliced olives.
Notes
- Although traditionally it's a breakfast or brunch dish, it's great for lunch and dinner too.
- You can use any vegetables you like as the base, so it's a great way to use it veg that is on the turn.
- If you want to make a vegan version, leave the eggs out and swap the butterbeans for chickpeas.
- Use the best quality tomatoes you can afford, as cheap tomatoes are watery and they really are the base of the dish.
- You can cook this dish in the oven once you have cracked the eggs in to it - it will take around 7-10 minutes.
- Serve with pita, flatbread or crusty bread.
- Weight Watchers SmartPoints: 11
Idaintyit
It looks lovely, haven't seen a dish like this before. My husband would love this
Tanya Brannan
This looks absolutely delicious, and I am a total sucker for a runny poached egg! Already printed it off to try. Thank you x
cheri
Hi Dannii, this could easily be one of my favorite breakfast, looks delicious!
Ashley
Eggs are one of my favorites to use to stay on budget! This sounds fantastic - and so packed with flavor. And with some pita bread ... making me hungry!!
Rahul @samosastreet.com
This dish beautiful! The flavors are perfect. The first time I had it I fell in love and we eat this often for dinner as well. Llove your version of this classic.
mira
Looks delicious! Love this dish and need to make it more often! Thanks for sharing!
marcie
This dish looks delicious, Dannii -- I'm all over anything with a poached egg! I love that this is budget-friendly, and I love how you compared a hard cooked egg to a well done steak -- so true!
Julie @ Running in a Skirt
What a great simple recipe! I would love to try this. And I totally agree on the tomatoes!
Liz Mays
As soon as you said spicy, I was all in. This looks completely fantastic, and the sauce is begging me to eat it.
[email protected]
Spring time always puts me in the mood for cleaning and getting rid of things as well. I'm always amazed at how much junk we accumulate!
This sounds delicious! I'm a big fan of eggs and I've never tried them this way!
Charlie @ The Kitchen Shed
This looks delicious! I LOVE eggs!
[email protected]
Look at all those delicious spices.
This is a dish that Lynne and I would probably have for a leisurely weekend brunch!
Delicious!
Kari @ bite-sized thoughts
I'd never heard of Shakshuka but it does sound like a hearty, cheap and nutritious dish. Perfect for fueling cleaning...and hoarding arguments ;)
Jemma @ Celery and Cupcakes
Talk about yolk porn! I've always wanted to make something like this for that reason alone. It looks delicious!
Tandy I Lavender and Lime
This is the breakfast we make when we have guests as it's simple and delicious
Giovanna
I love breakfast food, especially pouched eggs! Can not wait to try this recipe out, these pics are amazing. I ran into your blog today and I absolutely love it. I also have a blog and would love to get some feedback from you :) XOXO
Papatia
The Mister doesn't like cumin that much so we will have to try your recipe without it ;) xx
Emma White
oh wow this looks and sounds amazing so going to try this
Ana De- Jesus
I have had a similar dish to this before and it is divine although I will have to try this version out too! Can't wait x
Sarah Bailey
I have to admit I do like a good egg in something, it is amazing how they can complement food, this sounds delicious. x