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The Best Shakshuka Recipe
This is hands-down the best shakshuka recipe! All my shakshuka tips, plus, tips for making shakshuka for one.
Prep
15 min
Cook
30 min
Total
45 min
Serves
2
Instructions
- 01
In a large 12-oz sauté pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and pepper and a pinch of salt and saute for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until veggies and soft and slightly browned.
- 02
Add garlic and cook for one more minute until fragrant (add a little more olive oil if needed.)
- 03
Then add the tomato paste, harissa, cumin, paprika and chili pepper flakes and sauté for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until tomato paste brows.
- 04
Add diced tomatoes and combine, and simmer for 5-8 minutes until sauce thickens.
- 05
Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- 06
Put one egg in a small ramekin and dig a small well with a spoon in the shakshuka for the egg to go in. Repeat with the other eggs. Simmer over medium for 10 minutes or until the whites are cooked but the yolks are still runny. Serve immediately with cilantro, avocado and a drizzle of olive oil!
Variations & swaps
Shakshuka Ingredients and Substitutions
- Here’s what goes in:
- Eggs — 4 to 6 large eggs. Not much wiggle room here, it’s literally the dish.
- Canned tomatoes — fire-roasted crushed tomatoes are my pick. Whole peeled works too; just crush them by hand first.
- Bell peppers — red, orange, or yellow for sweetness. Green works but runs bitter.
- Onion — yellow or white. Red adds a bit of extra sweetness.
- Garlic — fresh cloves. No jarred stuff.
- Tomato paste — don’t skip it. Adds concentrated richness that canned tomatoes alone won’t give you.
- Harissa — my secret weapon. No harissa? A pinch of cayenne plus extra smoked paprika gets you close. Jalapeños work great too!
- Spices — cumin, smoked paprika, chili flakes.
- Olive oil — for sautéing and finishing.
- Fresh herbs — cilantro or flat-leaf parsley. Avocado on top is optional but I strongly recommend it.
Shakshuka Variations to Try
- Classic shakshuka is perfect, but it’s also a canvas. A few directions I love:
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