Updated by Lisa Goldfinger 23 Comments This post may contain affiliate links
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Shakshuka is one of the world's great egg dishes. This shakshuka recipe, given to me by Israeli chef Einat Admony, has baked eggs in thick richly spiced tomato sauce with bell peppers, spinach and feta. Though this dish is traditionally served for breakfast, I also love this shakshuka for brunch, lunch or dinner.
My friend Jim Solomon invited me to his restaurant, The Fireplace, for an Israeli brunch, prepared by chef Einat Admony. Einat, originally from Tel Aviv, now lives in NYC where she runs two critically-acclaimed restaurants, TaïmandBalaboosta. I was introduced to shakshuka at that brunch and was completely bowled over by it.
Einat's hearty, flavorful shakshuka is one of those supremely satisfying vegetarian dishes that makes everyone at the table happy. I'm thrilled that Einat gave me permission to share her incredible shakshuka recipe here on Panning The Globe.
The concept of Shakshuka is very simple: baked eggs in spiced tomato sauce. But the particular spices that Einat uses are something special. And I love the added kick from the jalapeños. I decided to add feta cheese which melts into the spicy sauce, adding a salty creamy component. But feel free to leave it out if you prefer to go non-dairy.
How To Make Shakshuka:
This whole dish can be cooked in an oven-ready skillet, if you have one. If not, you can cook the sauce in a pot and then assemble and bake the shakshuka in a casserole dish. You can make this with fresh or frozen spinach.
- Start by Making the Tomato Sauce: Sauté onions, bell peppers and jalapeños until soft. Add tomato paste, canned tomatoes, chopped garlic and spices. Simmer the sauce for about 15 minutes and then stir in chopped spinach and simmer for another few minutes to wilt the spinach. The sauce can be made several days ahead of time.
- Assemble the Shakshuka: If you cooked the sauce in a pot, transfer it to an oven-ready skillet or casserole. Using the back of a tablespoon, make 6-8 evenly-spaced depressions in the sauce. Crack an egg into each depression. Press cubes of feta into the sauce, around and between the eggs.
- Cook the shakshuka: Bake itin a 375ºF oven for 20-30 minutes, just until the egg whites turn opaque.
Serve shakshuka hot, with crusty bread for sopping up all the delicious sauce. If you're making shakshuka for dinner, this green salad with lemon-dijon vinaigrette will work well on the side, or this butter lettuce salad with citrus honey vinaigrette.
You may also like:
- Huevos Rancheros: Mexican Breakfast
- Gallo Pinto: Costa Rican Breakfast
- Asparagus Goat Cheese Frittata
Here's the shakshuka recipe. If you make this, I hope you'll come back to leave a star rating and a comment. I'd love to know what you think.
Shakshuka with Spinach and Feta
5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star
5 from 4 reviews
- Author: Lisa
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 mins
- Yield: 4-6 1x
Description
Baked eggs in spicy tomato sauce with spinach and feta, a hearty vegetarian dish that satisfies for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner.
Adapted from a recipe by Einat Admony
Ingredients
Scale
This whole recipe can be cooked in an oven-ready skillet or you can cook the sauce in a pot and then bake the shakshuka in a casserole.
- For The Spices
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 ½ teaspoons fresh ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground caraway seed (or buy whole seeds and grind them)
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- For The Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 medium yellow onions, chopped (about 3 cups)
- 1 large red or green bell pepper, roughly chopped
- 1 large or 2 small jalapeno peppers, seeded, ribs removed, and finely minced
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 5 tablespoons minced garlic (6-7 large cloves)
- 1 28 ounce can whole plum tomatoes with their juice, tomatoes crushed by hand
- 2 packed cups spinach leaves, roughly chopped (see below for substituting frozen spinach)
- For The Eggs and cheese
- 6-8 eggs
- 4-5 ounces feta cheese cut into ½-inch cubes.
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375ºF
- Measure all the spices into a small bowl: bay leaf, sugar (1 tablespoon), salt (½ teaspoon), Cumin (2 teaspoons), paprika (2 teaspoons), pepper (1 ½ teaspoons), caraway seeds (1 teaspoon), and turmeric (½ teaspoon).
- Heat oil (2 tablespoons) over medium heat in a large pot or oven-ready skillet. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 8 minutes. (don't let them brown) Add bell pepper and jalapeno, and cook until softened, 4-5 minutes. Add tomato paste (4 tablespoons) and minced garlic (5 tablespoons) and cook, stirring, for a minute or two, until tomato paste is incorporated. Add canned tomatoes and spices. stir through. Turn heat down to a gentle simmer and cook, uncovered, for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens. Mix in the chopped spinach and simmer for 5 minutes more to wilt the spinach. Remove the bay leaf. Sauce can be made ahead and kept in the fridge for 3 days or frozen for several months. Reheat sauce before proceeding.
- Add eggs and cheese, and bake: If you used a saucepan to cook the sauce, transfer the sauce to an oven-ready skillet or casserole. Using the back of a tablespoon, make 6-8 evenly-spaced depressions in the sauce. Crack an egg carefully into each one, keeping the yolk intact. Press the cheese cubes evenly into the sauce, around and between the eggs. Place the skillet in the middle of the oven and cook just until the egg whites turn opaque, 20-30 minutes. Keep watch every few minutes, starting at 15 minutes. Serve shakshuka hot, with crusty bread for sopping up the sauce.
Notes
If using frozen spinach, defrost a 10-ounce pack of frozen chopped spinach and use a third of it. Squeeze out the excess water before using it.
[This post first appeared onPanning The Globe in March 2013. It was updated in May 2020 with new photos and a few tweaks to the written post. Same delicious recipe!]
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: breakfast or brunch
- Method: baked
- Cuisine: Israeli
More Breakfast recipes
- Homemade Corned Beef Hash
- Homemade Bagels Recipe
- The Best Easy Granola Recipe
- Gallo Pinto: Costa Rican Rice and Beans Breakfast
Reader Interactions
Comments
Sandra w goodman
Luv that recipe need for 2 so I’ll cut in 1/2
Reply
Ellie G
first I made your Costa Rican breakfast dish, Gallo Pinto. It was so good I decided to try your Shakshuka. Wonderful! I served it for lunch with a green salad. Will definitely make this again. Thank you for sharing!
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Kim Alwan
You forgot to mention that shakshouka شكشوكه originated in North African countries of Libya and Tunisia and it means a "mixture" or "shaken" in Tunisian Arabic dialect. Shakshoka is the quintessential meal of Arab cuisine traditioally served in acast iron pan.
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Germaine
This is one dish I’ve been wanting to try, I was wondering- other than spinach for the sauce, what other vegetables can be used.
I just discovered your site and will thoroughly enjoy browsing through your recipes for a future meal recipe..Reply
Lisa
I think this would be delicious with any greens - kale or chard would be my top choices in place of spinach. If you'd rather do it without any greens, you could add shredded carrots or simply double the amount of bell peppers. I hope that helps! And I'm so glad you're browsing around - I hope you find some recipes that you love!
jen
YUM!! Love a great new vegetarian recipe!!! Thank you, Lisa!
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Clif
See AlsoOne-Pot Spicy Eggs and PotatoesLooks so good...can't wait to give this a try! Thanks Lisa!
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Lisa
Hi Clif, It's tasty! I've been making it frequently during lockdown. I hope you enjoy!
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Betsey
Going to make this as soon as I get the hot pepper. It was a riot though that one of the advertisers, Pepto Bismol appeared in its noxious pink self right below the directions. Funny!!!!!
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Lisa
Oh no! That's hilarious but also a little unsettling. I may have to have a chat with my ad network and get that one removed. Not a good ad for a food blog!!
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Jonas
Before this recipe, I was intimidated by Shakshuka, but now I can do it and its no biggie! Amazing
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Alex G
My coworker asked me if I had a shakshuka recipe and I gave him this. At the time I hadn't ever cooked it but he raved about it enough that I had to make it. Delicious.
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Jennifer
This looks absolutely delicious, but unfortunately, I'm not a big Feta cheese fan. How do you think Goat Cheese would be in this recipe. I was also thinking of substituting fresh Mozzarella. I would appreciate any comments! Thank you!!!
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Lisa Goldfinger
Hi Jennifer. You can make this with no cheese at all - I've done it without and it's still delicious! For those who like cheese, you can serve crumbled feta on the side as an optional garnish. I'm not sure how goat cheese would taste - it might be too strong a flavor, along with all of the other strong flavors in the dish. The feta doesn't compete as much with the flavors in the dish - it just adds a richness and a saltiness. I hope this helps! ~ Lisa
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Terry
Have enjoyed all your recipes! My daughter Kellie went to school,with you in Redding and recommended your site!
Terry
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Lisa Goldfinger
Thanks Terry! Yes, I know your daughter from when I lived in Ridgefield - right near Redding. Say "hello" to her for me!
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Hallie
Love this website and every dish I've made so far! Shakshuka was as delicious as it looked in the picture, but I would lighten up on the salt next time. The sauce gets an extra dose of salt by adding the cheese, which puts over the top. Thanks!
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Meryl
What a gorgeous dish to serve for Brunch!
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Elizabeth @ SugarHero.com
This sounds AMAZING. I've seen this recipe floating around a lot lately (I think because of the new Jerusalem cookbook?) and every time I see it I vow to try it soon. It must happen this week!
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Betsy
I cannot wait to make this!
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Sara
I've always wanted to make this, Lisa. Now I will use your recipe! Thanks!
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Eddie
This is unbelievably delicious!!
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Jean
This looks amazing. Thanks Lisa!
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