Shakshuka may be at the apex of eggs-for-dinner recipes, though in Israel it is breakfast food, a bright, spicy start to the day with a pile of pita or challah served on the side. (It also makes excellent brunch or lunch food.) It’s a one-skillet recipe of eggs baked in a tomato-red pepper sauce spiced with cumin, paprika and cayenne. First you make that sauce, which comes together fairly quickly on top of the stove, then you gently crack each of the eggs into the pan, nestling them into the sauce. The pan is moved into the oven to finish. Shakshuka originated in North Africa, and like many great dishes there are as many versions as there are cooks who have embraced it. This one strays from more traditional renditions by adding crumbled feta cheese, which softens into creamy nuggets in the oven’s heat.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 1 large red bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
• 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne, or to taste
• 1 (28-ounce) can whole plum tomatoes with juices, coarsely chopped
• 3/4 teaspoon salt, more as needed OR 1 Tablespoon Thai Fish Sauce
• 1-4 teaspoon black pepper, more as needed
• 5 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (about 1 1/4 cups)
• 6 large eggs*
• Chopped cilantro, for serving
• Hot sauce, for serving

Preparation

1. Heat oven to 375°F.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat.
3. Add onion and bell pepper. Cook gently until very soft, about 20 minutes.
4. Add garlic and cook until tender, 1 to 2 minutes; stir in cumin, paprika and cayenne, and cook 1 minute.
5. Pour in tomatoes and season with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; simmer until tomatoes have thickened, about 10 minutes.
6. Stir in crumbled feta.
7. Gently crack eggs into skillet over tomatoes*.
8. Season with salt and pepper.
9. Transfer skillet to oven and bake until eggs are just set, 7 to 10 minutes.
10. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve with hot sauce.

Cook’s Note

I prefer to substitute 75°C  Eggs cooked for 12 minutes. Simmer the sauce an additional  7 to 10 minutes before serving, adding the eggs when plating the Shakshuka allowing them to finish cooking in the hot sauce.

Optional Za’atar Variation

After the eggs have finished cooking, sprinkle 1 to 2 teaspoons za’atar evenly over the shakshuka before adding the cilantro. The sumac, sesame, and herbs complement the tomatoes, cumin, feta, and olive oil while adding a bright, aromatic finish. Add the za’atar after baking to preserve its flavor and texture.