Tunisian Egg Shakshouka is one of the most truly unique and original dishes in Tunisian cuisine. Be sure to use real Harissa sauce, it is essential for authenticity. Plus it tastes wonderful!
Tunisian Egg Shakshouka Recipe-
Ingredients:
- 2 red capsicums (sweet peppers), cored, seeded, and rough chopped
- 2 red hot chili peppers
- 2 oz. tomato paste
- 24 oz. water
- 4 oz. scallion infused olive oil
- 1 tbsp. smoked paprika
- 2 tbsp. Harissa sauce
- 1 tbsp. caraway seeds
- 8 large eggs
- salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
- Place the hot chili peppers and capsicums an electric blender or food processor and process just until not yet smooth, but a little chunky.
- In a large skillet over medium-high flame, seat the oil and then add in the tomato paste, puréed peppers, harissa, paprika, caraway seeds, salt and pepper, and mix together thoroughly.
- Now add in the water and bring to vigorous boil, stirring now and then. Once the boil is achieved, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Crack the eggs over the skillet and into the cooking sauce, exercising care so as to not break the yolks.
- Sprinkle some salt on the eggs, and continue cooking until the eggs have set up firm and the whites are cooked through.
- To serve your Tunisian Egg Shakshouka, use a wide spatula and carefully lift out a generous portion of the sauce with an egg on top and transfer to serving plates.
Note: this recipe is just one of many taken from our Tunisian Cuisine page.
Looks really hearty and savory. Is this a breakfast dish, or in Tunisia would it be eaten more like a main meal of the day?
KC, it really very hearty, and while we might consider it a breakfast here in the West because of the eggs, in Tunisia, as well as other countries who have a version of shakshouka, it is often a main meal of the day.
My goodness this looks just wonderful! I’d definitely like to try this dish. Question – is it considered like a hearty breakfast dish? What with the eggs and all?
Hi Nancy, and thanks for the comment and question. To us Westerners, the eggs make the dish seem natural for a breakfast or brunch, but actually in Tunisia egg shakshouka is considered a main meal, more often taken at what we would call dinner time.