Shakshuka: Poached Eggs in a Fried Tomato Sauce

A low effort, high reward breakfast, brunch or supper. Tasty, flavoursome fried tomato sauce with poached eggs spooned over hot buttered toast.

This makes enough for two hungry adults or a family of four with the addition of sausages or bacon and extra toast. I’ve read this is originally a Middle Eastern dish, however, in our Spanish family it’s traditional and I didn’t even know it was called Shakshuka until recently.

 Extra information - use a potato masher to further break up the chopped tinned tomatoes, use frozen chopped onions to save time and mess. This cooks beautifully in a skillet or sauté pan.

Ingredients 2 tbsp olive oil or butter 2 x tins of chopped plum tomatoes 1 medium onion finely chopped 1 tsp. cumin 1 tsp. paprika (hot paprika of you prefer a little heat) ½ tsp. garlic (fresh or granules) Parsley to garnish if you have it Salt and pepper to taste Method Gently fry the onions in the olive oil until soft and golden brown. You can microwave them if in a hurry, but still give them a little time to brown with the oil for the flavour Add the two tinned of chopped plum tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, paprika and cumin to the onions Once warmed through, taste test. If you have particularly sharp tomatoes add a small teaspoon of sugar. If its good without them then skip the sugar, it doesn’t always need it. If you want the sauce a little less chunky then give it a quick going over with the potato masher Season with salt and pepper Let this bubble away gently for 10 minutes to get that lovely fried tomato flavour. It shouldn’t go dry and catch on the pan, if it does add a tablespoon or two of water and reduce the heat Make a dent in the sauce and crack the egg into it. Repeat for the other 3 eggs and then pop a lid on the pan Wait 5 to 7 minutes, depending on how well you want your poached eggs cooking Whilst your eggs are cooking, make the toast Pop some fresh parsley on the top (entirely optional but looks pretty) Bring the pan to the table (because it looks great) with the toast and serve