Shakshuka with Chard and Feta


Hope all you Mothers out there had a wonderful day yesterday, I know I did. For brunch I prepared a Shakshuka with chard and feta. Traditionally Shakshuka is a meal of eggs baked in a tomato sauce with peppers and onions. Many times this dish is served with some type of naan or bread but since we are watching our carb intake we enjoyed this dish just like you see in the pictures.

My tomato sauce preparation was very basic with an minimal amount of simmering. Saffron threads, cumin, paprika, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper were added for seasoning. Feta cheese was added at the very end and I served this meal in a bowl with a garnish of parsley. Cilantro would be another great herb to add as well or in place of.

Shakshuka made a wonderful brunch. The flavors were big; a little spicy and a little earthy. When the eggs were broken the richness of the yolk made the sauce creamy and rich. Enjoy with a side of bread, a light salad and fruit.

This dish was inspired by Yotam Ottolenghi’s cookbook “Plenty” and a "New York Times" online recipe by Melissa Clark.

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion thinly sliced
3 small baby leek stalks, cleaned and thinly sliced
1 large red bell pepper, trimmed and thinly sliced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1 small pinch red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon saffron threads
1 28-ounce can whole tomatoes and juice,(chop tomatoes before adding to pan)
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
½ to 1 cup water
5 to 6 eggs
1/3 cup feta
Handful of parsley, chopped (optional)
Handful of cilantro, chopped (optional)

To prepare:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large skillet, (preferably cast iron) add olive oil, onion, red bell pepper and leeks. Cook gently on medium low heat until soft, about 20 to 25 minutes.

Add cumin, paprika, red pepper flakes, saffron, salt and pepper. Stir constantly about a minute. Add tomatoes and juice and simmer about 25 minutes. Depending how thick mixture is add ½ to 1 cup water and mix in. (You want a saucy consistency).


Gently crack eggs into mixture, cover with lid or foil and bake about 5 minutes. Remove from oven, (careful use oven gloves pan is hot) remove covering add cheese and check eggs. Bake for another 2 to 5 minutes depending on how set you like your eggs. Remove from onion, garnish with parsley or cilantro or both. Serve with a side of bread, a light salad and fruit.



*To change things up a bit serve Shakshuka on a creamy bed of grits.


Comments

  1. I just love shakshuka and what a great dish to have for brunch. I got to enjoy breakfast in bed yesterday and had so much time to relax. I was spoiled. : )

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    1. Hi Monica, how wonderful to have breakfast in bed, glad you had a relaxing day.

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  2. Cheri:
    I'm glad you had such a nice Mother's Day. This dish looks amazing. I can smell its aromas as I read your post and I love the idea of serving it with grits. YUM!

    Thanks so much.

    D

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    1. Thanks Dena, had a very nice day. The Shakshuka was very aromatic.

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  3. I'm so happy you had a good Mother's Day, Cheri. Your Shakshuka dish looks amazing! I love all the spices in it. The eggs look so perfect, too. What a perfect Mother's Day dish. Or any day for that matter!

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    1. Thanks Shari, had a nice relaxing day and it was amazing how cool it was for May.

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  4. Sounds like you had a lovely Mother's Day! What a yummy way to start off your Sunday!!

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  5. ooo-la-la, looks delish Cheri! Happy you had a lovely day, and a terrific meal!

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  6. Wow! there will be a good lunch for me. I love this food. I will try...Thanks! ^^

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  7. I think I will be making this on Sunday just to try the addition of feta. Sounds delicious Cheri 😀

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  8. Thanks for the recipe, I had it in the restaurant on the weekend and love it!

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  9. Lovely! I love that you added saffron! And over grits it is fabulous - I actually posted something quite similar! A hearty and delicious meal that I'd eat for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

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    1. Hi Mimi, love your blog. Thank you for stopping by.

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  10. I love it..its my all time favourite. .can have at any time of the day..looks so tempting

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  11. This dish looks awesome Cheri - love that you made the shakshuka sauce (I've only seen it bottled and never thought to make it myself)

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    1. Thanks Phi, this is really a pretty simple dish, perfect for those lazy week-end mornings.

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  12. Who would miss the carbs with a dish like this on Mother's Day! Sounds wonderful Cheri - hope you have a great week.

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    1. Thanks Tricia, yes, so far a very full and busy week. Take care.

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  13. Thank you so much for this healthy and delicous recipe. This food is good for health and for tongue as well. I love it. Thank your recipe. I will try it.

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  14. This does sound like a very flavorful dish to serve for brunch and I usually have most of the ingredients on hand.

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    1. Thanks Karen, I really enjoyed baking the eggs like this, great when you have company.

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  15. You know, as I started reading this post I was thinking next time I make this dish I should serve it over grits! Anyway, it seems like every country bordering the Mediterranean has a version of this. All of them good! Love yours -- so much flavor. Thanks.

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    1. Thanks John, I know grits would be good wouldn't it. Take care.

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  16. Glad that you had a wonderful Mother's Day. I have never had a Shakshuka. It looks really delicious!

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    1. Thanks Angie, it's a great way to start your day off with a lot of veggies and protein.

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  17. Delighted to hear you had an enjoyable Mother's Day, Cheri. Ours was nice and quiet:)

    I'm really loving this dish Cheri. It sounds warm and spicy and just right for a brunch.

    Thanks for sharing, Cheri...

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    1. Hi Louise, nice and quiet is wonderful too! so glad you and Marion are doing great. Have a great weekend!

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  18. Hey Cheri, I'm loving your spin on Shakshuka which is one of my fave dishes ever! Gonna have to try this soon, really soon!

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    1. Thanks Mike, hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Take care!

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  19. I have heard many good things about this dish. I finally have to try it.

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    1. Hope you have a chance to try this, it's a great way to start the day.

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  20. Something I've not tried before but have seen in on Pinterest. This has to go on my list of things to make too!

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    1. Hi Susan, it's a great way to start the day. Take care.

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  21. Cheri, this is a dish I've seen on other blogs and I have always wanted to try it, but haven't yet. It looks so inviting! I will have to try your Shakshuka dish very soon!! Thanks for sharing it :)

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  22. Happy Mother's Day indeed, Cheri! Rich smooth tomato with feta cheese and chard...Definitely a generous dish of flavor and good taste! Feel like your recipe is a gift for all mothers...Hope we furry mothers qualify =)

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  23. This looks amazing, Cheri. I have been making shakshuka for years, calling it eggs poached in tomato sauce! It was a recipe given to me by a friend in the 70s from his family background. Now it has a name… Safe travels back to the Pacific Northwest!

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    1. Thanks David, we are back and in the midst of getting settled, lots of yardwork to do and we are mole proofing the garden. Take care.

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  24. Don't you love Ottolenghi's cookbooks? This dish looks fabulous....definitely bookmarked!

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    1. Yes I do Barbara, I have all his books but one, he is one of my favorites.

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  25. My son was the one that turned me onto Shakshuka. He said it is great hangover food and it is. But it is also perfect for Mother's Day! Ours is a bit simpler than yours, but I am so willing to try every version! Thanks Cheri!

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    1. Hi Abbe, hangover food, that is so funny. Looks to me like there are many versions of this dish. Take care.

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  26. I have tried this once before and I know how good it tastes, I need to try it at home!

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    1. Thanks Caroline, hope you get the chance to make it.

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  27. What a delicious looking dish. I love saffron in dishes. Gives such a gorgeous colour and subtle flavour.
    Thanks for Sharing
    Julie
    Gourmet Getaways

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  28. As soon as I saw this picture, I said to myself that it looks like something Yotam Ottolenghi would make! Look at you and your bad self with that gorgeous photography! LOVE this dish, the flavors, the amazing spices! I need to eat this right now!

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    1. Thanks Robyn, I've kind of been on a big breakfast kick, must be craving eggs or something. Have a great week-end!

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