Chackchouka Recipes

TUNISIAN CHAKCHOUKA

Steps:

• Cut the tomatoes into large pieces. Deseed and dice all the peppers.
• Heat olive oil in a medium size pot. The flavor belongs in the recipe, so use a good amount of it. Add the onion and garlic, and before it is brown, add the cumin. When the cumin is blended, add the tomatoes and peppers, the tomato concentrate, and the harissa. Add salt. Blend the ingredients with a long spoon. Add 1 - 3 bay leaves, and the thyme.
• As soon as the vegetables are cooked, and the consistency is a bit thickened, add the eggs. The eggs will be poached in the pot. Space the eggs to give them room. Put the lid of the pot on. Wait for the white to set, as much as 15 minutes, depending on how high your heat is. The yolk should be runny.
• When you serve this, dish up an amount of the vegetable part into a wide soup dish, then carefully center an egg into this. Repeat for four people. Have french bread cut and ready to dip into the chakchouka.
• Note: the amounts of tomato concentrate and harissa, which is quite hot, can be adjusted to personal taste. You could lessen the garlic amount if you like.

EASY SHAKSHUKA RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large cast iron skillet. Add the onions, green peppers, garlic, spices, pinch salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes and tomato sauce. Cover and let simmer for about 15 minutes. Uncover and cook a bit longer to allow the mixture to reduce and thicken. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking.
• Using a wooden spoon, make 6 indentations, or "wells," in the tomato mixture (make sure the indentations are spaced out). Gently crack an egg into each indention.
• Reduce the heat, cover the skillet, and cook on low until the egg whites are set.
• Uncover and add the fresh parsley and mint. You can add more black pepper or crushed red pepper, if you like. Serve with warm pita, challah, or crusty bread of your choice.

CHAKCHOUKA

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion, bell peppers, and garlic; cook and stir until the vegetables have softened and the onion has turned translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Combine the tomatoes, cumin, paprika, salt, and chile pepper into a bowl and mix briefly. Pour the tomato mixture into the skillet, and stir to combine.
• Simmer, uncovered, until the tomato juices have cooked off, about 10 minutes. Make four indentations in the tomato mixture for the eggs. Crack the eggs into the indentations. Cover the skillet and let the eggs cook until they're firm but not dry, about 5 minutes.

CHAKCHOUKA(ALGERIA)

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a deep skillet over medium flame. Stir in the paprika and cook slighly to color the oil, about 10 to 15 seconds. Add the onions and garlic and sauté until the onions are translucent and wilted but not browned, about 5 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes and cook for 3 to 4 minutes to reduce down a little bit. Add the peppers, water and salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for about 10 minutes. Add more water as needed to keep it from drying out.
• Using a spoon, form four small indentations in the simmering peppers to hold the eggs. One by one, crack the eggs into a small bowl and slip each from the bowl into an indentation. Cover and simmer for another 10 minutes or so until eggs are cooked through to your liking.
• Serve with crusty bread, pita or rice.
• Variations:.
• •Add 1 teaspoon of cuminseed to the hot oil for about 15 seconds before you add the paprika. Add 2 to 3 teaspoons of ground coriander along with the onions.
• •For a little spice, sauté 1 tablespoon of harissa paste or a minced chile pepper with the onions.
• •Sometimes a spicy lamb sausage called merguez is added to the simmering peppers along with the eggs.
• •Add 1 small, diced eggplant along with the peppers.
• •Add 1 potato, cut in a small dice, along with the peppers.
• •Sprinkle the top of the cooked dish with chopped parsley or cilantro.
• •Add a few olives and capers and eliminate the eggs. Chill and serve garnished with hard-boiled eggs or tuna.

ALGERIAN POACHED EGGS (CHAKCHOUKA)

Steps:

• In a deep skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add cumin seed to the hot oil for about 15 seconds before you add the paprika. Stir in paprika and let cook slightly to color the oil, about 10-15 seconds.
• Add the onions and garlic (add optional harissa here) and sauté until onions are translucent and wilted but not browned, about 5 minutes.
• Add tomatoes and bring to a rapid simmer. Add peppers (also add seeded and diced chili peppers here if using) & potatoes, water and salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low, and simmer, covered, for about 10 minutes. Add more water as needed.
• Form four small indentations in the simmering peppers to hold the eggs. Crack eggs, one by one, into a small bowl and slide each egg into an indentation. Cover and simmer another 10 minutes or so until eggs are cooked through.
• Sprinkle with chopped parsley or cilantro and optional black olives and capers.
• Serve with crusty bread or rice.