Turkish Menemen

Ingredients

Instructions

1. 1

   COOK THE VEGETABLES: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and both green peppers. Sauté for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and the onion is translucent. Turkish menemen uses mild green peppers - if using bell peppers, they'll work but have a slightly different flavor.

2. 2

   ADD THE AROMATICS: Add the minced garlic and Turkish red pepper flakes (pul biber) to the vegetables. Stir constantly for 30 seconds until fragrant - the pepper flakes will bloom in the oil and release their flavor. If you can't find Turkish pepper flakes, use a mix of sweet paprika and a pinch of cayenne.

3. 3

   BUILD THE SAUCE: Add the diced tomatoes to the pan. Stir to combine and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes break down and the mixture becomes saucy but not too thick. Some tomato pieces should remain. The sauce should look jammy with visible vegetable pieces, not smooth like pasta sauce.

4. 4

   SEASON AND ADD EGGS: Season the sauce with about 1/2 teaspoon salt. Make 4 small wells in the sauce and crack an egg into each well, or simply crack all 4 eggs directly on top of the sauce - traditional menemen scrambles the eggs into the mixture, unlike shakshuka which poaches them.

5. 5

   SCRAMBLE INTO THE SAUCE: Using a wooden spoon or spatula, immediately begin gently stirring the eggs into the tomato mixture, breaking up the yolks and folding everything together. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring gently, until the eggs are just set but still creamy and soft. Menemen should have a loose, custardy texture with eggs and vegetables married together - not dry.

6. 6

   SERVE: Remove from heat immediately when eggs are just set. Transfer to serving plates or serve directly from the skillet. Scatter fresh parsley generously over the top and crumble feta cheese if using. Serve immediately with crusty gluten-free bread for scooping - traditionally, you eat menemen by scooping it onto bread pieces.