Best Shakshuka

This shakshuka recipe is satisfying and delicious for any meal of the day! An easy one-pan dish, it features eggs poached in a spicy tomato sauce.

Shakshuka recipe

Shakshuka is one of my favorite breakfasts…and lunches…and dinners. Though this Middle Eastern and North African dish is traditionally eaten for breakfast, it’s so easy, filling, and flavorful that it’s a great option for any meal of the day.

Below, I’m sharing my go-to shakshuka recipe, which features gently poached eggs cooked in a fragrant bell pepper and tomato sauce. It’s flecked with spinach and spiced with paprika, cumin, cayenne, and harissa. If you like simple meals that go BIG on flavor, you’ll love this.

What is shakshuka?

Shakshuka is North African in origin (the name shakshuka comes from the Tunisian word for “shaken up”), but it’s widely enjoyed throughout North Africa and the Middle East, in countries such as Israel. Traditionally, the dish consists of eggs poached in a spiced bell pepper and tomato sauce, though many variations exist today. Some replace the tomato base with fresh green vegetables for a green shakshuka; others swap in butternut squash or sweet potato, etc.

In this shakshuka recipe, I add spinach and harissa, a North African chili paste, to the sauce for a fresh, extra-spicy twist. Keep reading to learn how to make it!

Shakshuka recipe ingredients

How to Make Shakshuka

This shakshuka recipe is easy to make! It only requires a handful of pantry ingredients, and you could even skip the spinach if you don’t have any on hand. This recipe still tastes great without it.

Here’s how it goes:

  1. First, sauté onion and red bell pepper in a large skillet until they soften.
  2. Add garlic, cumin, paprika, and cayenne pepper and cook until they’re fragrant.
  3. Stir in canned crushed tomatoes and harissa and simmer until the tomato mixture thickens. Stir in spinach, if you like.
  4. Finally, crack eggs into the sauce, cover, and cook until they’re just set, 5 to 8 minutes.

Season to taste, and top with any fixings you like. Serve with pita bread!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Mild vs. Spicy

Store-bought harissa can vary widely in spice level. 

  • If you’re sensitive to spice, look for one that’s labeled mild, such as mild Mina Harissa.
  • If you want to make a really spicy tomato sauce, choose a spicy harissa, like spicy Mina Harissa or Trader Joe’s. You could even add red pepper flakes for extra heat!

Serving Suggestions

Let’s talk toppings! They’re a fun way to introduce a wider variety of textures and flavors into this shakshuka recipe. Serve your shakshuka with…

  • Chopped fresh herbs, like parsley or cilantro. Microgreens work too!
  • Crumbled feta cheese, for salty, tangy flavor
  • Sliced avocado, for creamy texture

You’ll also want bread for scooping up the tasty sauce. You can’t go wrong with pita bread, but slices of crusty bread are delicious as well.

Shakshuka

Shakshuka Recipe Tips

  • Get the sauce nice and thick. You need a thick tomato sauce to support the eggs in this recipe, so don’t cut the simmering time short! I let mine cook for a full 15 minutes before I crack in the eggs.
  • Make sure you have a large lidded skillet. You’ll need to be able to cover the pan in this recipe—it’s essential for poaching the eggs evenly and gently.
  • Use however many eggs are appropriate for your pan. I list a range for the number of eggs in this recipe, and how many you use is really up to you. There should be a little space between each egg in the pan—they shouldn’t be crowded. In my 12-inch skillet, I can fit up to 5. But if I’m just making this recipe for Jack and me, I stick with 3 eggs. If we have any leftover sauce, I make a personal-sized shakshuka the next day!
  • Adjust the timing depending on how you like your eggs. How long you cook your eggs will depend on how you like them. I love mine when the egg whites have just set and the yolks are perfectly runny, so I take them off the heat after 5 minutes. If you like firmer yolks, you can cook them for up to 8 minutes. Keep in mind that they’ll continue to cook in the hot sauce even after you take them off the stove.

More Egg Recipes to Try

If you love this shakshuka recipe, try one of these delicious egg recipes next:

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Best Shakshuka

rate this recipe:
4.98 from 149 votes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Serves 4
Shakshuka is a classic North African and Middle Eastern breakfast dish. This recipe is simple and satisfying, featuring eggs poached in a bell pepper and tomato sauce. Serve it with pita or crusty bread for breakfast or brunch...or dinner! Shakshuka is a delicious option for any meal.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped yellow onion
  • 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt, more to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 medium garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper, optional
  • 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons harissa paste*, see note
  • 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
  • 3 to 5 eggs
  • cup crumbled feta cheese
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley leaves
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • Microgreens for garnish, optional
  • Toasted bread, for serving

Instructions

  • Heat the oil over medium heat in a 12-inch lidded stainless steel or enamel-coated cast-iron skillet. Add the onion, red pepper, salt, and several grinds of fresh pepper and cook until the onion is soft and translucent, 6 to 8 minutes.
  • Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the garlic, paprika, cumin, and cayenne, if using. Stir and let cook for about 30 seconds, then add the tomatoes and harissa paste. Simmer for 15 minutes until the sauce is thickened.
  • Add the spinach and stir until wilted. Use the back of a spoon to make 3 to 5 wells in the sauce. Crack in the eggs. Cover and cook until the eggs are set, 5 to 8 minutes. The timing will depend on how runny you like your egg yolks.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste and sprinkle with the feta, parsley, avocado, and microgreens, if using. Serve with toasted bread for scooping.

Notes

*If you're sensitive to spice use a mild harissa (like Mina Harissa Mild), for a spicier shakshuka, use hot harissa (like Trader Joe's Hot Harissa).

 

214 comments

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Kerry
    01.16.2024

    5 stars
    Really liked it. Easy to make and tasty (I added a good pinch of cayenne). No cumin, so used curry powder instead.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      01.17.2024

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

  2. Y.K.
    12.30.2023

    5 stars
    Easy to follow. Great tastes!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      01.01.2024

      I’m so glad you loved it!

  3. karla
    12.21.2023

    5 stars
    We are adding this to our Deli menu. Amaizing one pan breaki. I chucked the onion and peppers for an Ina Parman Pepper pasta sauce mixed with some tomato smoor. Delicious!!!

    • Amanda
      01.10.2024

      Hi! Looks delicious, can I use harissa powder instead of paste?

      • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
        01.12.2024

        Hi Amanda, yes, you can! Depending on how pungent your spice blend is, I would start with 1t to 1T and add more to taste.

  4. lola
    11.19.2023

    I enjoyed making this dish; initially came across it through an Instagram story of Palestinian journalist Motaz Azaiza. It seems to be a popular dish in Middle East indeed!

  5. Julie from Love%20and%20lemons
    10.27.2023

    5 stars
    Fantastic, added beans and chorizo sausage.
    Family loved it

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      10.27.2023

      I’m glad you enjoyed it!

  6. Arwen in NJ
    09.27.2023

    Eggs poached in tomato soup was go-to comfort food our babysitter made when we were home from school sick as kids. Love this grown-up variation!

  7. Cristina
    09.25.2023

    Hi Jeanine, I really enjoyed this recipe. Simple easy and nutritional 💯

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      09.27.2023

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

  8. Julia
    07.28.2023

    5 stars
    This was delicious! My second time making shakshuka and the first with your recipe. Love all the vegetables and spices. Served with roasted potatoes and salad for dinner.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      07.28.2023

      Hi Julia, I’m so glad you loved it!

  9. Angela
    07.03.2023

    Any suggestions for someone with a bell pepper allergy? I’m so jealous :). Would it be the same made with only tomatoes or would it just be a weak marinara?

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      07.03.2023

      Hi Angela, you could add some chopped cherry tomatoes in it’s place for some freshness. If the harissa paste is also an issue, add a squeeze of lemon and some fresh basil and fresh dill. This is a totally different version, but still delicious. The full recipe is typed out in the newest cookbook (Simple Feel Good Food), but that’s the jist of it. Hope that helps!

      • Angela
        07.04.2023

        Thank you, Jeanine! I have your awesome cookbook so I will look for it. I appreciate you

  10. Mik
    03.31.2023

    Great recipe! I am plant-based so I didn’t use eggs, but I added some chickpeas, and it turned out amazing. Highly recommend it.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      03.31.2023

      So glad you loved the chickpea version!

  11. Sarah Candler
    03.30.2023

    5 stars
    This is so tasty! I love the heat from using spicy harissa. Good for any time of day!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      03.30.2023

      Hi Sarah, I’m so glad you enjoyed the shakshuka!

  12. Cainim Truax
    03.29.2023

    This was so good I made it twice this month. And I made my own Harissax for it!

    So excited for the new book.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      03.30.2023

      So glad you loved it, and awesome that you made your own harissa! I hope you love the new book 🙂

  13. Cole
    03.28.2023

    5 stars
    From Love Is Blind to my Lips! Thank You! It was PERFECT!!!

  14. Kayla Manjarrez
    03.28.2023

    5 stars
    This was delicious!!!! I loved making it for the March cooking club. I used a Mediterranean feta from Trader Joe’s that paired so nicely with it. I can’t wait to make again soon!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      03.29.2023

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

  15. Erin Dominy
    03.28.2023

    5 stars
    This is the shakshuka recipe that has changed my mind – absolutely delicious! Great tip to be patient and make sure it gets thick enough.

  16. Sherry
    03.27.2023

    5 stars
    I loved this dish, quick, easy and tasty!

  17. Laura
    03.26.2023

    5 stars
    I’ve made this quite a few times because it’s simple and comes together quickly for a weeknight meal. So tasty! Will definitely be saving this recipe!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      03.27.2023

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

  18. April VanDerwerken
    03.25.2023

    Really enjoyed this recipe. The avocado was a nice addition.

  19. Emily Simaika
    03.25.2023

    5 stars
    This was really good and great for a quick weeknight dinner.

  20. Micki
    03.24.2023

    5 stars
    Loved the bright flavor and creaminess of the egg and avocado! – I ate this for days and it just got better and better!

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.