Wednesday 12 December 2012

Eggs Poached in Tomato Sauce (Shashuka)


When I saw this recipe on Shannon's blog I just could not wait to try it. Never mind that I didn't have all the ingredients required. Eggs, I have for sure, that's my main breakfast food and an important ingredient for baking. I vaguely remembered the three tomatoes including some cherry tomatoes sitting in the fridge.

Upon further investigation, gasp! The three tomatoes had already "expired" but the cherry tomatoes were fine. As I was very determined to cook Shashuka, I decided to go ahead albeit modifying the recipe a little bit.

My ingredients. Not enough tomatoes.

I also did not have green capsicum and I left that out. Instead, I substituted it with cili padi (bird's eye chillies). And oops, instead of slicing the big onions, I diced it. I should have checked the recipe again. I also left out the oregano because I did not have any and substituted tomato paste with some tomato ketchup.

I love the colour!

I must say that this dish is very flavorful and aromatic. And it was absolutely delicious. It made for a very hearty meal. I had it for breakfast and I was very pleased. The only thing is that my Shashuka didn't look as beautiful as Shannon's. There wasn't enough tomatoes and the eggs kind of took up  a lot of space in the pan and drowned the tomatoes :(


The tomatoes didn't stand out and was flooded with eggs.

And I also made the mistake of cooking the eggs for too long. The yolks are supposed to be soft cooked.

The yolks were overcooked. Sigh.....

For anyone who loves eggs, make this dish. It's good for breakfast or lunch. Or even dinner. It is good either on it's own or with toast.










Eggs Poached in Tomato Sauce (Shashuka)
Recipe Source : Just as Delish

Ingredients :
- Olive Oil
- 1 big onion, sliced
- 4 garlic cloves, chopped
- 600g (about 4 large) ripe tomatoes, roughly diced 
- 1 small green capsicum, roughly diced
- 100ml tomato paste
- 4 large eggs 
- 1 teaspoon Paprika powder
- 1 teaspoon Cumin powder
- a pinch of Oregano/Thyme
- Sea salt and freshly cracked Black Pepper to taste
- Parsley for garnish

Method :
- In a medium frying pan, add olive oil and fry onions until translucent.
- Throw in garlic.
- Add tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add in the rest of the ingredients except parsley and eggs. Cook for 15 minutes on low flame. If it is dry and sticks to the pan, add some water and mix well. Shahshuka is supposed to be dry, not watery.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Minutes before serving, make 4 gaps in the vegetable mixture and crack in the eggs, one at a time.
- Cover the pan and cook on low flame for 5 minutes. The egg yolks shoudl not be hard but soft cooked, so be careful not to overcook the eggs.
- Garnish with parsley and serve immediately with bread or just on it's own.



32 comments:

  1. This dish looks so good!
    eggs always goes perfectly with tomatoes and that photos say it all.
    seems runny egg yolks were so popular nowadays.
    but i still like the yolk is nice and little bit firm like your one,
    i can imagine the sweet taste in my mouth hahaha.....

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    1. I think if the runny yolk is mixed with the tomatoes, it would taste really good. I actually don't mind firm yolk, not so messy hee..hee...

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  2. Hi Phong Hong
    YESSSS, I agree.....this looks super yummy for breakfast, eggs and tomato are my usual breakfast but I made it in simple way but yours with all that ingredients sounds more delicious and appealing to me. I got to try this for tomorrow breakfast. Thank you!! Yum, yum....

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    1. Mel, you must try it. I was very impressed with the taste.

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  3. That with some toast would make a delicious breakfast Phong...

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    1. Oh yes, Vimitha! Toast would complement it very well.

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  4. This looks super yummy! I would love to have it for breakfast too.

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  5. look simple yet sound yummy, perfect for breakfast.

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    1. Sonia, it is a very filling breakfast. After eating it, I had my lunch much later.

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  6. The extra herbs and slices certainky amp up the flavour of the tomatoes and egg, yum! I wonder why it is called shashuka?

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    1. Esther, I fell in love with it immediately! The cumin and paprika brought so much flavour and if I had added oregano or thyme it would be even tastier.

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  7. oh phong hong, this sounds great, i would like having that for breakfast too and serving it with some crusty bread!

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    1. Lena, it would be great with crusty bread. Very satisfying meal :)

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  8. Phong Hong, you are just like me, couldn't wait to try the recipe but end up not having enough tomatoes, so I add one eggplant, which surprisingly taste pretty good. your tomatoes look the same amount with onion, no wonder the eggs take up all the space :D you must try with runny yolk, i promis you it will taste more delicious! Glad you like it even with firm yolk, now we have another shakshuka fan :D

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    1. Shannon, I love eggplant! Then the next time I should add that too. And I will be making this again and again. Next time with runny yolk :)

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  9. Wow, this looks delicious! Eggs are definitely a favourite in my house, no matter how they are done! This would be a winner too with my family! Yummy yum yum!

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    1. Joyce, then you must cook this for your family. They will love it!

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  10. Well, as long as it tasted delicious and you all loved it. Too bad, my hubby and girls all do not like tomatoes, so I hardly buy it.

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    1. You can still cook a small portion for yourself with 2 eggs and scale down the other ingredients :)

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  11. Wow! never thought of making something like this, looks superb! must have tasted delicious

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    1. Swasthi, it was very delicious! The cumin powder sure adds plenty of flavour.

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  12. Yes ... Yes! I want to try this too :D

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    1. Ann, you must try it! I have a feeling you will fall in love with it too :)

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  13. Hi Phong Hong, this look very appetizing. Love the combo,yum yum. Anything with eggs, I sure love it too. I'm one of them who can't live without eggs. ;)

    Have a wonderful week ahead.

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    1. Hi Amelia! Try this over the weekend. It is really yum! yum! Have a nice weekend :)

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  14. Phong Hong,
    My boys will love auntie Phong Hong very very much if you pass them this. They don't mind flooded with egg ..LOL

    Frankly, your Shashuka looks so flavorful and delish!
    This is really a hearty breakfast.
    mui..^^

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    1. Hah! Hah! More egg lovers! Mui Mui, you must cook this for the boys :)

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  15. i will love this
    i LOVE poached eggs!

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  16. Oh Wow! I would love to have this for breakfast too just before I have those banana & berrylicious muffins! Love the added chilli padi in this recipe! Just looking at these photos makes me drool big time! How I wish you're living next door! :)

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    1. Hi Kit, if you were living next door I'll make some for you! You have to try this Shashuka, it is really, really good :)

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