Shakshuka For One

A healthy, very filling dish of eggs poached in a spicy tomato sauce, shakshuka is wonderful whether served for a crowd or for one!

Shakshuka (pronounced shahk-shoo-kah, emphasis on the middle syllable) is an Israeli dish of eggs poached in a spicy tomato sauce. It’s delicious, healthy and very filling.

Shakshuka for dinner

Outside of Israel, shakshuka is usually considered as a breakfast food. But in Israel, it is often served for dinner. Israelis tend to eat their main meal for lunch, then have a lighter, meatless dinner.

So I often serve this dish for dinner. And while the spicy tomato sauce and runny egg yolks practically beg for crusty bread, bread is not mandatory!

A fork and a knife (plus a spoon) are just as efficient, as my husband and I have discovered after we stopped eating bread.

The ingredients you’ll need

The list of ingredients needed to make this recipe is very simple:

1. Olive oil
2. Aromatics: onion and garlic
3. Vegetables: peppers and tomatoes
4. Salt and pepper
5. Spices: paprika, cumin, cayenne, dried parsley
6. Eggs

How to make shakshuka

It’s so easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for the detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

1. Cook the onion and bell pepper in olive oil with some salt.
2. Add the garlic, paprika, cumin and cayenne pepper.
3. Add the tomato and a little water.
4. Cook the sauce for 10 minutes.
5. Add the eggs and cook for 5-10 minutes, until set.
6. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and dried parsley, then serve.

Is it low carb?

While this not a low carb recipe, I feel that the carbs here are the good, healthy, slow digesting carbs. So I do eat this meal frequently.

But I’m on a moderate carb diet (80 grams or so per day). This is obviously not a good choice for you if you’re on a very low carb, ketogenic diet.

By the way, a lighter, egg-based dinner, is wonderful. Another light dinner that I make quite often is this tasty dish of creamed spinach baked eggs.

Shakshuka for one in mini cast iron skillets

Shakshuka is traditionally prepared in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet, then spooned onto individual plates. But I have a set of adorable mini cast iron skillets and I often use them to make individual portions.

I also often make shakshuka for one as my own lunch. Accordingly, This recipe makes a single serving, but you can easily double or triple it.

Either way, when making this recipe, plan to poach 1-2 eggs per person. It’s good that eggs are now considered healthy. Although if have a specific issue that requires you to limit your cholesterol intake, this recipe is possibly not the best fit for you.

Don’t cover the skillet

Here’s a tip: at the very last step, after you add the eggs to have them poached in the tomato sauce, it’s tempting to cover the skillet so that the egg whites can cook faster.

However, covering the skillet will result in a milky film forming on the egg yolks. Still tasty, but not as pretty.

So I think it’s best to patiently cook the eggs uncovered. If it seems like the tomato sauce is drying out while the eggs cook, lower the heat to medium-low.

You can also drizzle a bit of water on the tomato sauce of it’s drying out and the egg whites are still not fully cooked.

An easier alternative

If you’re too lazy to make shakshuka, a similar but easier recipe is this recipe for baked eggs in tomato sauce.

Print Recipe

4.97 from 30 votes

Shakshuka For One

A healthy, very filling dish of eggs poached in a spicy tomato sauce, shakshuka is wonderful whether served for a crowd or for one!

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time30 mins

Total Time40 mins

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: Israeli

Keyword: eggs, tomatoes

Servings: 3 servings

Calories: 354

Author: Vered DeLeeuw

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 small onion, chopped
• 1 medium bell pepper, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus a pinch for the eggs
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoons paprika
• 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• Pinch cayenne pepper
• 1 large tomato, chopped (1 cup)
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1-2 large eggs
• Pinch freshly ground black pepper
• Pinch dried parsley for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

• Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat, about 2 minutes. Add the onion, bell pepper and salt. Cook, stirring often, until onion and peppers are soft, about 5 minutes.
• Add the garlic, paprika, cumin and cayenne pepper. Cook, stirring, 30 seconds, until fragrant. Reduce heat to medium and stir in the tomato and water. Cook 10 more minutes over medium heat, stirring often, to allow the sauce to thicken and flavors to meld.
• Break the eggs on top of the shakshuka. Cook, uncovered, until the whites are set and the yolks are still soft, 5-10 minutes. 
• Season the eggs with a pinch of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, sprinkle with dried parsley, and serve.

NUTRITION INFO Nutrition info is approximate. It is calculated using the SparkPeople.com recipe calculator, and the carb count excludes sugar alcohols. Please read the disclaimers in our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Please verify they are before using.

Nutrition Facts

Shakshuka For One

Amount Per Serving

Calories 354 Calories from Fat 216

% Daily Value*

Fat 24g37%

Saturated Fat 5g31%

Sodium 554mg24%

Carbohydrates 21g7%

Fiber 5g21%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 16g32%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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