Breakfast In Bed: Personal Shakshuka Skillets

Personal shakshuka skillets are a wonderful way to enjoy this delicious and flavorful Middle Eastern dish on an individual scale. Here’s a simple recipe to make personal shakshuka skillets:

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup bell pepper (red, yellow, or green), finely chopped
• 1 small clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
• 1/2 cup canned crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 eggs
• Fresh herbs (such as parsley or cilantro), chopped, for garnish
• Feta cheese or crumbled goat cheese, for garnish (optional)
• Bread or pita, for serving

Instructions:

1. Prep Ingredients: Preheat your oven’s broiler. Chop the onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Crack the eggs into separate small bowls.
2. Sauté Veggies: Heat an oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and sauté the chopped onion and bell pepper until they’re softened and slightly caramelized, about 3-4 minutes.
3. Add Spices: Stir in the minced garlic, ground cumin, paprika, and ground cayenne pepper. Cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
4. Tomato Base: Pour in the crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce and mix well. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 5 minutes until it thickens slightly. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Make Wells for Eggs: Using a spoon, create two small wells in the tomato mixture. Carefully pour an egg into each well.
6. Cook Eggs: Let the eggs cook for about 2-3 minutes on the stovetop, until the whites are partially set but the yolks are still runny.
7. Broil: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and place it under the broiler. Broil for 1-2 minutes or until the egg whites are fully set and the yolks are still slightly runny. Keep a close eye to prevent overcooking.
8. Garnish and Serve: Remove the skillet from the oven. Sprinkle chopped fresh herbs and crumbled cheese (if using) over the eggs. Serve the shakshuka skillet with bread or pita for dipping and scooping up the delicious tomato and egg mixture.
9. Enjoy: Dig into the personal shakshuka skillet and savor the flavorful combination of spices, tomatoes, and perfectly cooked eggs.

Feel free to customize your personal shakshuka skillets with additional ingredients like sautéed spinach, olives, or other vegetables. The beauty of shakshuka is its versatility – you can adjust it to your taste preferences.

Remember that the skillet will be hot, so use oven mitts or a heatproof handle cover when handling it after broiling. —Vita Daily