We went to a new brunch spot in town a few weekends ago, and my husband ordered shakshuka, not really sure what to expect. Shakshuka is a Middle Eastern egg dish that, while it has a fancy name, is actually a pretty simple dish of eggs cooked in tomato sauce with spices. The version my husband had was super spicy, and loaded with a variety of veggies, and topped with avocado and cheese. Needless to say, he loved it, and bothered me for days after to make it for him.

After trying to find the right recipe that had all of the elements he loved about it, I finally just decided to wing it and make it my own, and this recipe is what I ended up with. While not the same as the brunch version my husband had, he said this one was just as delicious, so I consider that a win in my book.

For my version, I sautéed a few veggies with one of my Ava Jane’s Kitchen spices for heat. I used the Blackened Fish, as it has a bit of heat, and goes well with tomatoes and peppers. It’s also an easy way to get a lot of flavor without having to measure a bunch of different dried herbs and spices, which can be tedious.

Once you’ve cooked your veggies, then just make a few small wells and add your eggs. Bake until done to your liking, and then top with whatever you like. I skipped the cheese and avocado for some sliced fresh jalapenos and chopped herbs, but either works. There are a lot of ways you could go with this dish and come out with something great, so I urge you to try this for your next Sunday brunch instead of the usual scrambled eggs.

Serves 2

Prep time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons Ava Jane’s Kitchen Avocado Oil

1 small onion, diced

1 small green bell pepper, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons Ava Jane’s Kitchen Blackened Fish seasoning blend

2 14-ounce cans diced tomatoes

6 eggs

Toppings: chopped green onions, cilantro, diced avocado, cheese, sliced jalapenos

Colima Sea Salt, for serving

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a heavy, straight sided, oven-proof skillet (cast iron works great,) heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions, peppers, and garlic, and cook until softened. Add the Blackened Fish seasoning, and cook for another minute or so, stirring the onions while you cook.

Add the tomatoes, and simmer for 10 minutes or so, until slightly broken down. Using a spoon, make six small wells in the tomatoes and crack an egg into each one.

Transfer the pan to the oven and bake for 7-8 minutes, or until eggs are cooked to your liking.

Remove, add your favorite toppings, and serve with a sprinkling of Colima Sea Salt.

Easy to download PDF: Cajun Shakshuka