Menemen: Turkish Breakfast Eggs
Menemen is a traditional Turkish egg breakfast known for its savory blend of gently scrambled eggs, fresh tomatoes, green peppers, and onions, seasoned with aromatic spices.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 2 medium green bell peppers diced
- 3 medium ripe tomatoes grated or finely chopped
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes or to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat.
- Add chopped onion and green bell peppers, and sauté for 5-7 minutes until softened.
- Stir in the grated or finely chopped tomatoes, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes break down and the mixture thickens.
- Using a spoon, create 4 small wells in the tomato mixture. Carefully crack one egg into each well (for whole eggs) or directly scramble them into the mixture, incorporating them gently.
- Cover the skillet and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the egg whites are set and the yolks are cooked to your desired consistency.
- Garnish with fresh parsley if desired, and serve hot directly from the skillet with crusty bread.
Notes
For a spicier kick, increase the amount of red pepper flakes or add a pinch of cayenne pepper. Some variations include adding a touch of crumbled feta cheese or sucuk (Turkish sausage) during the last few minutes of cooking. Serve immediately with plenty of crusty bread to soak up all the delicious juices.