Chakchouka(Algeria)

Submitted by Sharon123

"This dish, with many variations, is a popular breakfast in North Africa, especially in Algeria and Tunisia. Most recipes include the eggs, but they can actually be left out if you like. Jewish immigrants from the Maghreb have made this a popular breakfast dish in Palestine too. From whats4eats."

 

• Ready In: 45mins
• Ingredients: 11
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 -2 tablespoon paprika
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 -3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced
• 1 -2 green pepper, diced (or use all red or all green, your choice)
• 1 red bell pepper, diced (or use 2 red peppers and 1 green pepper)
• 1 cup water
• salt
• pepper
• 4 eggs (optional)

directions

1. Heat the oil in a deep skillet over medium flame. Stir in the paprika and cook slighly to color the oil, about 10 to 15 seconds. Add the onions and garlic and sauté until the onions are translucent and wilted but not browned, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the tomatoes and cook for 3 to 4 minutes to reduce down a little bit. Add the peppers, water and salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for about 10 minutes. Add more water as needed to keep it from drying out.
3. Using a spoon, form four small indentations in the simmering peppers to hold the eggs. One by one, crack the eggs into a small bowl and slip each from the bowl into an indentation. Cover and simmer for another 10 minutes or so until eggs are cooked through to your liking.
4. Serve with crusty bread, pita or rice.

5. Variations:

6. •Add 1 teaspoon of cuminseed to the hot oil for about 15 seconds before you add the paprika. Add 2 to 3 teaspoons of ground coriander along with the onions.
7. •For a little spice, sauté 1 tablespoon of harissa paste or a minced chile pepper with the onions.
8. •Sometimes a spicy lamb sausage called merguez is added to the simmering peppers along with the eggs.
9. •Add 1 small, diced eggplant along with the peppers.
10. •Add 1 potato, cut in a small dice, along with the peppers.
11. •Sprinkle the top of the cooked dish with chopped parsley or cilantro.
12. •Add a few olives and capers and eliminate the eggs. Chill and serve garnished with hard-boiled eggs or tuna.

Reviews

[echolp]

I made this for my husband and myself for dinner. I served it with rice. We found it very filling, but ended up adding a bit of Sriracha sauce for a bit of a kick. Very easy and I had all of the ingredients on hand which was a bonus. I'll probably make this again when I have no clue what else to make for dinner.

 

[*Parsley*]

Delicious and colorful! I made this using the cumin seed variation and various colors of bell peppers. Very nice flavors. I'm not a huge fan of plain fried eggs, so this was perfect for me. I served this with pitas. Thanx for posting!