Menemen: Turkish Spicy Egg and Vegetable Skillet Recipe
Menemen is a traditional Turkish breakfast dish made with eggs, tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers sautéed in olive oil. This flavorful and hearty skillet dish is perfect for a comforting morning meal and can be customized with spices such as paprika or red pepper flakes for an extra kick. Served warm with crusty bread, Menemen offers a simple yet delicious way to start your day.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Turkish
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup bell peppers (red and green), chopped
- 2 medium ripe tomatoes, diced
Eggs
- 4 large eggs
Others
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: 1 teaspoon paprika or red pepper flakes for spice
Instructions
- Prep Ingredients: Chop the onions and bell peppers finely and dice the ripe tomatoes to prepare all the vegetables for cooking.
- Sauté Onions: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onions and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Cook Bell Peppers: Add the chopped bell peppers to the skillet with the onions and continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes, allowing the peppers to soften.
- Add Tomatoes and Season: Stir in the diced tomatoes, then season the mixture with salt and pepper. Let this simmer for around 5 minutes until the tomatoes have thickened slightly and melded well with the other vegetables.
- Cook the Eggs: Crack the eggs directly into the skillet. Gently stir the mixture to softly scramble the eggs, cooking for approximately 2 minutes until they are softly set but still slightly runny. Be careful not to overcook to maintain a creamy texture.
- Add Spice (Optional): For extra flavor and heat, sprinkle paprika or red pepper flakes over the top before serving.
- Serve: Serve the Menemen warm, ideally with crusty bread for dipping and enjoying the flavorful mixture.
Notes
- Use ripe, juicy tomatoes for the best flavor in the sauce.
- Adjust the quantity of paprika or red pepper flakes according to your spice preference.
- Serve immediately as Menemen is best enjoyed fresh and warm.
- Crusty bread or pita pairs excellently for dipping into the soft scrambled eggs and vegetable mixture.
- This dish can be easily made vegetarian by avoiding any additions of meat.
- For a dairy-free and gluten-free breakfast option, Menemen is an excellent choice.
Keywords: Menemen, Turkish breakfast, scrambled eggs with vegetables, easy breakfast recipe, traditional Turkish dish, eggs and tomatoes
