I always come back from traveling a changed man. Our trip to France last year left me yearning for fresh, warm baguettes and turned me into a bit of a bread and cheese snob. From a trip to London, I learned that fish and chips is not just some greasy piece of unwanted fish and a pile of burnt fries. And after a week long excursion with my father to Amsterdam… well, I’m not going to talk about that one.
When I learned that the second challenge for the Project Food Blog competition was to prepare a “classic” dish from another culture, I knew I needed to dig into these past experiences and try a recipe from my travels.
I’ve talked about my trip to Israel a few times here because it’s one that not only changed the way that I look at the world, but it made me take a closer look at my own life. What had a particular effect on me were the foods that we ate while we were there. Fresh cheeses and tuna salad for breakfast, hummus and falafel for lunch, and platters of fish and bowls of olives for dinner.
Over the course of the ten days I was in Israel, I did get to try some dishes that I had never heard of… one of my favorites being shakshuka. Now, I’ve said it before, but I just wanted to note again that I’m not much of a breakfast person. But here’s where Israel completely changed the way I look at food… I LOVED the breakfasts.
Eating a big bowl of eggs that have been poached in tomato sauce with a pile of big crusty bread. Well, that’s my idea of Heaven.
If it doesn’t sound appealing to you, understand that this isn’t jarred tomato sauce that we’re talking about. This is an oniony, slightly spicy stew that is so comforting, it’s the perfect dish to make on a cold weekend morning.
We went to the Cape Cod Organic Farm last weekend to get the ingredients for the shakshuka. This farm has some of the most beautiful, free range, organic eggs I have ever eaten. Their yolks are bright yellow, not that muddled color you get from conventional eggs. One bite and, I swear, you can’t go back.
An unexpected surprise were the huge crates of fresh jalapeno peppers and onions. Check that off the list!
The first bite of shakshuka immediately brought me back to Israel, sitting around the communal table with my friends, talking about the upcoming adventures for the day. It’s a dish that I came home raving about… and have been dying to make it since that trip.
As I (hope to) continue onto the next level of this competition, I expect there will be other recipes that will bring back some incredible memories.
Again, I’d like to thank everyone who voted for my first entry and who helped me move on to the second round of the Project Food Blog competition. You can vote for this recipe starting on September 27th at 9AM EST and it will end at 9PM EST on September 30th. Click here to vote!
Shakshuka [Eggs Poached in Spicy Tomato Sauce]
(From SmittenKitchen, Adapted from Saveur)
Serves 4 to 6
Ingredients
1/4 cup olive oil
5 Anaheim chiles or 3 jalapeños, stemmed, seeded, and finely chopped (I was nervous and only used 2 Anaheims; I would go for 3 or 4 next time for a more moderate but still gentle kick)
1 small yellow onion, chopped
5 cloves garlic, crushed then sliced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon paprika
1 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes, undrained
Kosher salt, to taste
6 eggs
1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley
Warm pitas, for serving
Directions
Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add chiles and onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden brown, about 6 minutes. Add garlic, cumin, and paprika, and cook, stirring frequently, until garlic is soft, about 2 more minutes.
Put tomatoes and their liquid into a medium bowl and crush with your hands. Add crushed tomatoes and their liquid to skillet along with 1/2 cup water, reduce heat to medium, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened slightly, about 15 minutes. Season sauce with salt.
Crack eggs over sauce so that eggs are evenly distributed across sauce’s surface. Cover skillet and cook until yolks are just set, about 5 minutes. Using a spoon, baste the whites of the eggs with tomato mixture, being careful not to disturb the yolk. Sprinkle shakshuka with feta and parsley and serve with pitas, for dipping.
You know, I'm a sweet tooth and I love sweet things above all for breakfast. But I can see how I could be converted to savory with Shakshuka! I loved it. And beautiful pictures. I can almost touch the tomato sauce. My vote for you!
This DOES sound amazing. Everything I hear about Israeli cuisine is amazing–and the fact that breakfast is so different than what we eat in the US. And I need to try these eggs, clearly.
I'm not a morning person and therefore don't often do a proper breakfast, but I'd wake up for some shakshusa!
As expected, great post!
This looks awesome!! and what a lovely way to relive happy times
) Congrats and all the best, Brian!!
An amazing post, Brian. You don't disappoint. I'm so glad you made it to the next round. I will vote to you until the very end! This was a lovely tribute to Israeli cuisine. I adore big breakfasts, so I know that this would be a wonderful way to start my day!
What a beautiful way to poach eggs! I have lovely memories of Israel, but I am so sad that I did not get to taste Shakshuka while I was there! You have inspired me to try this!
Congrats on moving on to the next round, and I'll be rooting for you to move on to the third!
Love the culture and the obvious impact it had on you. This post is revelatory- so happy to hear what informs you as a person. And those eggs look orgasmic.
Oh my! Someone ate my comment!
Anyway – this is my first visit and I'm enjoying the glimpse into your foodie soul.
Congrats on making it to round 2! We love Shakshuka at home – salve for the soul on a blustery day!
You got my vote!
Beautiful post! I love all the ingredients so this will be one to try soon. Kate @kateiscooking
we are new to this whole traveling adventures! But we recently went to Turkey and I think of everything single day to making something we had there. Part of it is having yogurt everyday in breakfast. Turkish are big on yogurt!
I love this.
It was wonderful reading your trip to Israel and your memories about the food. You're such a great writer and the dish you made looks fantastic. I love all of the bright colors of the eggs, the peppers, and the tomato sauce. It looks wonderful! Good luck with the 2nd challenge and congrats on making it through to the 2nd round!
Looks like another tough challenge and you did a really great job with storytelling, photography and cooking. Good luck!
This looks gorgeous. I love Shakshuka, and make it alot. What a great way to start the day. Your photos are great. I wll definitely vote for this recipe on the 27th. Well done for getting to the second round….
This looks beautiful. I can't tell if it is confidence or organization that had you ready for this next round…either way, I'm jealous! Congratulations and let's hope we both make it to the next round! xo
Nicely done. Definitely a new dish for me and I agree with everyone, sounds like a great breakfast.
Jason
This looks downright gorgeous, Brian. As always, your photos are stunning.
i'm always adamant to try something that might surprise my taste buds but this Israeli dish looks like a very encouraging dish. it looks beautiful i wanna try it!
OH MAN!!!! I have been wanting to make this SOOOOO badly. This looks fantastic. Great post.
Those Israelis sure do know how to make an unforgettable breakfast, don't they? I'm still in withdrawal, and it's been nearly a month since I got home.
I nearly did shakshuka for my challenge entry too, but I'm glad I went in a different direction in the end… you did it much better than I ever could have. Great photos, great story, great post. I'd wish you good luck, but you clearly don't need it.
I am sworn off twitter for the weekend but not from reading your post, heeheehee. As an Israeli I can tell you you've done justice to Shakshuka. it has a sentimental value to me as it's my first post and it was one of my dad's handful signature dishes. Well done Brian! I love eating out and exploring different places but I do not bother going out for breakfast or brunch unless I am in Israel. BYW, Liren you were in Israel?!
I
LOVE
YOUR
PICTURES
Congrats on round 2! I'm rootin' for you!
Amazing. I have made the Italian version of this and loved it. In fact it was a post just a few days ago. Congrats on moving on. GREG
I'm amazed again by your photography skills. This dish does sound alluring. Best of luck to you, I will be back to vote for you.
-Gina-
This is definitely a dish I've never had before but will be certain to put it on my list. I love that you got your ingredients in Cape Cod. Thanks!!
looks fabulous! good luck!
Nice dish. I have been to Israel and loved the hummus and salads. Haven't tried this before. My ex-boss is an old Israeli man who promised to teach me his recipe for tahini! Best of luck with PFB!!!
These pictures are stunning! And you're right, those egg yolks look way better than regular egg yolks. I read about this dish recently and was wondering how I'd go about making it when I saw your post with instructions. Woohoo! You've got my vote
This looks amazing Brian. Such great talent this competition is showcasing! Good luck!
delicious dish and pictures
I don't think it sounds any stranger than putting ketchup on eggs, which I love to do. And poached eggs are my favorite, so you really have me intrigued by this dish. Best of luck in the next round!
what a great post Brian! your recreation of shakshuka looks perfect…what a great blend of flavors, I would have loved to join you for that wonderful dish!
oh and I have been to Amsterdam too!
Lovely! Anaheims are usually not terribly hot compared to other chiles, so it's OK to be generous with them. I'll have to try this–I am not a huge breakfast person on the weekend, but this looks worthy of a good brunch at home.
Congratulations Brian on making it to the next round. The flavour combo's in this shakshuka look & sound stunning.
What a lovely dish. Congratulations on making it to the next round.
Hi Brian,
I loved this post. What great memories and I am sure making this dish made them come right back to you! Congrats on making it to the second round.
Beautifully done my firend. Love that perfect poached egg.
Beautifully done my friend. Love that perfect poached egg.
beautiful pictures and a great choice of dish, it sounds incredible.
Brian this is a beautiful entry. I love that you've recreated something you have fond memories of. Also, that last photo? Ho-em-geez: NOM!
Good luck in this next entry, lovely! You know you've got my vote
Jax x
Love this dish and all of the fresh, local ingredients that went into it! Good luck in the second round of voting!
L
i just had dinner with someone who spent the last 6 months in israel. between that convo and this post, I can't wait to make more israeli food.
MMnnnnn!. . . I LOVES me some shakshuka, especially when its spicy!
¡Si la shakshuka es un temblor, no me vengas hornear!
Great recipe! We have our own free ranch chickens, and you are right, the eggs are wonderful. There is no comparison to store boughts. By the way, I love poached eggs. Best wishes to the next round!
I'm definitely with you on the farm fresh eggs. This looks like the best egg breakfast ever!
That looks awesome! YUM and good luck.
That sounds yum!!! Enjoyed reading your post and learning about a new dish!
Gorgeous! I often do eggs this way for breakfast–not with the same spices, but I can imagine how warm and satisfying this version is. We have 8 chickens (along w/some neighbors) and are looking forward to having our own eggs once the girls are old enough–probably in January. Can't wait! Best of luck in Round 2!!
This looks so so good! I'd love to try this with the addition of chorizo – which is my favorite thing to have with eggs. Might blow the whole traditional aspect of this dish – but the spices and tomato in this dish are just perfect for it.
I've had a dish very similar to this…and it was fantastic! Yours looks incredibly good! Good luck to you with your entry…I'll be voting for you for sure!
Looks wonderful!
I've never had this dish but I know I will love it. Thanks for sharing the recipe and the always-beautiful pictures.
Gorgeous Brian. Love the story of your trip to Israel. What am amazing way to start the day with all these flavors. One day I will have to try it (instead of the usual pancakes!lol)
You have my vote (again)!:)
This looks amazing, Brian. It's well worth my vote!
I love this post! My hungarian Opa used to make something very similar called "Opa's special eggs". Your pictures are amazing by the way!
Gorgeous and full of memories — you have my vote! My own entry was the Indian dessert Gulab Jamun
What a gorgeous dish, Brian–and the way you wrote about it makes me want to run right out and gather everything to make it–right now! Voted for you!
WOW – this could not look more comforting and delicious Brian. I have logged in my vote for you as with this beauty, you will for sure make it to the next round.
I wish that I would have had the chance to travel more so that I could experience all of these different food revelations. Instead, for now, I'll just eat my way through the world by cooking the food at home. I definitely need to try shakshouka. I'm a breakfast fiend and this is just the kind of thing I would love. I voted for you
This looks fabulous Brian, as usual! What I love the most is the story. So wonderful how you get to travel. I think it just enriches everything you make. Good Luck Brian!(even though you are serious competition) You've got my vote!
ps. Brian, come by foodie house to see my in my pirate costume. it's totally random and stupid, but I think you'll get a laugh.
Such amazing pictures! Great work
These photographs are amazing! And that dish is one of my all time favorite. I'm voting for you right now
Everything about your website is just gorgeous! i am in love:) great job.
Sounds delish
You have got my vote! Here is a link to my entry http://www.foodbuzz.com/project_food_blog/challenges/2/view/703
Fantastic post. I voted for you. Best of luck in the competition.
This dish sounds so amazing!!
This is definitely a fantastic post! Definitely unique and I wish you good luck!
Great post! I love breakfasts like this. Yum! I voted for you!
Good luck to you, friend!
You can check out my PFB post at : http://www.foodbuzz.com/project_food_blog/challenges/2/view/864
Great post. Love shakshuka, a delectable treat.
great post. I would love to try this!
You have one of my votes. (See my entry here: http://www.foodbuzz.com/project_food_blog/challenges/2/view/869)
What do you mean it doesn't sound appealing?? That sounds like the absolute perfect breakfast to me! I can probably eat this for breakfast, lunch, dinner, midnight snack…you name it. Great post and choice of dish to feature… voted!
Am all over this one Brian – we Italians do something similar known as 'Eggs in Purgatory' – which is one of my favorite breakfasts ever!! CONGRATS on advancing to the next round!!!
SO gorgeous!! Just voted for you
That looks awesome, something about a savory breakfast is way more satisfying. Maybe the lack of a sugar rush? Anyways, you got my vote at "eggs poached in tomato sauce." Good luck this week!
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