Easy Shakshuka (Gluten Free)

Gluten free and vegetarian, this spicy Shakshuka recipe is a satisfying one pot meal for any time of year.

This shakshuka has been a long time coming. I’ve been drooling over other blogger’s shakshukas for months. Uh, I just read that last sentence aloud and realized it sounds waaaay creepier written out than it did in my head. I promise shakshuka isn’t a euphemism for anything. It is kind of a fun word though, isn’t it? It sounds like something a new age doctor would talk to you about. Ma’am your shakshuka is giving off a lot of negative energy. Are you stressed? It’s so fun to say, I find myself wanting to just drop it into normal conversation. Like, somebody woke up on the wrong side of the shakshuka this morning! or Did you see that shakshuka she was wearing? OMG.

But alas, shakshuka is not an aura, a body part, or a piece of clothing, and while you could certainly use it in every day conversation, you might get some weird looks. Shakshuka is, in fact, an incredibly simple and satisfying supper made by poaching eggs in a bed of rich, spicy, tomato sauce.

My sister and brother in law got me the Breakfast for Dinner for my birthday, and one of the very first recipes inside was this shakshuka. It was the final kick in the pants I needed to make this dinner for myself.

There’s so much to love about this dish. It is a one-pot meal made in about 40 minutes, most of which is completely hands-off time. It’s an all weather dish that’s hearty enough for a cool fall night, but perfect for a scorching summer day when the thought of turning on your oven makes you want to pour ice cubes down your back.

This dish also manages to walk the tightrope between fresh and rich flavors perfectly. The tomatoes simmered with garlic, peppers, and spices have a nice subtle heat and lingering smokiness. The richness of the tomato base is balanced by fresh herbs and cool, creamy feta. And of course, the poached egg with it’s drippy, golden yolk pulls it all together.

We served this with warmed pita bread for dunking, and both the Mr. and I found it to be a thoroughly satisfying meatless meal. If you’re only making this for two people, I recommend only cracking as many eggs as you’ll eat the same evening into the skillet. If you have leftovers, you can always fry an egg the following day to put on top of the mixture. That way you don’t end up with gummy microwaved egg leftovers (lesson learned).

My other favorite use of the leftovers? Smear a little bit of the tomato sauce onto a grilled cheese. You’ll feel downright fancy.

Recipe adapted from Breakfast for Dinner

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