Turkish Menemen (Scrambled Eggs with Peppers)
A vibrant and comforting Turkish breakfast dish (menemen) featuring softly scrambled eggs cooked with tender tomatoes, green peppers, and aromatic spices. Perfect for a hearty start to the day for two.
Cook vegetables
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the 1/2 finely chopped small onion and 1 medium diced green bell pepper. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and translucent (you can see through it) and the pepper is tender. Stir in 2 cloves minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until it smells pleasant (fragrant). Translucent means you can see through it, indicating it is soft. Fragrant means it smells good and aromatic.
💡 Pro Tips:
- •Cooking vegetables until soft creates a good base for the eggs.
- •Using a non-stick skillet prevents sticking.
Add tomatoes and spices
Stir in 2 medium grated or finely diced ripe tomatoes, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer (cook gently just below boiling, with small bubbles). Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened slightly and most of the liquid has evaporated. Simmer means to cook gently just below boiling, with small bubbles.
💡 Pro Tips:
- •Cooking down the tomatoes creates a rich base for the eggs.
- •Adjust red pepper flakes for desired spice level.
Cook the eggs
Make two small wells in the tomato and pepper mixture in the skillet. Crack 4 large eggs directly into these wells. You can leave them whole for a sunnier-side-up style, or gently break the yolks with a fork and lightly scramble them into the tomato mixture. Cook for 3-5 minutes, covering the skillet if you prefer the yolks set more, or leaving uncovered for a softer set. Cook until the eggs are done to your liking. Menemen is a traditional Turkish scrambled egg dish.
💡 Pro Tips:
- •Covering the skillet helps steam the eggs to cook more evenly.
- •Adjust cooking time based on how you like your eggs cooked.
Serve
Remove the skillet from the heat. Garnish generously with 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley. Serve the Turkish Menemen immediately, often directly from the skillet, with crusty bread for dipping (bread makes it not gluten-free/keto/paleo).
💡 Pro Tips:
- •Fresh parsley adds a vibrant color and fresh taste.
- •Serving hot ensures the best flavor and texture.
- Medium non-stick skillet
- Spatula or wooden spoon
- Grater (if grating tomatoes)
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Knife and cutting board
- 💡For a spicier Menemen, increase the red pepper flakes or add a finely minced fresh chili with the garlic.
- 💡If fresh tomatoes are not available, you can use 1/2 cup canned diced tomatoes, drained, and cook them down for a similar result.
- 💡This dish makes a fantastic brunch item; serve with a side of olives and feta cheese (note this adds dairy).
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