Menemen
Menemen is a simple Turkish breakfast dish made with tomatoes, green peppers, eggs, and olive oil. This version is made without onions, but you can add a little onion if you prefer.
Servings: 4 portions
Calories: 185kcal
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon good quality olive oil (or butter)
- 4 medium Turkish green peppers (about 4 oz / 120 g)
- 5 medium tomatoes (about 1⅓ lb / 600 g)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon flaked chilli (optional, you can use red fresh chili too)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 4-6 medium eggs (lightly beaten)
- ½ small onion (finely chopped, optional)
Instructions
- Place a sahan pan, skillet, or heavy frying pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil or butter.
- Add the sliced green peppers and cook gently for a few minutes, until they start to soften. If using onion, add it with the peppers and cook until soft.
- Stir in the tomato paste, if using, and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the grated or chopped tomatoes, chili flakes, salt, and black pepper. Stir well.
- Cover the pan and cook over low to medium heat for about 10 minutes, until the tomatoes soften and turn into a sauce. If the mixture looks watery, cook uncovered for a few extra minutes.
- Lightly beat the eggs in a bowl, then pour them into the tomato and pepper mixture.
- Let the eggs sit for a few seconds, then stir gently with a wooden spoon or spatula.
- Cook until the eggs are just starting to set but still look soft and slightly loose.
- Remove the pan from the heat before the eggs look fully cooked. They will continue cooking in the hot sauce. Serve straight away with plenty of bread.
Notes
-
- Ripe summer tomatoes give the best flavor. If your tomatoes are not sweet or juicy, add tomato paste.
- Turkish sivri biber are ideal, but shishito, Padron, Anaheim, banana peppers, or long green peppers also work.
- This recipe is made without onions, but you can add ½ small onion if you prefer.
- Cook off excess tomato liquid before adding the eggs.
- Don’t overcook the eggs. They should stay soft and slightly loose.
- Menemen is best served fresh.
- You can prepare the tomato and pepper base up to 2 days ahead and add the eggs just before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 185kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 164mg | Sodium: 688mg | Potassium: 714mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2128IU | Vitamin C: 134mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 2mg