This recipe was reprinted with permission from Let’s Stay In by Ashley Rodriguez. “Our kitchen and our table are the center of our home. Food brings us to the table and my goal in life is to spend as much time there as possible.” That’s Ashley Rodriguez in her new cookbook, Let’s Stay In. Ashley’s recipes are designed for just that: a life lived around the table. This shakshuka recipe with feta emodies everything about that philosophy! This skillet is perfect for a meal with friends or family, be it weekend brunch, tasty lunch, or a simple weeknight meal.
First: what is it?
Shakshuka is a dish of eggs poached in a tomato sauce that originates from North Africa and the Middle East. Usually the tomato sauce includes onions and peppers, and is flavored with cumin and paprika. Today, shakshuka is eaten in countries from Tunisia to Israel to Morocco, and it’s gotten very popular in the US in restaurants! Since the main ingredient is eggs, shakshuka is often served for breakfast: but works for dinner as well!
Ingredients in this shakshuka with feta
This shakshuka with feta calls for many ingredients you likely have in your pantry already, and some you might need to add! Here’s a breakdown:
Coriander, cumin and fennel seeds: Toasting and grinding the whole seeds gives big flavor! If you don’t have the whole seeds around, you substitute ground spices (see the recipe below). White beans and diced tomatoes: Using white beans in this shakshuka adds extra protein to keep this vegetarian recipe filling. Bell pepper and onion: These fresh veggies bring big flavor.Eggs: Cage free and organic, if possible!Feta cheese: Crumbling feta cheese over the top adds the final flavoring (like in these feta recipes)Smoked paprika: This is not the same as regular paprika and makes a big difference in this dish. Your grocery store may sell smoked paprika as pimentón. Once you buy a jar, you can use it for these Smoked Paprika Recipes.
Tips on making shakshuka
I first discovered shakshuka about 10 years ago and loved the concept. But the first shakshuka recipe we made didn’t turn out well. Since then, we’ve had many incredible versions of shakshuka at restaurants as it’s become very popular in the US. But this shakshuka with feta from Let’s Stay In is one of the most delicious we’ve had. Here are a few notes on this recipe:
Toasting the seeds is worth it. The smell of toasting the spices in a cast iron pan will blow your mind. Toast the coriander seeds, cumin seeds and fennel seeds in a pan to bring out their flavor, then grind them in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle. (If you’re not able to find the seeds, there’s a shortcut below.)A cast iron skillet is best if you have one. Cooking the veggies in a cast iron skillet really brings out the flavors in a way non-stick can’t. Of course, you can use either! Saute the onion and pepper, then add the tomato sauce and white beans, simmer, and finally add the eggs to poach in the tomato sauce. Once the eggs are done, top with feta and fresh cilantro or parsley, and you’ve got a meal!
About the book: Let’s stay in
Ashley Rodriguez is a dear friend and one of the most talented people we know. She’s author of the cookbook Date Night In, cooking instructor, and blogger at notwithoutsalt.com. After beginning her career in professional kitchens as a pastry chef, Ashley now teaches in and around Seattle and in her new storefront, the Not Without Salt shop. She’s also host and producer of the award-winning web series Kitchen Unnecessary. Ashley’s second cookbook Let’s Stay In is organized around the premise of sharing her family’s everyday meals. Alex and I had the pleasure of visting Ashley, her husband Gabe and 3 lovely kiddos in Seattle a few years ago, and we can honestly say the meal she cooked was one of the best homecooked meals we’ve had. Let’s Stay In is a treasure trove of her tried and true beautiful, seasonal recipes that she shares with her family. The collection is interspersed with fun menus, and all of it features her gorgeous photography. This shakshuka recipe with feta was nothing less than magical (those toasted spices!).
Get the book: Let’s Stay In by Ashley Rodriguez
This shakshuka with feta recipe is…
Vegetarian and gluten free.
Looking for healthy dinner recipes?
This white bean shakshuka with feta is a delicious healthy dinner recipe. Here are a few more healthy dinner recipes on A Couple Cooks: 5 from 4 reviews Last updated: April 2020
