Menemen (Turkish Eggs with Tomato and Peppers)

Illustrative stock photos, not this exact recipe. Photo credits are at the bottom of the page.

Menemen is a classic Turkish breakfast dish of eggs cooked softly with tomatoes and green peppers. It is served straight from the pan with bread for dipping.

Whether to add onion is a famous friendly argument in Turkey. Either way, keep the eggs soft and slightly runny.

Recipe label: Based on traditional technique. Photo: illustrative stock photo, not the finished dish from this exact recipe.

Photo credits: Photo 1: Dar ius on Pexels; Photo 2: Merve Gülhan on Pexels; Photo 3: Mavi Yıldız Restoran Cumalıkızık Bursa on Pexels. Free stock photos, used under the Unsplash or Pexels license and shown here as illustrations only.

Print Recipe

Menemen (Turkish Eggs with Tomato and Peppers)

Author: KP Cooking Method: Pan-Frying Cuisine: Middle Eastern, Turkish Courses: Breakfast, Lunch Recipe Keys: Gluten Free Quick Meals Vegetarian Meals

Prep Time 10 mins Cook Time 15 mins Total Time 25 mins

Servings: 2

Description

Turkish menemen: eggs gently cooked in a skillet with tomatoes, green peppers and olive oil. A quick breakfast or light dinner with crusty bread.

Ingredients

Servings

For the menemen

• 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
• 2 green peppers (finely chopped (Turkish sivri or mild peppers))
• 1 small onion (finely chopped (optional))
• 3 ripe tomatoes (grated or finely chopped)
• 4 eggs
• ¹⁄₂ tsp salt
• 1 pinch chili flakes (optional)
• crusty bread (to serve)

Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a wide skillet over medium heat. Add the peppers (and onion, if using) and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until soft.
2. Add the tomatoes and salt and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the juices have reduced and the mixture is jammy.
3. Make four wells in the tomato mixture and crack an egg into each, or lightly beat the eggs and pour over.
4. Stir gently with a spatula over low heat until the eggs are just set but still soft and creamy, about 2 minutes. They will keep cooking from the heat of the pan.
5. Sprinkle with chili flakes and serve immediately in the pan with bread.

Note

Fully cook the eggs if serving to young children, older adults, pregnant people or anyone with a weakened immune system. Best eaten immediately.