Turkish Scrambled Eggs (Menemen)

feta cheese

🥗Healthier: cottage cheese

💰Cheaper: ricotta cheese

Cottage cheese is lower in calories and provides a similar creamy texture.

Dice one yellow onion.

Dice half of a red bell pepper and half of an Anaheim pepper.

Set a stainless steel or non-stick skillet over medium heat and add 3 tablespoons of butter, waiting for it to melt.

Swirl the skillet, then add the diced onions and peppers. Season generously with salt and mix to combine.

Cover the skillet and let the veggies sweat for about 5 to 10 minutes, checking and stirring every couple of minutes.

Thinly slice 2 garlic cloves or put them through a garlic press.

Finely slice a scallion and prepare fresh herbs like dill and cilantro.

If desired, peel the tomatoes by making a cut in the bottom, dunking them in boiling water for 10 seconds, then cooling, coring, and peeling them. Chop the tomatoes.

Check the skillet; the onions should be translucent and the veggies golden, not brown and crisp.

Add the sliced garlic and a pinch of salt to the skillet, cooking for a couple of minutes until aromatic.

Add the chopped tomatoes, a dollop of Turkish pepper paste, a generous pinch of salt, a little black pepper, and a glug of olive oil. Stir well to combine.

Cover the pan and wait for the tomatoes to break down into a sauce, stirring every couple of minutes to prevent burning.

Taste for salt before adding the eggs and sprinkle on about 1 ounce of cheddar cheese.

Crack the eggs directly into the skillet, breaking the yolks if desired, and add a little salt on top of each egg.

Start mixing the eggs into the tomato sauce, keeping the heat just below medium to prevent the eggs from setting too quickly.

Add a bit more butter to the mixture, noting that the dish is an emulsion with water from the vegetables and fat from the butter and cheese.

Once the mixture thickens, taste for salt. Remove from heat when the eggs are thick but not solid, as they will continue to cook while resting.

Sprinkle on more cheese, scallions, and herbs. Optionally, add Aleppo chili or smoked paprika for garnish.

Cover the pan for a couple of minutes to let the cheese melt before serving.

Serve with some form of bread, such as warm pita or a crunchy baguette.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens