Menemen
Photo: Engin Akyurt on Pexels
Turkish

Menemen

Turkey's favourite breakfast — fresh tomatoes, green peppers and eggs slowly cooked together in olive oil and spiced with pul biber and cumin until the eggs are just set into soft, creamy curds. Eaten communally from the pan with simit or bread.

Total
50 min
Serves
4
Level
Easy

Prep 20 min · Cook 30 min

Ingredients

4 servings

Method

  1. Heat olive oil in a wide, shallow pan over medium heat. Add sliced peppers; cook 5–7 minutes until softened.

    About 5 min

  2. Add grated tomatoes, pul biber, cumin and salt. Cook over medium heat for 8–10 minutes, stirring, until the tomatoes break down and the mixture thickens slightly. Most of the liquid should evaporate.

    About 14 min

  3. Crack eggs directly into the tomato mixture. The classic style does NOT beat the eggs first — you stir very gently after adding.

    About 14 min

  4. Cook over low heat, stirring slowly and gently, until the eggs are just barely set — curds should be soft and creamy. The worst menemen has rubbery, overcooked eggs.

    About 14 min

  5. Scatter crumbled cheese if using. Garnish with fresh parsley. Serve directly in the pan with crusty bread for dunking.

    About 3 min

Nutrition per serving (estimate)

Calories
260
Protein
16 g
Carbs
10 g
Fat
18 g
Fibre
3 g
Sugar
6 g
Sodium
480 mg

Contains: dairy, eggs

All Turkish recipes

Recipe by Boon Tools.