Description
Menemen is a traditional Turkish breakfast dish of scrambled eggs cooked with peppers, tomatoes, and spices, offering a flavorful and hearty start to your day. This version features olive oil, garlic, chili flakes, and optional cheese, served with crusty bread or small tortillas for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil (or butter or ghee)
- 1 small onion, diced (optional, white or yellow)
- 1 cup chopped peppers (Aleppo or Urfa Biber preferred, or red bell peppers)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon spicy chili flakes (Aleppo preferred, or paprika or cayenne)
- 1.5 cups grated or diced tomatoes with their juices
Eggs and Cheese
- 5 eggs
- 1/4 cup shredded melty cheese (optional; mozzarella, Monterey Jack, or similar)
- Salt and pepper to taste
For Serving
- Crusty bread or small tortillas
- Spicy chili flakes
- Crumbly feta cheese
- Fresh chopped parsley or basil
Instructions
- Prepare the Vegetables: Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion if using and sauté until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add the chopped peppers and cook for around 5 minutes until softened.
- Add Garlic and Spices: Stir in the minced garlic and chili flakes, cooking for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not burnt.
- Cook Tomatoes: Add the grated or diced tomatoes with their juices to the skillet. Simmer the mixture for about 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes soften and meld with the peppers and spices. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add Eggs and Cheese: Crack the eggs directly into the skillet over the tomato and pepper mixture. Stir gently to scramble the eggs, cooking until they are set but still moist and slightly creamy. If using, sprinkle shredded cheese over the eggs and let it melt as you finish cooking.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the skillet from heat. Serve the menemen hot with crusty bread or small tortillas, and garnish with additional chili flakes, crumbly feta cheese, and fresh chopped parsley or basil as desired.
Notes
- Use Aleppo or Urfa Biber chili flakes for authentic flavor, but paprika or cayenne can be substituted.
- The dish is versatile: omit onions or cheese for a simpler version.
- Crusty bread or small tortillas complement the dish perfectly for soaking up the rich tomato and egg mixture.
- Adjust the chili flakes according to your preferred spice level.
- Menemen is best served fresh and hot for breakfast or brunch.
Keywords: Menemen, Turkish scrambled eggs, Turkish breakfast, eggs with peppers and tomatoes, Turkish recipe, spicy scrambled eggs