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    Home » Recipes » 30-Minute Vegetarian Recipes

    Published: Sep 8, 2022 · Modified: Nov 14, 2022 by Petra · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Easy Shakshuka for One (with Fresh or Canned Tomatoes)

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Shakshuka for One, or poached eggs in tomato sauce, is a hearty and saucy breakfast or brunch that's packed with flavor! It's quick and easy to make, and ready in just 20 minutes!

    Shakshuka for one served from a cast-iron skillet and topped with feta cheese, basil leaves and red pepper flakes.

    Shakshuka or North African poached eggs are a delicious tomato-based dish that consists of red peppers, onion, garlic, spices, and jammy eggs cooked right in the tomato sauce. It's usually served as a healthy breakfast, but it can also be eaten for lunch and dinner.

    It's best served when fresh, while the runny yolks are still warm. That's why this Shakshuka for One is the perfect recipe if you don't want to have any leftovers and you're cooking for yourself only.

    Enjoy it with crusty bread, fluffy naan without yogurt, vegan flour tortillas or pita on the side, and top with lots of feta cheese!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients and Notes
    • How to Make Shakshuka for One
    • Chef's Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Serving
    • Storage
    • 📖 Recipe

    Ingredients and Notes

    See the recipe card below for exact measurements.

    • Tomatoes: If you're using fresh tomatoes, make sure to pick juicy and ripe tomatoes for the best results. If you can't find high-quality tomatoes, I recommend using canned tomatoes instead.
    • Red bell pepper: You'll need one small bell pepper or half of a medium one. You can also add different vegetables you have on hand such as summer squash, zucchini, eggplant, etc.
    • Onion and garlic: I know that this is a breakfast recipe, but a little bit of fresh garlic goes a long way here.
    • Spices: This shakshuka is a little spicy, but you can always adjust the heat level by adding more or less red pepper flakes. The spices you're going to need are smoked paprika, cumin, red pepper flakes, and salt and black pepper. If you don't have red pepper flakes, you can use cayenne pepper or chili powder instead.
    • Feta cheese: If you want to make this recipe dairy-free, use dairy-free feta cheese or omit it.
    • Fresh herbs: This is a hearty dish, and a handful of herbs give it brightness and a pop of color. Think fresh cilantro, fresh parsley, basil leaves, etc.
    Gathered ingredients for making our shakshuka for one recipe with text overlay on each ingredeint.

    How to Make Shakshuka for One

    1. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and let it heat as well. Add the onion and cook for 2-3 minutes. Then, add the bell pepper and let it cook for 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown. Add the garlic, spices, and tomato paste and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
    Sauteeing onion, garlic, red bell pepper, and spices in a small cast-iron skillet.

    2. Add the diced tomatoes with juices, salt, and black pepper, and stir. Cover with a lid and let it cool over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, or until most of the liquid has dissolved and the tomatoes are mushy.

    A wooden spoon stirring spicy tomato sauce in a cast-iron skillet.

    4. It's time for the eggs. Using the back of a spoon, make spaces for them in the tomato mixture, then gently crack them into the spaces. Sprinkle them with salt and black pepper, and cover the pan with a lid.

    Cracked eggs in a skillet filled with tomato sauce. White egg shells placed next to the skillet.

    5. Let the eggs cook for 2-3 minutes over low heat, or until the egg whites are settled, but the egg yolks are still soft and runny. Top with feta cheese, fresh herbs, and a drizzle of olive oil, and serve!

    Poached eggs in tomato sauce in a small cast-iron skillet.

    Chef's Tips

    • Peel the tomatoes. If you're using fresh tomatoes it's essential to peel them. Otherwise, once they cook down into a sauce, you'll be left with tomato peels in your dish which is not pleasurable. And it's easy to peel them using a vegetable peeler, so you don't have a reason not to!
    • Use a small skillet. A large skillet won't work for this shakshuka for one. The eggs will spread out too thin and may even burn.
    • Don't overcook the eggs. The first time I tested this recipe I overcooked eggs. Sure, it may be nice if you like hard-boiled eggs, but to me, it wasn't so good. The eggs need a little bit of time, so if you want runny yolks, make sure to stay next to the stovetop and don't walk away! You know they're done when the egg whites are opaque and the egg yolks are jiggly when you shake the pan.

    Recipe FAQs

    What nationality is shakshuka?

    Sources say it originated in Tunisia and is very popular in many parts of North Africa and the Middle East. Different countries put their spin on it, changing the spices, and vegetables, and even making green shakshuka.

    In Bulgaria, instead of poaching the eggs, we have our version that consists of chunky eggs cooked in tomato sauce. It's called mish-mash and it's a big hit in summer.

    Do leftovers keep well?

    IMO, no. The sauce thickens and the runny eggs harden, that's why I prefer eating it fresh. But if you don't mind, you can for sure make double the recipe and keep some leftovers.

    Can you freeze it?

    No. Sadly this recipe is not freezer-friendly, because the eggs become dry and rubbery when frozen. However, you can make the shakshuka sauce and freeze it ahead of time, then when you're ready to eat, just reheat it and cook the eggs.

    Why is my shakshuka watery?

    If you didn't cook the tomatoes enough your shakshuka will be watery. Make sure to give them enough time so that all of the juices can cook down and reduce before adding the eggs.

    Can shakshuka for one be reheated?

    Yes, you can reheat it either on the stovetop or in the microwave. If you're using the stovetop method, make sure to keep the heat to medium-low and stir often to prevent burning.

    Close-up photo of shakshuka with runny egg yolks in a cast-iron skillet.

    Serving

    This easy shakshuka for one is perfect to serve alongside crusty bread, provolone grilled cheese, fluffy coconut rice, homemade vegan naan, or oven-baked Cajun fries (Five Guys copycat).

    You'll also love it with homemade hummus without garlic, labneh, baba ganoush, or other Middle Eastern dips.

    Storage

    Let it cook completely, then transfer it to an airtight container and save it in the fridge for 3-4 days.

    For more delicious savory recipes, check out these Turkish Poached Eggs (Cilbir).

    📖 Recipe

    Shakshuka for one in a cast-iron skillet, topped with feta cheese and basil.

    Easy Shakshuka for One

    Shakshuka for One, or poached eggs in tomato sauce, is a hearty and saucy breakfast or brunch that's packed with flavor! Ready in just 20 minutes!
    5 from 10 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast, Main
    Cuisine: Middle Eastern, North African
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1
    Author: Petra
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • A small skillet

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 small yellow or red onion, finely diced
    • 1-2 garlic cloves, minced
    • 1 small red bell pepper, diced ( or ½ of a meidum bell pepper)
    • 1 teaspoon tomato paste
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon cumin
    • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • 2 cups fresh diced tomatoes, with juices* (~2 medium tomatoes)
    • ¼ teaspoon salt, or more taste
    • Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
    • 2 medium eggs
    • Crumbled feta cheese, for serving (optional)
    • A handful of fresh herbs (optional)
    Step-by-step imagesScroll back to find detailed recipe photos!

    Instructions

    • If you haven't already, peel and dice your tomatoes, then measure out 2 cups and set them aside.
    • Heat a small cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and let it heat as well. Add the onion and cook for 2-3 minutes. Then, add the bell pepper and let it cook for 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown. Add the garlic, and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Add the tomato paste, and spices, and cook for 30 more seconds, stirring often.
    • Add the diced tomatoes, salt, and black pepper, and stir. Cover with a lid and let it cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, or until most of the liquid has dissolved and the tomatoes are mushy.
    • It's time for the eggs. Using the back of a spoon, make spaces for them in the tomato mixture, then gently crack them into the spaces, sprinkle with salt and black pepper, and cover the pan with a lid.
    • Let the eggs cook for 2-3 minutes over low heat, or until the egg whites are settled, but the egg yolks are still soft and runny. Top with feta cheese, fresh herbs, and a drizzle of olive oil, and serve!

    Video

    https://www.instagram.com/p/C56A2kLoGfc/

    Notes

    • Peel the tomatoes. If you're using fresh tomatoes it's essential to peel them. Otherwise, once they cook down into a sauce, you'll be left with tomato peels in your dish which is not pleasurable. And it's really easy to peel them using a vegetable peeler, so you don't have a reason not to!
    • Use a small skillet. A large skillet won't work as well, since we're making just 1 serving. The eggs will spread out too thin and may even burn.
    • Don't overcook the eggs. The first time I tested this recipe I overcooked eggs. Sure, it may be nice if you like hard-boiled eggs, but to me, it wasn't so good. The eggs need a little bit of time, so if you want runny yolks, make sure to stay next to the stovetop and don't walk away!
    Storage
    • Fridge: Let the shakshuka cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container and save in the fridge for 3-4 days.
    • Freezer: Sadly this recipe is not freezer-friendly, because the eggs become dry and rubbery when frozen. However, you can make the shakshuka sauce and freeze it ahead of time, then when you're ready to eat, just reheat it and cook the eggs.
    *Canned tomatoes: use 1 can of diced tomatoes instead of fresh tomatoes.
    **Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated without optional ingredients.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 386kcal

    Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with third-party calculations without including the optional ingredients.

    Tried this recipe?Leave me a rating and a comment telling me how it went. Or tag me at @sunglowkichen and hashtag #sunglowkitchen on Instagram!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sophia says

      January 05, 2025 at 11:31 am

      5 stars
      I have been making this shakshuka on repeat for a few weeks now. I love how it's all made in one pan so clean up is easy. You have to keep an eye on the eggs tho as they're quite easy to overcook. Overall delicious!

      Reply
      • Petra says

        January 05, 2025 at 11:32 am

        I'm happy to hear you liked my recipe, Nera!

        Reply
    2. Michelle B says

      January 01, 2025 at 8:28 pm

      5 stars
      Easy, tasty recipe. Especially nice for a leisurely breakfast. Have made several times and is my go to recipe for a special breakfast.

      Reply
      • Petra says

        January 07, 2025 at 8:58 am

        Happy to hear you enjoyed the shakshuka, Michelle! Thank you for the review!

        Reply
    5 from 10 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Petra!

    I'm a professional chef and a certified nutritionist! Sunglow Kitchen is all about easy vegan and vegetarian recipes that anyone can make at home, even if you're a beginner. Learn more about me here!

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