Shakshuka with Red Lentils and Feta Cheese
Updated Jul 14, 2021, Published Apr 15, 2019
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Shakshuka with Red Lentils and Feta Cheese is a heartier twist on traditional shakshuka. Red lentils are smaller than conventional brown or green lentils so they cook faster for a skillet meal that’s perfect anytime!
What is shakshuka:
Every so often, a traditional dish a culture or numerous cultures have been making for forever catches on worldwide. Shakshuka is one of those dishes. Seems shakshuka recipes are everywhere!
Shakshuka (also spelled shakshouka) is a dish of eggs poached in a spicy tomato sauce. The exact origin is unknown, but it’s from the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern region which encompasses many countries. Italians call their version, Eggs in Purgatory.
Although it has many variations, the typical shakshuka always has tomatoes, some form of chili pepper, garlic and spices. Because it’s so saucy, a typical shakshuka is served with lots of warm pita bread on the side.
I’ve wanted to make shakshuka for a while now to find out what the buzz is all about. And yes, friends, it’s worth the buzz! Once you make it, you’re hooked!
How to make Shakshuka with Red Lentils and Feta Cheese:
- Start with a good, heavy skillet–stainless steel or cast iron. A thin-bottomed skillet can cause the tomatoes to burn.
- IMPORTANT: Only use a cast iron skillet if it’s well-seasoned. If it’s a new skillet, the acid from the tomatoes can strip the light layer of seasoning and you’ll end up with a metallic taste. I find every excuse on the planet to pull out my cast iron skillet so I felt confident it would work here and it did; my seasoning was not affected with no hint of metal.
- Cook onions and a red Fresno chili pepper until soft. Add a chopped roasted red bell pepper (from a jar) and some garlic, crushed fire-roasted tomatoes, spices and uncooked red lentils. Simmer covered until the lentils are soft.
- Make some wells with a wooden spoon then place an egg in each well…
- Cook covered until the eggs are just set….
- Sprinkle with chopped parsley and feta cheese and mwaaahhhhh! Shakshuka with Red Lentils and Feta Cheese!
Because the lentils add body to the sauce, you can skip all that pita bread if you’d like and it’s hearty enough for dinner!
You can vary shakshuka in numerous ways:
- Add spinach, kale, chard or any leafy green.
- Use green bell pepper instead of the red bell pepper
- Throw in some cooked, diced potatoes.
- Add cooked sausage such as chorizo, kielbasa, andouille or Italian.
Now let’s eat! Shakshuka with Red Lentils and Feta Cheese! Soooo good!
Want more great breakfast and brunch recipes? Be sure to try my:
- Eggs in Purgatory with Italian Sausage
- Savory Breakfast Strudel with Eggs, Sausage and Swiss Chard
- Spinach, Leek and Feta Cheese Frittata
- Easy Hash Brown Frittata with Pesto and Goat Cheese
- Crustless Quiche with Sausage, Bacon and Ham
- Four Cheese Strata with Zucchini and Tomatoes
Shakshuka with Red Lentils and Feta Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, red or yellow, finely chopped
- 1 Fresno chile, chopped
- 1 roasted red bell pepper, from a jar, patted dry, seeded and chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (28-ounce) crushed fire-roasted tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon Hungarian paprika
- Cayenne pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup dry red lentils
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 4 large eggs
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Instructions
- Heat oil over medium-high heat in a heavy skillet such as cast iron.
- Add the onion and chile, reduce heat to medium-low and cook 5-6 minutes or until soft. Add the roasted red bell pepper and garlic. Cook 30 seconds or until garlic is fragrant.
- Add tomatoes, cumin, paprika, cayenne and lentils.
- Bring up to a good simmer over medium heat, reduce heat to low, cover and cook 20 minutes or until lentils are tender. (If your lentils are new, they may not take as long.)
- Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
- With the back of spoon, press to create 4 wells in the tomato-lentil mixture.
- Carefully crack an egg into each well. Cover the skillet and cook 7-8 minutes or until eggs are just set.
- Sprinkle with parsley and feta cheese. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Add spinach, kale, chard, or any leafy green.
- Use green bell pepper instead of red bell pepper
- Throw in some cooked, diced potatoes.
- Add cooked sausage such as chorizo, kielbasa, andouille, or Italian.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this? Leave a comment below!
Came out great! I try to incorporate lentils anyway I can. Plus, I like that the lentils cook in the dish as to cooking the lentils separately. I also added cinnamon. It’s even more delicious with baguette. Definitely cooking this again! Husband liked it too. Yay!
Hi, Candace, Thanks so very much and so glad you enjoyed! I love lentils, too! Will have to try with a touch of cinnamon. Thanks again!
Eggs in Purgatory are a favourite in my household, as are red lentils. It’s with a lot of joy that I found this recipe. So nutritious and also so tasty… and now I know what shakshuka is.
Thanks, Jane! The red lentils are a terrific addition to shakshuka! They add protein, making this dish perfect for any meal!