Shakshuka!
Shakshuka is is one of our favorite dishes of all time. It's perfect for a weekend lunch or for an elegant, but simple dinner to share with friends.
This humble but wonderfully satisfying dish is made of eggs poached in a tomato sauce with spices; often with cumin or chilis. The variations on it are myriad (we share a few options below) but sometimes the recipes can look intimidating from a spice perspective. If you don't have everything on the list, don't fret. You can be creative here; adding what you have on hand and whatever you are happy to see alongside tomatoes and eggs!
We like to serve it right in the dish, with a side of crusty bread and have people share family style. Bon Appetit!
WHAT'S IN THE BAG?
HALF SHARE
Protein and Dairy - Chicken Breast and Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Feta Cheese from Brookford Farm
Fruits and Veggies - Organic Damsel Tomatoes, Romaine Lettuce and Yellow Onions from Brookford Farm; Eggplant, Yellow Peaches and Garlic from Kimball Fruit Farm
Grains - Francese Loaf from Iggy's Bread
Spice - Spiced Paprika from Curio Spices
Special Treat - Tasty almonds from Q's nuts
WHOLE SHARE
Protein and Dairy - Chicken Breasts, Thighs and Eggs from Feather Brook Farm; Feta Cheese and Maple Greek Yogurt from Brookford Farm
Fruits and Veggies - Organic Damsel Tomatoes, Romaine Lettuce, Yellow Onions and Red Potatoes
from Brookford Farm; Eggplant, Yellow Peaches, Prune Plums, Red Bell Peppers and Garlic from Kimball Fruit Farm
Grains - Francese Loaf from Iggy's Bread
Spice - Spiced Paprika from Curio Spices
Special Treat - Nuts Two Ways from Q's Nuts
RECIPES
Shakshuka: When we make the basic version, we use fresh instead of canned tomatoes; either (or a combo of both!) work nicely. If you don't have cumin, add another pinch of Curio's spicy paprika and some fresh ground pepper. Top with whatever greens/herbs you have on hand. (Basil, Parsley, Cilantro, Scallions, Arugula ... you get the point). When you add the eggs, make a little well in the sauce for each one to nest and cook in. We preferred not to cover the eggs while cooking, just letting them simmer and finishing with 3-5 minutes in the oven to ensure the eggs were cooked. It makes for a beautiful presentation.
Eggplant and Tomato Shakshuka: Including the eggplant makes this a heartier dish. Add the Feta at the end, you'll thank us.
Fried Eggplant and Feta: If you're not into adding eggs to your eggplant, there are many ways to fry (or bake) eggplant and top with tomatoes and feta. This recipe gives you a side "salad" for any dish, you could also fry the eggplants as slices and top with a tomato feta "salsa".
Chicken with Grilled Romaine: Grilled salad? What? Heartier greens like Romaine and Kale stand up to grilling and baking quite nicely and make a beautiful side for a simple chicken dish. Spice up the chicken dish by sprinkling the paprika on the skin before cooking. If you don't have parmesan and breadcrumbs on hand the chicken will roast beautifully coated in your favorite mustard as well.
Grilled Peaches: If you're still firing up an actual grill, save room for the peaches. Grilled peaches are a beautiful and lightning fast summer dessert. Here they call for using oil and brown sugar. I am a fan of cutting the peaches in half, removing the pit and soaking the open side in maple syrup or bourbon before cooking in a cast iron. Treat yo' self with some vanilla ice cream on top, or add a bit of crunch with your favorite granola.
TIPS AND TRICKS
Prep Hint: Spices organization and what we include.
We try to select recipes that aren't too demanding from a prep stand point nor from an "other ingredients" stand point. Having a well-stocked spice rack means that you can be versatile with your approach and saves you the last minute run to the grocery store for more paprika. Since organizing spices and finding what you need can be tedious, we keep most of ours on the fridge in these magnetic containers (Alphabetized! NERDS!).
Feeling extra organized? Keep a list on your phone of what you already have etc to keep you from overbuying on ingredients. Here's a link to the magnetic hexagonal glass containers (set of 12, shown below) and a stainless steel alternative (set of 20).
