Menemen Recipe (Turkish Tomato Scrambled Eggs) Recipe
Menemen is a traditional Turkish dish featuring scrambled eggs cooked with fresh tomatoes, green peppers, and spices. This flavorful and easy-to-make breakfast recipe combines tender peppers and juicy tomatoes with fluffy eggs, seasoned perfectly with paprika, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, then garnished with fresh parsley for a vibrant and hearty meal.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: Serves 3-4
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Turkish
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Vegetables & Herbs
- 3 medium green peppers, chopped (Turkish peppers or any sweet green pepper)
- 4 large tomatoes (about 1 cup), peeled and diced
- 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped for garnish
Spices & Seasonings
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Others
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 medium eggs
Instructions
- Heat the oil: Pour 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a pan and warm it over medium heat.
- Cook the peppers: Add the chopped green peppers to the pan and sauté for 2-3 minutes until they become tender.
- Add tomatoes and season: Stir in the peeled and diced tomatoes. Sprinkle with ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon paprika. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes soften and become tender, then reduce heat slightly.
- Beat the eggs: In a separate bowl, gently beat the 4 eggs until combined.
- Combine eggs and tomato mixture: Pour the beaten eggs over the tomato and pepper mixture in the pan. Cook uncovered, stirring gently with a spatula to let the eggs spread evenly. Cook for no longer than 5 minutes to avoid overcooking.
- Final seasoning and garnish: Remove the pan from heat. Sprinkle red pepper flakes, black pepper, and chopped parsley on top. Optionally drizzle a little olive oil before serving. Serve immediately for best taste.
- Alternative: Leave eggs whole: After cooking the tomatoes and peppers, create wells in the mixture and crack each egg directly into these hollows. Simmer uncovered for 8-10 minutes until egg whites set but yolks remain runny. You can gently push and poke whites with a spatula to help cooking, or cover the pan to cook the tops—note this may lightly cook the yolk surface.
Notes
- Be careful not to overcook the eggs to maintain a soft, creamy texture.
- Using sweet green peppers or traditionally Turkish green peppers enhances authenticity.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to control heat level as per taste.
- Peeling tomatoes helps achieve a smoother texture in the dish.
- This dish is best served immediately while hot and fresh.
