Turkish menemen recipe

Ingredients

For the menemen

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, finely sliced
• 1 tsp fennel seeds
• ½ tsp cumin seeds
• 1 large green chilli pepper, deseeded and chopped
• 2 red and 2 yellow (or green) bell peppers, deseeded and finely sliced
• 400g/14oz tin chopped tomatoes
• 4 eggs
• Pinch of cayenne
• Handful coriander and mint leaves, chopped
• flatbreads, warmed, to serve salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the garlic yoghurt

• 1 large garlic clove, crushed
• Squeeze of lemon juice
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 140g/5oz Greek yoghurt

Method

Menemen is a simple yet gutsy dish of baked eggs. Allow your guests to spoon this straight from the pan, with warmed flatbreads for mopping and dipping. If you like, try it topped with fried chorizo morsels.

Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the onion and cook slowly over low heat for 8 minutes, until soft and golden. 

Stir through the fennel and cumin seeds, and chilli, and cook for a further minute. Add the peppers, cook for 2–3 more minutes, then pour over the chopped tomatoes and a splash of water. Season well and allow the sauce to bubble for 5 minutes, until aromatic and slightly thickened.

Make shallow depressions in the sauce and crack in your eggs. Cook over low heat for around 15 minutes until the whites have set but yolks are still runny.

Meanwhile, combine the garlic, lemon and extra virgin olive oil with the yoghurt in a bowl and season to taste.

Sprinkle the eggs with the cayenne, seasoning and the chopped herbs. Serve directly out of the pan at the table with the cooling garlicky yoghurt and warm flatbreads.

This recipe is extracted from Posh Eggs, out now by Quadrille, RRP £12.99

Visit our breakfast section for more recipe ideas for brunch and breakfast including recipes for huevos rancheros and shakshuka