Wednesday 20 September 2017

One-pot Cooking - Shakshuka


Thank you all so much for your kind words and good wishes with regard to Lily's first week at school. It means so much and it's lovely knowing there are so many caring people around.
She looks forward to going each day and appears to have settled in well, returning most days with muddy trousers, which can only be a good sign where Lily is concerned. I'm gradually getting into the swing of the school run, rushed mornings and the daily checking of the book bag for the seemingly never ending stream of letters (which get sent by email anyway so I don't understand why they do this.) It's all good so far.
So, for a while now I have been promising the lovely Sheila I would post this recipe for her and finally, here it is!
Anyone who knows me knows I am not  natural in the kitchen and quite honestly I become all fingers and thumbs when it comes to attempting to juggle various pots and pans, get timings right or serve up in an attractive manner (me or the food!) ending up a bit frazzled and unable to properly enjoy my meal.
To this end I am a huge fan of one-pot cooking. I find this way of cooking far more relaxing and enjoyable. Being able to produce a delicious meal with a glass of wine in one hand and at the same time holding down a conversation can only be a good thing, right? Add to that a lot less washing up and I'm on a winner.
One of these dishes which has recently become a firm favourite is Shakshuka, a delicious Middle Eastern dish with flavours which can be adjusted to suit your own taste. There are various recipes online with suggestions for alternative ingredients but this is my favourite as it is so simple, fresh and tasty.


  
You will need,

1 onion
2 cloves of garlic
1 courgette
2 peppers
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
4 medium eggs
50g Feta cheese
1 teaspoon of smoked paprika
A little oil for frying
Fresh mint

Slice the onion, garlic, courgette and peppers and fry using a little oil for around 5 minutes. Add the tin of tomatoes and simmer for a further 10 minutes. Make 4 wells in the mixture and crack an egg into each one. Put the lid on the pan and cook for 8 minutes by which time the eggs will be cooked through but still soft in the middle. Sprinkle over the crumbled Feta and chopped mint and serve with some pitta or crusty bread.

 

I hope you enjoy this recipe, please do let me know if you try it.
J. X

41 comments:

  1. Ooh I am loving this creation....can I steal it?

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  2. That looks absolutely delicious!

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  3. That looks delicious, a wonderful supper dish that I will certainly be trying. I am thrilled to hear that you adjusting well to the school run and that Lily is settling. Wilbur goes without a fuss but would rather not.

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    1. It's a nice and easy supper dish, that's why I like it. I'm glad to read Wilbur is resigned to his fate :-) X

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  4. That looks delicious and as I have just about every ingredient in my cupboards it's one I'd definitely try if only my family would eat eggs, they won't! I may have to give it a go when I'm eating alone. Glad to hear that things are going well where school is concerned and I'm pleased that Lily's enjoying it.

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    1. Thank you Jo. They were not a group of ingredients I could see working together but they do make for a very tasty meal. X

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  5. Sounds good, must try with my last 2 courgettes.
    xx

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    1. There are plenty of courgettes in our garden too, so this recipe is a good way of using them up. X

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  6. Looks delicious - my Courgettes have finished now so will have to start buying them. Would have to make this without the garlic (I have an allergy to it) but I expect it will still be fine.

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    1. Thank you. I wouldn't have thought the garlic makes much of a difference to the taste anyway. X

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    1. It is Cheryl. So simple too, that's why I like it. X

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  8. Very different from what I'd normally cook, but maybe one day...I have had a yearning for Hungarian goulash and tonight made some for tea with mashed potato...rather yummy. x

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    1. Oooh Mashed potato! I love mashed potato. X

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  9. Oh my....that looks and sounds wonderful.
    I will try this for sure.
    Thank you so much Jules.
    Hugs-x-

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    1. Please let me know if you do Sheila. Your meals always sound so tasty. Your family are very lucky! X

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  10. Oh I loving this I will be giving it a try.

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  11. Good to hear that Lily has settled well at school and enjoying it. There's a saying that a mucky child is a happy child and I don't doubt it :)
    Your dish looks delicious, not something I would make for the two of us to be honest but I'd definitely try it for myself.

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    1. Thank you Eileen. If that is true, then Lily is incredibly happy a lot of the time :-)

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  12. Yum, I love this dish and it reminds me of being in Birmingham. I haven't eaten it for a really long time but I saw a blog post recently where the egg was replaced with tofu so I might give it another try.

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    1. The tofu would absorb the flavours beautifully. Please let me know if you try it. Your meals always look delicious. X

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  13. its good that Lily is enjoying school :)

    That does look yummy (minus the cheese) :)

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    1. Thank you. Minus the cheese would be good too. X

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  14. That looks absolutely delicious. I must try this. I too like one pot cooking. It makes cleaning up easier.

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    1. I find using just one pot makes cooking and cleaning up much easier too. Much more relaxing. X

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  15. Glad to hear that Lily is doing well with school.

    One pot meals are among the best, especially on busy week nights.

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    1. Thank you Bless. Yes, one pot meals save time. X

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  16. Recipe sounds lovely. So pleased lily is ok at school (hope you are too. I know how hard it is for mums) x

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    1. Thank you CT. It feels strange with Lily not being around during the day. The weekly shop is much more relaxing but I do miss her company and our afternoon walks. X

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  17. yum, that looks so good. My sort of thing.

    Pleased Lily is doing well and settling in. It makes for a happy mummy if all is well at school. x

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    1. Thank you Sadie. Yes, it's definitely a relief to know she is happy. X

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  18. So very pleased to read that Lily is settling well at school.

    Your recipe looks and sounds brilliant, and I agree one pot meals are a boon aren't they.

    Have a great week

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you Jan. One-pot dishes are a firm favourite with me. X

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  19. Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment, much appreciated. It's always nice to meet new people and find new blogs to read yourself .....this recipe sounds delicious.

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    1. Thank you Julie. I do enjoy your blog. X

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  20. Yum, yum, that looks fantastic. Would be a lovely and simple thing to cook in the camervan :-)

    Geat news that Lily started well at school. xx

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    1. It would be ideal to make in the campervan Jayne. One-pot dishes are great when space is limited. X

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    2. Glad you deciphered my lack of spellcheck :-)

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