Şakşuka (Turkish eggplant shakshuka recipe)  

Şakşuka is a celebration of colors, flavors, and textures. It's like a glorious symphony, with each ingredient playing its own harmonious note. Imagine the juiciest eggplants, fried until golden and creamy, their velvety flesh bursting with buttery, smoky goodness. Plump tomatoes burst with natural sweetness, their vibrant red hues hinting at the irresistible feast that awaits. Peppers and potatoes dance with a subtle touch of spice that enlivens this dish in the most delightful way.

This Şakşuka recipe is not only an absolute pleasure to eat, but it is also healthy and accessible to everyone. It just so happens to be completely free from animal products, and gluten is nowhere to be found. Do you love the heck out of veggies, and hate gluten so much you scream at fields of wheat everywhere? Then this dish will make you play a gosh darn trumpet while you go off a ramp on rollerblades right into the ocean. (That’s like, a good thing, ok?) 

This dish makes an unbelievable mezze to serve alongside bulgur pilavi, cig kofte, Turkish ezme salad and spicy marinated cucumbers.

So, get on your cutest-looking apron, gather your freshest ingredients, and get ready to create a feast that will transport you to the sun-kissed paradise of Turkey.

🥰Why you are going to adore the ever-loving heck outta this recipe

1. Gluten-free goodness gracious: Face it, you or someone you know hates gluten so much you just want to punch gluten in the face.  But now you don’t have to.  You can just eat this instead, and that’s a much more peaceful way of dealing with your gluten intolerance…
2. This vegan dish isn’t lame: I love food that “just happens” to be vegan.  There is no fake meat, or hard-to-find ingredients. Nothing that is gonna make your carnivore friends look at you weirdly when you share this dish with them. That’s why as a caterer, I serve Shakshuka at weddings and other events where there are going to be tons of non-veg eaters. Everyone loves it, and it is traditionally plant-based.
3. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy: Cooking doesn't have to be rocket science, my darlings. This recipe is as easy as pie (and yes, you can have pie for dessert if you want). Just a few simple steps and a handful of ingredients, and you'll have a dish that looks like it's been crafted by a culinary wizard who lives in tree or whatever.
4. Leftovers for the win: We all know leftovers can be hit or miss. But with Şakşuka, darling, it's a different story (in the sense that it’s just a straight-up HIT). The flavors only deepen and intensify overnight, creating a masterpiece that’s even more satisfying the next day. This makes a perfect item to include in meal-prep. It’s like a gift that keeps on giving!

🍆Notable ingredients and substitutions

🍆Eggplant (Patlıcan): This velvety, purple jewel of the Mediterranean is the star of Şakşuka. Its rich and creamy flesh adds a delightful smoky flavor to the dish. If you can't find eggplant, you can try substituting it with zucchini or portobello mushrooms for a different twist.

🌶️Tatlı Biber Salçası: This mild Turkish red pepper paste brings a burst of vibrant flavor and a touch of sweetness to Shakshuka. It's made from sun-dried red peppers and adds a unique depth to the dish. If you like spicier food, you can use "Acı Biber Salçası” instead. It is a fiery and flavorful paste made from hot red peppers. It adds a delicious kick to dishes. If you can't find it, you can substitute it with a combination of tomato paste and a pinch of chili powder for a similar flavor profile. But if you love making Turkish food, you are going to want to pick this stuff up to have on hand. It's used in lots of Turkish dishes.

🏺Ground Coriander (Kişniş): This aromatic spice adds a warm and citrusy note to Şakşuka. It complements the other ingredients beautifully, enhancing the overall flavor profile. If you don't have ground coriander on hand, you can try using ground cumin as a substitute, though the flavor will be slightly different.

🫒Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Sızma Zeytinyağı): The liquid gold of the Mediterranean! Extra virgin olive oil brings a luxurious richness and fruity undertones to Şakşuka. Its smooth texture helps bind the flavors together and deliver the flavors by coating your tongue. If you can't get your hands on extra virgin olive oil, you can use any other high-quality vegetable oil, such as avocado oil or grapeseed oil, to achieve a similar, albeit less traditional result.

📖Step-by-step instructions

You wanna see how this sensational Turkish mezze gets made? I will grab you by your gorgeous jewel-bedazzled glove and walk you through the whole process one step at a time. Or you can follow along with the easy-to-print recipe card towards the bottom of this page.

Step 1

Place the peeled and diced potatoes into a saucepan, ensuring they are fully submerged in water. Bring the pan to a boil over high heat. It's also totally fine to steam them instead of boil them, if that's your thing. Cook until the potatoes are fork-tender, then drain them using a colander. To check for doneness, pierce the potatoes with a fork (that’s why they are called “fork tender”) to ensure they are soft enough.

Step 2

Drain the cooked potatoes in a colander or mush strainer.

Step 3

Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a Dutch oven, large frying pan, or wok over high heat. Allow the oil to get hot for about 60 seconds. This ensures a nice sear and golden color on the eggplant. 

Add the diced eggplant to the hot oil and stir regularly for approximately six minutes, or until the eggplant turns uniformly golden. Regular stirring prevents sticking and helps to distribute the heat evenly.

Step 4

Add the diced pepper, salt and the drained potatoes to the pan with the eggplant. Sauté the mixture for about three minutes, or until the peppers have softened. You can adjust the sautéing time based on your desired level of tenderness for the peppers.

Step 5

Transfer the contents of the pan into an attractive serving bowl and set it aside while preparing the tomato sauce. 

Step 6

Return the same pan to the stovetop over high heat. If the pan seems dry, add a tablespoon of extra olive oil. Add the diced tomato and onion to the hot pan and sauté for about three minutes, until the tomatoes begin to break down and release their juices, and the onion becomes fragrant. Cooking the onion and tomato together melds their flavors and gives them a rich taste.

Step 7

Stir in the garlic, paprika, ground coriander, cumin, red pepper flakes, thyme, and black pepper. Continue sautéing for another two minutes until the mixture becomes fragrant. 

Step 8

Add the vinegar, sugar, pepper paste (or tomato paste), and salt to the pan. Adjust the heat to low and let the sauce simmer for approximately eight minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and darkens. This simmering process allows the flavors to meld together and the sauce to develop a rich consistency. 

Step 9

Pour the tomato sauce over the eggplant, potatoes, and peppers in the serving bowl. Garnish with fresh parsley and minced onion.

💡Serving Ideas

Here are some accompaniments you can make to serve with this dish that are a real slam dunk:

Serve this creamy eggplant with çiğ köfte, or stewed white beans. I love putting a spoonful of fried eggplant on my oyster mushroom shawarma, or seitan kofta served on freshly grilled whole wheat pita bread, dripping with tahini dressing.

Gobble it up with some yalya corbasi, or Turkish olive oil braised celery root why don'tcha?

Finish off your meal with a sweet treat by serving Şakşuka with this perfect pistachio baklava. The delicate layers of pastry, filled with pistachios and drizzled with rosewater syrup, provide a delightful contrast to the savory flavors of the main dish.

🤷‍♀️FAQ

✌️My favey dishes to serve with Şakşuka:

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Şakşuka (Turkish eggplant shakshuka recipe)  

With its sassy combo of eggplant, peppers, ‘taters, and lightly spiced tomato sauce, this Turkish vegetable dish will have you saying, "Move over, boring, sad old veggies! There’s a new king in town.” Get ready to spice up your life with a vibrant journey through the Turkish flavors of Şakşuka!

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Sides

Cuisine: Middle Eastern, Turkish

Keyword: Şakşuka, Shakshuka

Prep Time: 8 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 38 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 (6 cups eggplant, 2 cups sauce)

Calories: 197kcal

Cost: $9.50

Equipment

• Dutch oven
• slotted spoon

Ingredients

• 1 medium russet potato peeled and diced into 1 cm. cubes
• ⅓ cup olive oil
• 2.2 lbs. 1 kg. eggplant, diced into 1 cm. cubes
• ½ green bell pepper diced
• ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
• ½ medium yellow onion diced
• 2 large beefsteak tomatoes finely diced
• 3 cloves garlic peeled and sliced
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• ½ teaspoon dried or fresh thyme
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 ½ teaspoons white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons tatlı biber salçası Turkish pepper paste or tomato paste
• ¾ teaspoon salt

To garnish:

• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
• 4 teaspoons finely minced red or yellow onion

Instructions

• Place the peeled diced potatoes into a saucepan with water to cover, and bring up to a boil over a high flame.  Cook until fork tender and then drain in a colander.
• While the potato is cooking, heat the olive oil over a high flame in a wok, dutch oven, or large cast iron skillet over a high flame.
• After 60 seconds when the oil is hot, add the diced eggplant, and fry in the oil, stirring regularly for 6 minutes or until uniformly golden.
• Add the drained potatoes, pepper, and salt. Sauté for three minutes until the peppers are softened.  
• Place the fried vegetables into an attractive serving bowl and set them aside while you prepare the tomato sauce in the same pan.
• Return the pan to the stovetop over high heat and add a tablespoon of extra olive oil if the pan is dry.  Add the diced tomato and onion to the hot pan. Sauté for 3 minutes until the tomato starts to break down and the onion is fragrant.
• Stir in the garlic, paprika, coriander, cumin, red pepper flakes, thyme, and black pepper, and sautéed for another two minutes until fragrant.
• Add the vinegar, sugar, pepper paste (or tomato paste), and salt, adjust the heat to low, and simmer the sauce for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally until thick and dark.
• Place the tomato sauce over the eggplant, potatoes and peppers, and garnish with parsley and minced onion.

Notes

If you want the final dish to be less oily, pat the fried eggplant down with a paper towel to remove some of the extra oil.

Nutrition

Calories: 197kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Sodium: 493mg | Potassium: 680mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 584IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg