Description
Menemen is a traditional Turkish breakfast dish featuring scrambled eggs cooked with flavorful peppers, tomatoes, onions, and garlic. This vibrant and comforting dish is enhanced with aromatic spices and optional melty cheese, typically served with crusty bread or small tortillas. Perfect for a hearty morning meal or a light brunch, Menemen offers a delicious balance of fresh vegetables and rich eggs infused with warm, spicy notes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil (or butter or ghee)
- 1 small onion, diced (optional, white or yellow)
- 1 cup chopped peppers (Aleppo or Urfa Biber preferred, or red bell peppers)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon spicy chili flakes (Aleppo preferred; paprika or cayenne as substitutes)
- 1.5 cups grated or diced tomatoes with their juices
- 5 eggs
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional Ingredients for Serving
- 1/4 cup shredded melty cheese (mozzarella, Monterey Jack, or similar)
- Crusty bread or small tortillas
- Spicy chili flakes
- Crumbly feta cheese
- Fresh chopped parsley or basil
Instructions
- Heat the oil: In a skillet or pan, warm 3 tablespoons of olive oil (or butter/ghee) over medium heat until hot but not smoking, to create the base for your Menemen.
- Sauté onions (optional): Add the diced onion and cook until softened and translucent, about 3-4 minutes, allowing the natural sweetness to develop.
- Add peppers and garlic: Stir in the chopped peppers and minced garlic, cooking for 5-7 minutes until the peppers are tender and fragrant.
- Incorporate spices: Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of spicy chili flakes (Aleppo preferred) over the vegetables; stir to combine and let the spices bloom for about a minute.
- Add tomatoes: Pour in 1.5 cups of grated or diced tomatoes along with their juices. Cook the mixture until the tomatoes have softened and amalgamated with the peppers, about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Season: Add salt and pepper to taste to balance the flavors of your tomato-pepper base.
- Add eggs: Crack the 5 eggs directly into the pan and gently stir with a spatula, cooking and scrambling them with the vegetable mixture until softly set but still creamy, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add cheese (optional): If using, sprinkle shredded melty cheese over the eggs and allow to melt slightly before removing the pan from the heat.
- Serve: Transfer the Menemen to plates and garnish with optional extras—crumbly feta, fresh parsley or basil, and additional chili flakes. Serve warm alongside crusty bread or small tortillas for a complete meal.
Notes
- Use Aleppo or Urfa Biber peppers for authentic flavor if available; otherwise, red bell peppers work well.
- Adjust the level of chili flakes to control spiciness according to your preference.
- The dish is best served immediately while the eggs are creamy and the flavors fresh.
- Optional cheese additions add extra richness but the dish is flavorful and satisfying even without it.
- For a dairy-free version, omit cheese and use olive oil or ghee.
- Menemen is traditionally eaten with fresh crusty bread but small tortillas or pita also complement the dish nicely.
Keywords: Menemen, Turkish scrambled eggs, breakfast, peppers, tomatoes, eggs, vegetarian, Turkish cuisine