MENEMEN TURKISH SCRAMBLED EGGS WITH TOMATOES RECIPE

Ready for your breakfast game? Try this traditional Turkish scrambled egg recipe, also known as menymen. This one-pan vegetarian egg dish is healthy, filling, easily customizable, and ready in less than 30 minutes from start to finish.

What is MENEMEN?

Menemen is a traditional Turkish breakfast recipe made by cooking eggs with onions, peppers and tomatoes with a subtle hint of spice. It is named after a Turkish town called Menemen, which is located in Izmir.

What to serve with Menemen?

Menemen is traditionally served in a skillet in which it is cooked while hot and bubbly. It is usually served with crusty bread on the side, which is then dipped in soft egg and vegetables for a satisfying bite.

With that being said, if you want to serve it like a Turk I would recommend a few essentials on the side:

Cheese and Olives: You can’t talk about a Turkish breakfast and not include cheese and olives. In terms of cheese, you can use feta cheese, fresh mozzarella cheese, or even cheddar cheese. And for the olives, serve it with kalamata olives, green olives, or a mix of both, with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkling of dried oregano.

Smit: A breakfast staple in Turkey, smit is a sesame-crusted round bread similar to an American bagel but crustier on the outside and softer on the inside. It pairs wonderfully with mincemeat and can also be enjoyed with cheese and olives.

Turkish Borek: Borek is made from a layer of filo dough, usually filled with cheese and steamed vegetables. One of the most popular fillings is spinach and feta, which would pair perfectly with this hearty scrambled egg dish.

Variations and Substitutions of Ingredients:

The best part about this Turkey Soft Scrabble recipe is that you can easily substitute whatever you have on hand. Here are some ideas:

Make it without onions: There is a debate among die-hard Menemen fans about whether to make it with or without onions. The good news is that it can be made with or without it. Instead, skip using onions and peppers and spices.

Peppers: The traditional recipe for mani men uses fresh green turkey chilies, aka spicy pepper, which can be hard to find. In my version here I used bell peppers, but feel free to use whatever pepper you have on hand. Seeded and chopped jalapenos, Anaheim peppers, and even Hungarian wax peppers will all work.

Tomatoes: I used canned tomatoes to make this simple and easy. However, during the summer months, when they are in season, I prefer to use two or three medium-sized fresh tomatoes instead.

Cheese: Crumbled feta cheese is a very popular topping, but you can also add shredded mozzarella cheese on top at the last minute and let it melt on top before serving.

What else can I add?

You can follow the recipe as written or take it up a notch with some additions.

Lamb or Italian Sausage: If you’re a meat eater, you can saute ½ pound of sausage along with sauteing onions and peppers.

Spices: If you don’t mind a little heat, sprinkle it with Aleppo pepper, Urfa chili pepper, or red pepper flakes.

Time for Menemen:

Menemen, or Turkey Scrambled Eggs, is an easy, healthy, and customizable dish that can be prepared in less than 30 minutes!

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes

INGREDIENTS

2 Tbsp olive oil ($0.25)
1 yellow onion ($0.37)
1 bell pepper (any color) ($0.98)
1/2 tsp dried oregano ($0.05)
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper (or Aleppo pepper) ($0.03)
1 15oz. can diced tomatoes ($0.79)
1 tsp salt ($0.05)
1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper ($0.02)
4 large eggs, lightly beaten ($0.78)
1/4 cup chopped parsley ($0.40)
1 cup crumbled feta (optional) ($1.64)

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat the olive oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Add in onion, black pepper, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are tender, about 7-8 minutes.
Stir in the tomatoes (along with their juices), salt and pepper. Saute for 2-3 minutes or until tomatoes are heated through.
Add the lightly beaten eggs to the skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until the eggs are barely set but still soft, about 2-3 minutes.
Sprinkle immediately with chopped parsley and crumbled feta cheese, if using. Serve with crusty bread on the side.

How to Make a Menemen – Step by Step Guide

Start by chopping a bell pepper (any color) and a small onion.
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the chopped onion and bell pepper, along with ½ tsp dried oregano and ¼ tsp red pepper flakes or Aleppo pepper. Saute the vegetables until soft.
Add a 15oz. Chopped tomatoes (with juice), 1 tsp salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper. Stir to combine.
Continue frying for about 2-3 minutes more, or until everything is heated through.
Lightly beat four large eggs, then add them to the pan.
Cook the eggs, stirring frequently, until they are barely set but still soft (about 2-3 minutes).
Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the eggs.
Top with crumbled feta and more pepper, if desired.
Serve with crusty bread for dipping!

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