Spicy Chorizo Shakshuka

Ahh shakshuka! An amazing Middle Eastern breakfast dish that is as fun to say as it is delicious to eat.

At its most basic, shakshuka is a dish of eggs baked in a savory tomato and pepper sauce spiced with paprika and cumin. But honestly, that's just the beginning. Add in sauteed veggies, cheese, or meat (or all the above) or have a little fun with the spices. It's a simple and cozy dish that works well for both breakfast and easy dinners. It's wonderful if you're feeding a crowd because the sauce can be made well in advance with just the eggs and final baking done right before serving.

Shakshuka is a favorite brunch dish up at the retreat center where I cook in Vermont a few times a year. The totally vegetarian dish is perfect for feeding groups of folks with a variety of dietary restrictions. I've always enjoyed it, but it wasn't until I tasted a spicy chorizo version at a small cafe in my neighborhood that I fell hard for it.

And (of course) decided to recreate for you!

This dish comes together very quickly and uses up super basic ingredients that you may already have: an onion, a bell pepper, some garlic, a can of tomatoes and basic spices. I always have chorizo in my fridge (I'm obsessed) and eggs. I recommend a spicy Spanish-style chorizo that you can slice and sauté along with your onions.

The whole thing takes less than 40 minutes to make, and you can easily adjust the servings just by adding more eggs. Top with crumbled cheese and a sprinkle of fresh herbs, then serve with a big tangy salad and some crusty bread for a perfect meal at any time of day.

P.S. If you loved this one, check out a few of my other favorite brunch and breakfast dishes like: 

• Potato Chip Scrambled Eggs with Chorizo (the coolest twist on eggs and breakfast potatoes!)
• 10-Minute Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash (perfect if you're in a rush!) 
• Grape Juice-Glazed Breakfast Sausages
• Or anyone of these 25 Awesome Breakfast Recipes!

Spicy Chorizo Shakshuka
Serves 2-4

Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/3 pound Spanish-style chorizo sausage, sliced (about two standard size sausage links)
1 large onion (any kind), diced
1 large red bell pepper, diced
4 large garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1 28oz can crushed Roma tomatoes
Kosher salt and black pepper
2 teaspoons smoked Spanish paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon red chile flakes OR 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne
 4 large eggs
1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese or feta cheese
1 small handful fresh parsley, finely minced

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place a heavy 10" oven-safe skillet (such as cast iron) over medium-high heat. Add the oil and chorizo and cook until chorizo is slightly crisped. Add the onions and peppers and saute five minutes, or until tender. Add the garlic and cook 2 more minutes. Add the tomatoes, smoked paprika, cumin, chile flakes, and season with salt and black pepper. Stir well, then lower heat and let simmer 10-15 minutes or until slightly thickened.

Use a spoon to make an small well in the tomato sauce and crack an egg into the hole. Repeat with the rest of the eggs, scattering them around the pan. (You can use a few extra eggs if you'd like to increase the serving portions!)

Transfer to the oven and let cook 7-10 minutes, or until the egg whites are fully cooked and the yolks are just set. Remove from the oven and garnish with cheese and minced parsley.

Serve immediately.