South African spiced Shakshuka

Shakshuka! Try saying that 20 times quickly in a row! Shakshuka needs no introduction to many people with a culinary interest. It is a northern African and Middle Eastern dish typically eaten for breakfast but is also known to be enjoyed at any time of the day. Its main ingredients consist of eggs, tomatoes, peppers, olive oil, onion, garlic, and spices (paprika, cayenne pepper, and cumin spice).

Shakshuka is said to have come from the North African region of Ottoman and came about when tomatoes were introduced to the area. The word “Shakshuka” actually means “mixed up” or “shaken,” which makes sense in the end because when you’re cooking Shakshuka, all you are doing is pushing things around in a pan with your wooden spoon. And yes, if you’ve never made it before, it really is that easy.

Of course, as South Africans, we put our own spin on everything, even Shakshuka! And with that said, we did with our own South African Shakshuka recipe! We think ours is just as delicious as the traditional dish but comes out a little smoky in flavour and a little more South African! What makes it so South African? Well, it features a special guest: truly South African boerewors! Who could say no to that? Perhaps you could call it a regte egte South African farmhouse Shakshuka!

Shakshuka

Shakshuka la South Africa

As far as South African recipes go, this one is one of the best! It serves four people and should take around 30 minutes to make. Enjoy!

What you need:

Equipment:

• Measuring cups and measuring spoons
• A knife
• Cutting board
• Large skillet

Ingredients:

• Olive oil (1 tablespoon will be enough)
• ½ a cup of carrots chopped finely
• ½ a cup of celery chopped finely
• 2 tins of diced tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon of salt and ½ a teaspoon of pepper to taste
• 2 teaspoons of South African Smoke Spice (Trader Joe’s) – if you can’t find this, you can make your own spice mix of garlic powder, salt, basil, and paprika.
• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups of tender greens
• 200 g of boerewors
• 4 slices of mozzarella cheese
• 4 slices of wholewheat bread

What to do:

• Over medium-low heat, heat a large skillet and add one tablespoon of olive oil. Let the oil heat.
• Add the chopped vegetables to the warm oil and saute them until they have turned soft and semi-translucent. This usually takes around 5 minutes.
• Grab your tin of diced tomatoes and pour the contents over the sauteed veggies. Give it all a good stir and then add in the salt, pepper, and spice and stir some more.
• Allow to simmer while stirring occasionally gently – you will notice that the sauce thickens up after about 10 minutes. It is important to stir the sauce to stop it from sticking to the bottom of the skillet and burning.
• Now that your sauce is nice and thick, use a wooden spoon to create four indents into the top of the mixture. This is where you are going to pop the eggs in.
• Being careful, crack open each egg, and one at a time, place them into the indented spots. Once all the eggs are in their place, allow the contents to keep cooking for a further 6 to 8 minutes. Placing a lid on the skillet will ensure even cooking, but don’t worry if you don’t have one – everything will cook just fine without it. This should cook them until they are not so runny – but use your discretion to cook the eggs until your preferred consistency.
• In a separate pan, add the boerewors and fry as preferred.
• While the eggs and boerewors are cooking to perfection, it’s time to make the toast. Toast four slices of wholewheat bread, and then place the greens and the slices of mozzarella on top.
• Remove the boerewors from the heat and, using a knife and fork, cut the boerewors into slices or chunks (your choice!). Top each slice of toast with a handful of boerewors slices/chunks.
• By the time this is done, your eggs should be ready. Remove the skillet from the heat and spoon the tomato sauce and egg mixture over the toast.
• Now, simply add salt and pepper to taste, and you have Shakshuka with a South African twist!

Expert advice for SA expats at FinGlobal

Moving to a new country can feel a little bit like a Shakshuka – you’re being nudged from one thing to the next. But the same can be said for relocating and making Shakshuka; both can be beautiful things in the end. When you have a simple recipe to follow, anything can turn out amazing, even your relocation. And at FinGlobal, we have the perfect financial emigration recipe for you. There’s no need for you to feel confused by tax and FOREX when you move, and we will even simplify the process of getting your hands on your pension or retirement annuity that’s due to you when you leave the country. We have helped thousands of South Africans get their paperwork and financial aspects in order when relocating to a new country – and we look forward to helping you too.

Our team is well versed in all things FOREX, financial emigration, tax, retirement annuities, and pensions related. We will happily discuss your needs and requirements and provide you with a wealth of advice to help you sail through the process. Our team has a reputation for doing everything possible to ensure that you are provided with top-quality services and guidance that can’t be matched. For a casual chat about your emigration requirements, contact our team today! To contact our team, call us at +27 28 312 2764 or email us at info@finglobal.com, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.