Description
Menemen is a traditional Turkish egg scramble made quickly with simple ingredients like onions, green peppers, tomatoes, and eggs. It’s savory, slightly spicy, and wonderfully comforting, especially when served with crusty bread for dipping. This easy skillet dish offers endless variations and is a fantastic option for breakfast, brunch, or any time of day.
Ingredients
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small white onion, finely diced
- 1 large green bell pepper, diced (alternatively poblano or Anaheim pepper)
- 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juices
Seasonings and Dairy
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper (or substitute with 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika plus a pinch of cayenne or crushed red pepper flakes)
- Fine sea salt, to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Main Protein
- 3 to 4 eggs
Optional Garnishes
- Sliced chives or chopped parsley
- Crumbled feta cheese
- Sliced avocado
Instructions
- Sauté the veggies: Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the finely diced onion and diced green pepper. Cook for approximately 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and fragrant.
- Add tomatoes and seasonings: Reduce the heat to medium. Stir in the canned diced tomatoes along with their juices, butter, Aleppo pepper (or your chosen substitute), and a generous pinch of fine sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Mix until combined and cook for another 2 minutes until the tomatoes are heated through.
- Add the eggs: Crack the eggs right over the tomato and vegetable mixture. Let them cook undisturbed for about 1 minute. Then gently break the yolks with a spoon and stir just enough to blend some of the eggs in, leaving a swirly appearance. Continue cooking for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, or until the eggs are set to your liking but still soft and creamy.
- Serve: Remove from heat and serve immediately. Garnish with optional sliced chives or parsley, crumbled feta, and sliced avocado if desired. Pair with crusty bread for dipping to complete this classic Turkish dish.
Notes
- Green Peppers: Since traditional Turkish green peppers can be hard to find in the US, substitute with a large green bell pepper, poblano, or Anaheim pepper depending on your heat preference.
- Aleppo Pepper Substitute: Use 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika and a pinch of cayenne or crushed red pepper flakes if Aleppo pepper is unavailable. Adjust the heat level to your taste.
- Cooking Eggs: For authentic texture, cook eggs until just barely set for a creamy, soft scramble.
- Serving Suggestion: Menemen is excellent with crusty bread for dipping and makes a satisfying breakfast or light meal.
