St Patrick’s Day is in two days and I’m very excited that it falls on a Saturday this year! I don’t always have time to make a nice breakfast in the morning. During the week it’s usually grabbing a protein bar or banana as I head out the door for work, and I’m usually ‘enjoying’ it in the car. This weekend though the husband and I are going to take our time to make ourselves a nice sit down breakfast, specifically this Green Shakshuka, and because it’s ‘green’, it’s perfect for St Patrick’s Day! I wonder when St Patrick’s Day started becoming associated with green colored food? That has to be a US started tradition, right? It’s such a weird thing, but I’ll take it, lol.
I’ve never been very into the heavily dyed green foods, they just weird me out; like bright green bagels with bright green cream cheese?? NO thank you. This Green Shakshuka is the perfect dish to wake up to this St Patrick’s Day morning (or any morning for that matter!) It’s easy to make and taste delicious, plus you’re still being festive (naturally festive too!). We’re using organic, pasture raised eggs because they’re really delicious. Pro tip: The brighter and more orange the egg yolk, the healthier and more nutritious and well rounded the diet of the chicken that laid it is, which in turn just make better eggs. You guys know how crazy in love we are about eggs (we may or may not have written an all encompassing ‘egg cookbook’ a few years back!) and that includes where they come from.
If you guys are looking for a low key, but still totally delicious and nutritious start to your St Patrick’s Day festivities, this simple Green Shakshuka dish is just for you! Enjoy! xx, Jenny
Green Shakshuka
INGREDIENTS
- 3 ½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 pound baby spinach
- 1 shallot (or scallions), minced
- 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ bunch cilantro, chopped
- 5 Large eggs
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup crumbled queso fresco, divided
- ½ avocado, thinly sliced
- salt and pepper to taste
- micro cilantro or more cilantro leaves for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place a large skillet over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon oil. Add spinach and sauté until wilted, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Transfer to a colander and drain excess water by pressing into the spinach with the back of a wooden spoon (squeezing out with your hands if needed). Set aside.
- Place skillet back over heat and add 1 ½ tablespoons oil. Add shallots and garlic and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Add cumin and coriander, continue to sauté for 1 to 2 minutes and season with salt and pepper.
- Add spinach back to skillet and lightly season with salt and pepper Sauté for 1 minute. Stir in cilantro.
- Transfer half of the mixture to a food processor and puree with remaining 1 tablespoon oil, until mixture is smooth. Pour puree back into the skillet and stir to combine. Spread mixture into an even layer and create 5 wells in the spinach mixture.
- Carefully crack an egg into each well and cook mixture for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Pour water around the edge of the skillet and cover for about 2 minutes, allowing the mixture to steam and the egg whites to set.
- Remove lid and sprinkle with half of cheese. Lightly season with salt and pepper.
- Remove shakshuka from stove and lightly season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Finish with sliced avocado and more cilantro.
- Serve immediately with toasted baguette or pita.
Did you make this recipe? We want to see!
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I love this!!!! It’s so yummy and so quick and easy. It really didn’t take too much extra time at all. This rivals the tomato version in my opinion, which I also love
This seems like a hellova lot of work for just spinache and egg with a bit of cheese sprinkled on top
I can’t eat spinach bc of kidney stone issues. Could it be made with kale?
Yes! You will need to add a little more oil (about 2 to 3 more tablespoons) and a little water to get the pureed portion to smooth out.
Do I pour the water directly in the pan and does it steam out or will it be watery ?
Yes the water goes directly into the pan. It’s such a small amount of water that it shouldn’t come out watery. If you do see some excess water, just continue to cook the shakshuka over the stovetop, uncovered, until the water has evaporated.
Absolutely loved it, but would budget more time to make it. Probably closer to an hour.
Why do we puree the spinach?
This gives the dish a more stewy/saucy texture, more similar to the traditional tomato version
Yum! What do you think would go well with this? Any side ideas?
Any bread products! We used leftover snowflake rolls to mop up and they were good. However, it’s pretty filling. Without any other sides, we weren’t hungry for lunch.