Menemen Recipe (Turkish Scrambled Eggs with Tomatoes)

 

Turkish Menemen Dish

Turkish Scrambled Eggs With Tomatoes & Vegetables - Menemen

Everyone loves breakfast and everyone knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. We, Turks, love breakfast very much and most of the Turks never start to day without a breakfast. Because, we believe that "Strong and nutritious breakfast makes person energetic, active, healthy and happy during the day".

In Turkey, whenever the question "What shall I cook for breakfast (or dinner)?" is asked, especially during financially challenging times (generally last days of months), our "Menemen" always makes a budget-friendly, delicious and nutritious meal. Especially, university students who live a way from his/her family cook this simple dish alot.

If you are into tasty, savory, perfectly scrambled eggs for breakfast (and yes ofcourse you can also cook it for dinner!), you will want to try our delicious and extra hearty variation from Anatolia (Turkey) known as "Menemen". You'll love our easy menemen recipe of soft, perfectly scrambled eggs with tomatoes, green peppers, and onions! This simple one-pan dish comes together in 15-20 minutes or less, and makes the perfect breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You just add your favorite crusty bread to serve along.

In this post, we are going to share our very savory, healthy and hearty menemen recipe with you. We are sure that when you try it you will love it.

Budget-Friendly Dish: Menemen.

What is Menemen!

If you ask anyone in Turkey "What is menemen", he/she says that "it is very simple but delicious dish". Our hearty egg scramble gets its name from the Anatolian (Turkish) market town of Menemen, a small and cute town located just off the main highway of north Izmir city (in Agean region). Menemen is basically scrambled eggs with tomatoes, peppers and, sometimes, onions. The seasoning is quite simple and often includes a dash of dried herbs (forexample: oregano, ground black pepper and a touch of heat from some chili flakes). We generally use our Urfa red pepper flakes but if you want, you can use a combination of chili flakes and Aleppo-style pepper, which adds depth and a subtle sweetness, and a dash of hot red pepper flakes for some heat.

Menemen is a simple and versatile one-pan dish that comes together in 15-20 minutes or less! We generally serve it often for breakfast (brunch) or dinner with some crusty bread (thick slices are best to sop up all the goodness).

Menemen Dish with Onion or without Onion!

In Turkey, whether the menemen's recipe should include onions or not is a source of contention between menemen lovers. Although this dish is known by most as a breakfast food, it can also serve as an dinner. With this consideration, many agree that breakfast should be without onions, while dinner recipes include onions. You can watch in Tvs or read more about the funny discussions over menemen recipe in the newspapers or internet.

Menemen versus Shakshuka

Some wonder if menemen dish is the same as shakshuka dish. We think that they are close cousins (or relatives). These two popular egg dishes are quite similar since they share some key ingredients (eggs, tomatoes, peppers, and onions), but the seasoning and preparations are differrent.

Aside from flavor, probably the most obvious difference between today's menemen dish recipe and shakshuka dish is the way the eggs are cooked. Here the eggs are scrambled whereas with shakshuka, the eggs are braised undisturbed in the chunky tomatoes mixture, so the result is as if more of a sunny-side-up look. Also shakshuka's recipe covers chopped potatoes and eggplants but menemen doesn't. 

History of Menemen Dish

According to historians; it was first prepared by "Cretan Turks" in Izmir city along Turkey’s Agean coastline, "Menemen" derives its name from the specific district where it was first created. Cretan Turks were so poor people and they cooked this dish alot. The main ingredients of menemen are simply tomatoes, peppers and eggs, so it is little wonder that it has survived from Ottoman Empire times until today. Also this unique dish is known in France and Italy as "Piparade" and generally served with "Espelette Peppers". On some English menus, menemen is sometimes translated as ‘Turkish omelette.

Menemen is a simple and versatile one-pan dish!

How to Make Turkish Menemen Dish!

It is really hard to imagine a Turkish breakfast table without menemen, as we all love its flavour and taste. Also, due to its high nutritional value and ease of preparation, it is cooked regularly in almost every Turkish home.

Menemen preparation is really so simple and easy. It is not complicated. Before the giving recipe, let us to explain three important tips for the preparation of menemen. 

Three Important tips!

We have made this Turkish scrambled eggs tons of times since we were teenagers, and three tips make all the difference when it comes to making Turkish menemen at home:

1. Start with good quality ingredients. This is one modest dish that is truly greater than the sum of its parts, so it is important to start with quality produce. Look for firm green peppers (or green bell peppers) without smooth skins and no blemishes (or other green peppers, we mean that your local green peppers). Select smooth skinned tomatoes that are firm but have some give when you apply a bit of pressure. They should be fragrant and feel heavy for their size, which indicates that they are juicy and delicious (our Çanakkale city or Ayaş town Tomatoes are better for this recipe). For us, we generally use sun flower oil but we also use good quality extra-virgin olive oil, which will add richness and flavor to this dish.
2. Do not overcook your eggs. Maybe the key to the best menemen recipe is to scramble the eggs very gently over medium-low heat until just set. The eggs should be moist and pillowy and never dry or overcooked.
3. Serve with thick slices of a hearty, country-style bread or Turkish pita / pide. 

We generally prepare the menemen of breakfast without onions and prepare the menemen of evening meal with onions.

Ingredients: good quality ingredients make this dish perfect!

Ingredients: Eggs, sunflower oil, tomatoes and green peppers. 

Ingredients: salt, red pepper flakes and ground black pepper
If you want you can add other spices. 

Peel your tomatoes's skin first.

Then grate them. If you want, you can chop them into small pieces 

Select good quality, juicy and delicious tomatoes for menemen

Then remove your green peper's seeds and chop them into small pieces

Good quality and delicious green peppers make your dish perfect!  

Then chop your onion finely,

Preparation of menemen is so simple but this dish is so delicious!

We generally use sunflower oil, but if you want you can use
Extra virgin olive oil or butter for this dish.

Heat the oil in a pan and add chopped onions and green peppers,

Cook onions and peppers until onions soft and transparent,
Then add your grated tomatoes into pan and stir.

Cook your tomatoes until they are soft,

Then add your spices (salt, red pepper flakes and ground pepper)
If you want, you can add them after the adding eggs.

Then add eggs into tomatoes and green peppers mixture
And stir until eggs cooked.

Serve hot!

Recipe for Turkish Menemen Dish!

Why not enjoy our Turkish breakfast at your home by giving our delicious Turkish menemen recipe a go. 

Here it is our menemen's recipe;

Very good family favourite;

Serve: 3 servings, Preparation Time: 10 minutes, Cooking Time: 20 minutes, Calories: 124 Kcal, Cuisine: Mediterranean & Anatolian Cuisines,

Ingredients:

• 3 Eggs,
• 2 Tablespoons sunflower oil, (or if you want you can use extra virgin olive oil, or butter),
• 1 Normal size onion, chopped finely,
• 3 small green peppers, removed seeds and chopped finely, 
• 3 tomatoes, peeled and grated (or diced),
• 1/2 Teaspoon salt to taste,
• 1/2 Teaspoon red pepper flakes and ground black pepper,

Preparation: 

1. First of all, put your all ingredients on your work surface. Then, heat the oil in a pan, and add your chopped onions and peppers and cook them until the onion is soft and transparent. 
2. Then, add your grated tomatoes and cover the pan with a lid and leave until the tomatoes are soft and cooked. 
3. Then, break the eggs into tomatoes and green pepper mixture (or break them into a separate bowl and whisk briefly). We mean that; add them to the pan with the cooked tomato mixture and stir. 
4. Then, add the salt, red pepper flakes and ground black pepper (or add any other spices, if you prefer it spicy - if you want, you can add red pepper flakes and ground black pepper before the adding eggs). 
5. Lastly, mix the eggs through the tomato and green pepper mixture until the eggs are cooked. 
6. Serve hot!

Enjoy! 

Turkish Omelette or Menemen!

Please let us know how this "Turkish Scrambled Eggs With Tomatoes & Vegetables - Menemen's Recipe" turns out for you in the comments. We are always so eager to hear from you.

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