Chakchouka
This Tunisian dish builds tomatoes, olive oil and onion into an easy meal you can have ready in about 70 minutes. You'll find the full ingredient list (with a scaler to change the servings), 9 steps of method, substitutions, and ideas for what to serve alongside.
You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and pan. At medium difficulty across 9 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
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Pantry staples (you likely have these)
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How to make it
- In a large cast iron skillet or sauté pan with a lid, heat oil over medium high heat.
- Add the onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes, until softened.
- Add the peppers and garlic, and sauté for an additional 3-5 minutes.
- Add the tomatoes, cumin, paprika, salt, and chili powder.
- Mix well and bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Reduce the heat to medium low and continue to simmer, uncovered, 10-15 minutes until the mixture has thickened to your desired consistency. (Taste the sauce at this point and adjust for salt and spice, as desired.) Using the back of a spoon, make four craters in the mixture, large enough to hold an egg.
- Crack one egg into each of the craters.
- Cover the skillet and simmer for 5-7 minutes, until the eggs have set.
- Serve immediately with crusty bread or pita.
You'll use: Frying pan / skillet · Pan · Saucepan
Watch how it's made
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Ingredient substitutions
- Eggs
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce (baking) · 1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water per egg
What to serve with Chakchouka
- Tunisian Orange Cake Dessert
- Kafteji Vegetarian
- Tunisian Lamb Soup Lamb
- Leblebi Soup Vegetarian
Tips & common questions
How long does Chakchouka take to make?
About 70 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 9 steps and 11 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of eggs?
Try ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce (baking). See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Chakchouka vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Recipe data for Chakchouka via TheMealDB (open database). ▶ Video. Original source. Consomee adds the scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.