Saturday, 6 December 2025

Winter Shakshuka : A Gluten Free, Vegetarian Recipe

Todays recipe suggestion is for a vegetarian winter shakshuka ... but what is Shakshuka and where did it come from?

Shakshuka is thought to be a North African and Middle Eastern dish made from poached eggs in a tomato, chilli and onion sauce, commonly garnished with cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper, nutmeg. Although the dish has existed in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions, it originated in North Africa, a typical Moroccan dish.

Shakshuka is prepared over low heat, starting with the vegetables and spices; once cooked, the eggs are added.

Give your shakshuka a festive glow-up by using seasonal vegetables. Butternut squash and kale are cooked in a harissa-spiced tomato sauce and topped with an egg - looking ahead it could be perfect for a Boxing Day brunch!


Ingredients
Serves Six
2 tbsp olive oil​
1 large red onion, roughly chopped
1 green pepper, roughly chopped
1 small butternut squash, about 700g, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
3 garlic cloves, crushed​
1 tbsp harissa paste
¼ tsp ground cumin
1 tsp smoked paprika​
2 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes
1 gluten-free vegetable stock cube
100g curly kale, stems removed
6 large eggs
2 tbsp chopped coriander or parsley

Instructions
1. Heat the oil in a large deep-sided frying pan that has a lid. Fry the red onion and butternut squash over high heat for 4-5 mins, until beginning to brown.
2. Reduce the heat and add the green pepper, garlic, harissa, cumin and smoked paprika. Cook for 2-3 mins until fragrant. Season well with salt and black pepper. Pour in the chopped tomatoes and crumble over the stock cube. Stir and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for 5-8 mins, or until the squash is almost tender.
3. Stir through the kale and cook for another 2 mins until wilted. Make 6 wells in the mixture and crack an egg into each one. Cover and cook for 10-12 mins until the whites have set on the top. Remove from the heat and sprinkle with the chopped herbs. Serve immediately.

Each Serving Contains
Carbohydrate 18.5g Fat 12g Protein 12.7g Fibre 2.7g
From idea seen here


~ hope your holiday/Christmas preparations are going well ~

There are a variety of recipes ideas within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e., use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health, it is always advisable to consult your doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan

27 comments:

  1. Lovely photos, Jan. I have never tried kale. Thanks for sharing this. 👍

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  2. I've seen Shakshuka before on cooking shows but have never made it. I think I need to try this.

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  3. I've seen dishes like this, but not only did I not know the name, but I've never tried it. And it does look delicious. Have a super weekend Jan.

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  4. I must get the ingredients for this, it looks delicious.
    Enjoy your weekend Jan.

    Tina

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  5. I've never made it, but I've seen it before, and it sure sounds good to me. I eat much more on the vegetarian side than I used to. I'll bookmark this one. Thanks! :)

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  6. My DH LOVES Shakshuka. I may have to give this one a try.

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  7. Don't you know it... I had a butternut in my hand at ALDI today. I put it back and now I wish I'd bought it. Next time.

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  8. looks delicious...a great list of ingredients!! i don't love kale but often substitute it with spinach!!

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  9. I like this meal. I don't make it often.
    Next time I will add kale.

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  10. A festive shakshuka like this brings winter’s warmth to the table

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  11. What a great recipe. We love Shakshuka. My husbands family has been making it for generations. One of our favorites.

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  12. I’ve had it once at a restaurant and it was very good.

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  13. ...this is something that I would enjoy.

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  14. Hi Jan,
    What a super delicious look.
    Thank you for sharing the recipe.
    I already have almost all my Christmas preparations completed 😊
    Hugs and all the best for you
    Maria

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  15. Delicious!
    yes, I have everything I need for Christmas. hugs Elke

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  16. I can feel the heat from here. What a warm delightful recipe. Thank you, Jan.

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  17. Looks delicious, though I've never heard the term 'shakshuka'!

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  18. Thank you for the recipe...and somehow, I just realized that I didn't make it by yesterday to read the information about the cough...cold...lemon/honey. Thank you so much for that because it's something that I've been dealing with over the last few days. I'm forwarding that information on to a friend who has also been battling it too.

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  19. I know this North Africa dish and its typical ingredients, like harissa paste
    and ground cumin. I had it at the Tunisian restaurant.
    Thanks for the reminder.

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  20. Hello Jan,
    What a wonderful meal. That looks so amazing and that must be very tasty.
    also looks nice and cozy served. Very nice!!

    Many greetings,
    Marco

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  21. Jan, it happens that sometimes we don't have all the ingredients to make the original recipe. For example, I prepare this dish with tomato sauce, onion, peppers, and seasonings to taste. Once these ingredients are cooked, I add the whole eggs so they can set there. If possible, consume with fiber-rich bread like whole grain bread: This type of bread is made with whole grain flours and is high in fiber, which helps regulate blood sugar levels. Fiber slows down the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates.

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  22. I love the sound of the word Shakshuka but I have not tried the meal.

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