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Menemen

Menemen is a traditional Turkish-style scrambled egg dish cooked with tomatoes, peppers, and spices. It has a soft, slightly creamy texture with vibrant, saucy ingredients that form a colorful and fragrant mixture. The dish is served directly from the pan, often garnished with herbs and spices for extra flavor.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 2
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Turkish
Calories: 300
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pieces eggs preferably large fresh eggs
  • 2 medium tomatoes finely chopped or diced
  • 1 large bell pepper seeded and diced (red or green)
  • 1 small onion finely chopped (optional)
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon cumin ground
  • 1 teaspoon sumac optional, for garnish
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or neutral cooking oil
  • to taste salt
  • to taste black pepper
  • fresh parsley for garnish chopped optional

Equipment

  • Skillet or shallow frying pan
  • Wooden spoon or spatula

Method
 

  1. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat until shimmering.
  2. Add the chopped onion and diced peppers to the pan. Sauté until they soften and start to caramelize slightly, about 5 minutes, with aromatic smells filling the air.
  3. Add the minced garlic and ground cumin, cooking just until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir continuously to prevent burning.
  4. Stir in the chopped tomatoes, cooking until they break down and create a saucy mixture, about 7-8 minutes. The sauce should thicken slightly and become vibrant red.
  5. Make small wells in the sauce and carefully crack the eggs into each one. Reduce heat to low and cover the pan briefly, allowing the eggs to gently cook until whites are set but yolks remain runny, about 3-4 minutes.
  6. Remove the pan from heat and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Sprinkle with sumac and chopped parsley if desired.
  7. Serve immediately directly from the pan, with crusty bread or pita on the side for dipping and scooping.