Menemen with Sucuk and Feta

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Menemen, a popular Turkish breakfast dish, originated in the town of Menemen in Izmir.

Traditionally made with eggs, tomatoes, green peppers, and spices, variations of the dish tend to include onions, sausage (sucuk), and feta cheese.

Living in Germany has exposed me to a wide variety of Turkish cuisine - Germany is one of the countries with a large Turkish population. My relationship with menemen was love at first sight, or should I say love at first bite?

difference with shakshuka

I asked my Turkish friend this question and her answer was that I should think of them as sisters. While related, they are not exactly the same.

With Shakshuka, the eggs are gently poached in a tomato, bell pepper, and garlic mixture, then served while the yolks are still runny.

With menemen, the eggs are cooked and mixed with the vegetables until done, resembling scrambled eggs.

preparing sucuk for cooking

To prepare sucuk for cooking, you want to start by removing the casing that is normally around it. Proceed on to slice it into thin rounds or small cubes, which ensures it cooks evenly.

should I use fresh or diced tomatoes?

You can either use fresh or diced tomatoes - both are totally fine. Key is to use good quality tomatoes.

We like to use fresh tomatoes in the warm summer months, to make use of a bountiful tomato harvest and canned tomatoes during the colder months.

chef's tips

• This one seems obvious but it does have a great impact on the taste. Use good quality ingredients - from the sucuk to the vegetables, and even the spices, to ensure the best flavour.
• Use low to medium heat to cook the vegetables - this will enable them to soften and release their flavours.
• We don't want to overcook the eggs; key is to scramble them until they are cooked but still soft.

serve it

Serve your scrambled eggs immediately with:-

• Pide: Turkish flatbread that is perfect for dipping into the rich sauce of Menemen.
• Freshly baked bread.
• Freshly sliced tomato and onion salad.
• It pairs perfectly with our African flatbread.
• Turkish tea.

recipe adaptations

• I recommed incorporating hot peppers or using spicy chili flakes if you prefer your eggs spicy.
• Love meat? Add pastirma (Turkish cured beef), or even ground lamb for a heartier dish.

more recipes from around the world

• Tuzlu Kurabiye - Turkish cookies.
• German cinnamon roll cookies.
• Nigerian cassava fufu.
• Slow Cooker Mexican chicken and rice.
• Austrian shortcrust crescent cookies - Vanillekipferl.