Lentil Shakshuka Recipe - Savory Spin (2024)

FAQs

Do you need to cook canned lentils? ›

Canned lentils are already cooked. Just rinse well and they are ready to use. For dried lentils, lay flat on a cookie sheet and pick out any stones. Then rinse and simmer in low-sodium broth or water for 20-30 minutes, until tender.

Connoisseurs insist shakshuka should be eaten from the pan. Why is hard to discern, and, obviously, it's impractical if serving a group. Instead, use bowls with curved sides – rather than diagonally sloping – to facilitate an easy circular sweep with the bread.

While it seems like an unnecessary step, don't skip rinsing your lentils and sifting through them before cooking to remove any stones or debris. It is rare to find stones, but it does happen.

The Shakshuka makes a perfect everyday meal but can also be served for a savory breakfast or for brunch. Also, when tomatoes are in season, I recommend you use large fresh ripe tomatoes instead of canned ones, it will be even tastier.

A side salad of cucumbers, tomatoes, lemon juice, and oil (non-olive) with salt/ pepper/ sumac might be good to contrast with the shakshuka. Turkish breakfast often has a special sausage on the side.

In Tunisia, the eggs are poached in a spicy tomato sauce; in Egypt, the eggs are scrambled and often sold in sandwiches on the street; and in other parts of the Middle East, no one version is more prevalent: “The eggs can be firm or "luzzy", the sauce can be thick or thin, the vegetables can vary, and the dish can be ...

According to Joan Nathan, shakshouka originated in Ottoman North Africa in the mid-16th century after tomatoes were introduced to the region by Hernán Cortés as part of the Columbian exchange. Shakshouka is a popular dish throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

After breaking the eggs into the sauce, gently spoon some of the sauce over just the whites. This helps the whites cook faster so they set before the yolks overcook. Cover and rotate. Covering the skillet allows the eggs to steam-cook, which moves things along.

Sprinkle a little salt and pepper over the eggs. Carefully transfer the skillet to the oven (it's heavy) and bake for 8 to 12 minutes, checking often once you reach 8 minutes. They're done when the egg whites are an opaque white and the yolks have risen a bit but are still soft.

If you have a few root vegetables hanging out in your fridge, those are also great with lentils, like in this warm lentil and root vegetable salad with parsnips and carrots. Lentils are particularly nice with cheese, as in this grilled halloumi and lentil salad.

What happens if you don't soak lentils before cooking? ›

Why Should You Soak Lentils? Certain pulses have a natural drive of causing gas and bloating in the body. Soaking mimics the natural germination process and changes the seed that is dormant and indigestible into the dal laden with nutrients and complete digestibility.

Grains Grains, such as rice, oats, wheat, rye and corn, can act as complementary proteins for legumes such as lentils. They contain the cysteine and methionine that lentils lack, and lentils provide the lysine that grains do not contain enough of.

That being said, if you enjoy the taste and texture of cooked lentils, there's nothing wrong with eating them straight out of the can. Just make sure to drain and rinse them first, as canned lentils can be quite salty and may contain additives.

Whole lentils straight out of the can are a fantastic addition to salads, soups, and chili, says Cooking Channel. Oven-roasted lentils make a great and flavorful snack for you and your family, via My Plantiful Cooking.

Unlike dried lentils, which require soaking and extended cooking times, canned lentils just need to be drained, and they're ready to use straight out of the can. This makes them a boon for anyone seeking a quick and nutritious addition to their meals.

Canned or dry, what is the best choice for me? Both are great options depending on the time you have to spend in the kitchen! Dry lentils require you to cook them yourself while canned lentils cuts meal prep time as they are already pre-cooked.