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An easy skillet meal: Shakshuka with feta and Israeli couscous, recipe from Molly On The Range.

Shakshuka with feta recipe with couscous by Molly Yeh

Today, weโ€™re going to talk about something veryย cute, very small and very lovely. Are you ready?

Of course you are!

Recipe for Shakshouka from Molly Yeh's book

Her name is Molly Yeh (pronounced YAY!), and when I first laid eyes on her new book, I snatched it up.

Mollyโ€™s book is my top pick for holiday gift giving this year. Her book has recipes that showcase the lovely mix of her Asian and Jewish roots (plus her husbandโ€™s Scandinavian influence) with a fair dose of her personal food obsessions thrown in (think:ย tahini, marzipan, and so many eggs!).

Itโ€™s the type of book that draws you in because of the story telling.ย She gives you directions on how to โ€˜bahn miโ€™ anything, how to get macaroni and cheese on your table the fastest, and 6 ways to harass a batch of challah dough into something incredible.

Iโ€™ve made so many things from this book: her Mumโ€™s matzoh brei, her ex-boyfriendโ€™s meatless meatballs, authenticย hummus (serve it warm and stick your whole face in it), chicken paprikash, and now this fun twist on Shakshuka with feta.

She addsย big pearls of Israeli couscous to this shakshuka with feta so itโ€™s more of a substantial meal. And itโ€™s exactly the type of thing Iโ€™ve made no less than 3 times in 3 weeks, because it comes together with everything you already have on-hand. And the babe loves it, too! (Iโ€™m starting to worry that Camille doesnโ€™t have spice receptors in her taste budsโ€ฆthatโ€™s how much she loves harissa!)

Recipe notes for shakshuka with feta:

The sauce is forgiving. Stir it together in 15 minutes with a quick saute, or leave it on the stove for 2+ hours. If you canโ€™t locate Israeli couscous (itโ€™s the big pearlsโ€“see the video at the end for reference), use small pasta like ditalini.

Harissa is a lovely spice paste thatย wants to be inย your pantry. I noticed that Trader Joeโ€™s started carrying itโ€“hooray! Grab a tube (it keeps for a while), and youโ€™ll be squeezing it into everythingโ€“scrambled eggs, roasted potatoes, steamed rice, your coffee. Wait, donโ€™t stir it into your coffeeโ€“use Mollyโ€™s Hawaij spice mix instead (itโ€™s like pumpkin spice swamย in a bowl of cardamomโ€ฆand thusย becameย approximately 100 times better).

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Shakshuka with feta steps:

Shakshuka with Couscous
Eggs in Purgatory with couscous
Eggs Poached in a Spicy Tomato Sauce
Poached Eggs in Spicy Tomato Sauce

If youโ€™ve never heard of Shakshuka with feta, you might know it by its other name: Eggs in Purgatory. Itโ€™s a spicy tomato sauce for poaching eggs, and itโ€™s usually served with bread. Mollyโ€™s recipe has a bit more spice and swaps the bread for couscous. Much improved, if you ask me.

Hereโ€™s a little step-by-step stop motion vignette for ya:

ย 

Other dinners for two with pasta for you.

Yield: 2 servings

Shakshuka

Shakshuka recipe with couscous by Molly Yeh

Shakshuka with Israeli couscous by Molly Yeh.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 a medium onion
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon harissa (to taste)
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon tomato pasta
  • 14-ounce can chopped tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons Israeli couscous
  • 1/4 cup vegetable broth
  • 3 large eggs
  • feta cheese, for serving
  • fresh parsley, for serving

Instructions

  1. In a small 8" skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
  2. Add the chopped onion, a pinch of salt, and cook, stirring, until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
  3. Next, add the garlic, cumin, harissa, smoked paprika, crushed red pepper flakes another pinch of salt, a few turns of black pepper, and stir, Cook for 1 minute, while stirring occasionally.
  4. Add the tomato paste and canned tomatoes (with juice). Stir everything to combine it well, and either simmer it for 15 minutes on medium, or turn the heat to low and let cook for up to 2 hours. Your choice.
  5. When ready to serve, crank the heat to high, stir in the couscous and broth, cover and cook for about 15 minutes, until the couscous is done.
  6. Create 3 little wells to add the eggs. Cook for about 8 minutes, until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny. If you like a more well-done egg, baste the eggs with the tomato sauce around it.
  7. Scatter feta and parsley on top, and serve.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 442Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 292mgSodium: 373mgCarbohydrates: 36gFiber: 5gSugar: 8gProtein: 18g

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About Christina Lane

Christina Lane is the author of 5 cookbooks all about cooking and baking for two. She has scaled down hundreds of recipes into smaller servings so you can enjoy your favorite dishes without the leftovers! Valentine's Day is her favorite holiday.

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21 Comments

  1. Alexandra Foley says:

    Any tips on making it enough for 6? I could use a cast iron pot/dutch oven and just triple everything. What do you think?

    1. Christina Lane says:

      Sure, try that. Iโ€™m not exactly sure if it will work, but it might! I only test the recipes for two :)

  2. Brgordon says:

    Why three eggs for two? I think I will put in four. The Husband said he would like to try this sometime and here is my favorite cook for two, I have all three books, with a recipe!