Menemen Recipe: Easy Turkish Egg Scramble
Menemen is a Turkish egg dish made with tomatoes, green peppers, and soft eggs.Cook the vegetables first, then gently stir in the eggs until just set.Serve hot with crusty bread, feta, or fresh herbs.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small white onion finely diced
- 1 large green bell pepper diced
- 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes with juices
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper
- Fine sea salt to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- 3 –4 eggs
- Sliced chives or chopped parsley optional
- Crumbled feta optional
- Sliced avocado optional
- Crusty bread for serving
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat.
- Add the diced onion and green pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have softened.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the diced tomatoes with their juices, butter, Aleppo pepper, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Stir everything together and cook for another 2–3 minutes, allowing the tomatoes to become hot and slightly saucy.
- Crack the eggs directly over the tomato mixture. Leave them undisturbed for about 1 minute.
- Gently break the yolks with a spoon or spatula and partially stir the eggs through the tomatoes and peppers. Avoid vigorously scrambling them; leaving visible swirls of egg gives this Menemen Recipe its characteristic soft texture.
- Continue cooking for approximately 2–3 minutes, or until the eggs are just set but still soft and creamy. Cook a little longer if you prefer firmer eggs.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and add your preferred garnishes. Serve immediately with warm crusty bread.
Notes
For a more traditional variation, you can leave out the onion. Menemen recipes vary by household and region, and whether onion belongs in the dish is a well-known matter of personal preference.
Fresh tomatoes can replace canned tomatoes. Use approximately 2–3 large ripe tomatoes, finely chopped, and cook them until they soften into a chunky sauce.
Crumbled feta adds a salty, creamy finish, while parsley or chives provide freshness. Sliced avocado can also be served alongside the eggs.
For the best experience, serve these eggs with tomatoes and peppers immediately while they are still warm and creamy. Crusty bread, flatbread, or warm pita makes an excellent accompaniment.