Turkish breakfast is an experience in itself, and menemen is one of its stars.
Made primarily from eggs, tomatoes and green peppers, menemen transforms a handful of everyday ingredients into a colourful dish designed to be shared straight from the pan.
Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- 3 ripe tomatoes
- 2 Turkish green peppers or mild green chillies
- 1 small onion, optional
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp pul biber
- Salt and black pepper
- Fresh parsley, optional
How to Make Menemen
- Finely slice the peppers and gently fry them in the butter and olive oil. If you're using onion, add it first and cook until soft.
- Add the chopped tomatoes and cook until they break down into a rich sauce.
- Crack the eggs directly into the pan. Stir gently so that some of the egg mixes with the tomato while larger pieces remain visible.
- Cook until just set rather than allowing the eggs to become dry.
- Season with salt, pepper and pul biber.
The Best Way to Eat Menemen
Forget the knife and fork for a moment. Place the pan in the centre of the table and use chunks of fresh bread to scoop up the eggs and tomato.
Add Turkish tea, cheese, olives, cucumber and bread and you have the beginnings of a proper Turkish breakfast.
