Shakshouka is North African dish made with eggs poached in a flavorful sauce of tomatoes, peppers, onions, and spiced with cumin. This version crosses over to the other side of the Mediterranean Sea to give the recipe an Italian twist. Along with perfectly poached eggs, marinated ciliegine gently melt into the warm tomato sauce. It is served with mouthwatering toasted crostini to sop up every last bite.
Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese is a family-owned and operated cheese company located in Waterloo, Wisconsin. Established in 2002, the farmstead is dedicated to producing high-quality artisan cheeses. The Crave family’s commitment to sustainable practices is evident in their operations, including the production of renewable energy using their on-site anaerobic methane digesters. They use milk from their own herd of cows, ensuring fresh, high-quality ingredients for their award-winning cheeses. Taste the farmstead, fresh milk difference! Discover more at cravecheese.com
Italian-Style Shakshouka with Crave Brothers Farmstead Marinated Mozzarella
Ingredients
Italian Shakshouka
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2/3 cup chopped jarred roasted red peppers
- 1 can 28 ounces diced tomatoes
- 6 eggs
- 1 container 8 ounces Crave Brothers Fresh Mozzarella Cheese Marinated Ciliegine
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Marinated Crostini
- Crusty Italian bread
- 1/4 cup reserved marinade from Crave Brothers Fresh Mozzarella Cheese Marinated Ciliegine
Instructions
For the Shakshuka
- Pre-heat oven to 400˚ F.
- In a large ovenproof skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion,cook until softened, about 5 to 8 minutes.
- Add tomato paste and cook until it darkens slightly, about 2 minutes.
- Stir in cumin, garlic, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes; cook for about 30 seconds.
- Add roasted red peppers and tomatoes with juice. Simmer about 2 minutes. If necessary, season with sea salt, to taste.
- Using the back of a spoon, make 6 indentations in the tomato sauce and crack 1 egg into each well.
- Then, place marinated ciliegine cheese throughout the tomato sauce. (Reserve remaining marinade for crostini.)
- Transfer the pan into the oven; bake until egg whites are set but the yolks are still soft, about 8 minutes. The mozzarella will just begin to melt.
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley and a few turns of freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately with prepared crostini.
For the Marinated Crostini
- Slice Italian bread into 1/2-inch slices. Lightly brush both sides with the reserved marinade from a container of marinated ciliegine cheese.
- Bake until lightly browned on both sides, about 8-10 minutes. Crostini can be prepared in advance and set aside until ready to serve with Italian Shakshouka.
Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese
All of Crave Brothers' Farmstead Classics are made with farm fresh milk and produced with renewable energy! Crave Brothers makes Fresh Mozzarella, sweet cream Mascarpone, Chocolate Mascarpone, fresh Cheddar Cheese Curds, Farmers Rope String Cheese and other varieties of Mozzarella! Find it in a store near you, or order off online and have fresh product shipped directly to you!
