Equipment
Ingredients
Base
- 30 ml olive oil, extra virgin
- 15 g unsalted butter, room temperature
- 100 g turkish sivri biber, finely chopped
- 300 g ripe tomatoes, peeled and finely diced
Eggs and Seasoning
- 4 eggs, whole
- 3 g salt
- 1 g black pepper, freshly ground
- 2 g aleppo pepper, divided
Nutrition (per serving)
Method
Place a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and butter. Once the butter is melted and foaming, add the chopped peppers and saute until softened and slightly blistered, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the diced tomatoes, salt, black pepper, and half of the Aleppo pepper. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the tomatoes break down and the juices thicken into a rich sauce, about 10 minutes.
Crack the eggs directly over the simmering tomato mixture. Using a wooden spoon, gently break the yolks and swirl them into the sauce in a loose figure-eight motion. Do not over-mix; the egg whites and yolks should remain distinct.
Allow the eggs to cook undisturbed for 1 to 2 minutes until just barely set. The residual heat will continue to cook them, so remove from heat while they still look slightly runny and glossy. For vulnerable populations, ensure eggs reach an internal temperature of 74°C/165°F or use pasteurized eggs.
Sprinkle the remaining Aleppo pepper over the top. Serve immediately straight from the skillet alongside fresh crusty bread.
Chef's Notes
- The debate over adding onions to menemen is famous in Turkey. Generally, classic breakfast menemen omits onions, while dinner menemen includes them. Feel free to add 50g of finely diced yellow onion with the peppers if you prefer the sweeter dinner style.
- For the best texture, peel your tomatoes before dicing. Score a shallow X on the bottom of the tomatoes, blanch them in boiling water for 30 seconds, then transfer to an ice bath for effortless peeling.
- Sivri biber are traditional Turkish sweet green peppers. If unavailable, Cubanelle or Anaheim peppers make excellent substitutes as they share a similarly thin skin and mild flavor profile.
- The key to perfect menemen is the swirl. Avoid vigorously scrambling the eggs into the pan; gently breaking the yolks and folding them through the hot tomato base ensures luxurious, distinct ribbons of egg rather than an orange mush.
Storage
Refrigerator: 2 days — Store in an airtight container. Texture of eggs will degrade upon reheating.
Reheating: Gently warm in a skillet over low heat until just heated through. Microwaving is not recommended as it will overcook the eggs.
