Foolproof Shakshuka

Foolproof Shakshuka - A classic Middle Eastern dish where poached eggs are nestled in a hearty, spiced tomato sauce. This simple one-pan meal can be made for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner! 

Shakshuka - such a fun word! If you have never heard of it, shakshuka comes from Arabic, meaning, “a haphazard mixture” or “all mixed up.” This delicious Middle Eastern dish is “mixed up” with sauteed vegetables, spices, tomatoes, and poached eggs. 

To make this foolproof, you only need a skillet for this recipe. You start by sauteing vegetables and/or breakfast sausage in the skillet, throw in some spices to toast, then add in tomatoes for the flavors to meld. Simmer the mixture to allow the flavors to build as well as to allow excess liquid to evaporate. 

You then create little pockets in the stew, crack a few eggs directly into the mixture, and then place the skillet in the oven. Garnish with fresh herbs, cheese, red pepper flakes and serve it hot with flatbread or crusty bread. That easy! 

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with! 

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Ingredients

• 4 eggs

• 1 medium zucchini (cubed)

• 1 lb brussels sprouts (shaved)

• ½ cup cherry tomatoes (halved)

• ½ red onion (diced)

• 2 cloves garlic (minced)

• 1 package (12 oz) breakfast turkey sausage 

• 1 can 28 oz fire-roasted crushed tomatoes

• ½ cup crumbled feta or vegan feta

• ½ tsp smoked paprika

• ½ tsp cumin

• Dashes of red pepper flakes (omit if sensitive to spice)

• Salt and pepper to season

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. 

2. In a large oven-safe skillet, cook breakfast sausage over medium heat. When the sausage is finished cooking, drain the oil from the sausage and set to the side. 

3. If the skillet has about a tablespoon of oil leftover from the sausage, leave in the skillet; otherwise, add about a tablespoon of oil to the skillet. Once the pan is warm again (continue cooking on medium heat), add onion and garlic and saute until onions are translucent, about 4 minutes. 

4. Add zucchini, brussels sprouts, and cherry tomatoes. Continue cooking, stirring often until the vegetables are cooked, about 4-6 minutes. Add smoked paprika, cumin, S&P, and red pepper flakes. 

5. Pour in the crushed tomatoes with their juices and the cooked sausage. Stir, and let the mixture come to a simmer. Reduce the heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer, and cook for 5 minutes to give the flavors time to meld.

6. Turn off the heat. Taste (careful - hot!), and add salt, pepper, or additional spices as necessary. Use the back of a spoon to make a well near the perimeter and crack the egg directly into it. Gently spoon a bit of the tomato mixture over the whites to help contain the egg. Repeat with the remaining 4-5 eggs, depending on how many you can fit in the skillet. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the eggs. 

7. Carefully transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 8-12 minutes, checking often once you reach 8 minutes. You know when the eggs are done when the egg whites are an opaque white and the yolks have risen a bit but are still soft. They should still jiggle in the centers when you “shimmy” the pan. (Keep in mind, the eggs will continue to cook after you pull the dish out of the oven.)

8. Transfer the hot skillet to a heat-safe surface like the stove. Top with crumbled feta, fresh cilantro/basil leaves, and more red pepper flakes, if desired. Serve in bowls with crusty bread on the side or on its own. 

Notes 

I like using these turkey sausage brands. Applegate and The Great American Turkey Co.

Creamy Tomato Pesto Soup

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup - The creamiest, richest soup you have ever had that’s dairy-free! 

During the colder months, my mother would make homemade creamy tomato soup with grilled cheese. I’m not much of a soup person, but it was MY FAVORITE! Ever since then, I still drool dream about it to this day! What takes her soup above the rest is love (obviously), fresh herbs, and heavy cream. Well since heavy cream is a no go for this gut, I made a few changes to the recipe. 

It’s a very simple recipe, actually. If you are crunched for time and need to have soup asap, (because, don’t we all?) then you will only need five ingredients to make this soup. But, if you really want to make your mom’s old recipe jealous, whip up a quick pesto drizzle as a garnish. Dipping your dairy-free/gluten-free grilled cheese in that winning combination will not disappoint your taste buds, trust me.

For this recipe, if you are wanting a smooth, “bisque” texture, I would recommend getting a blender or immersion blender. Now, onto the recipe! 

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with! 

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Creamy Tomato Basil Soup - The creamiest, richest soup you have ever had that’s dairy-free! 

Makes 4-6 servings

Ingredients: 

• 1 white onion (sliced)

• 4 cloves garlic (smashed)

• 1 Tbsp grass fed butter (or ghee, coconut oil)

• 5-8 sprigs fresh oregano (strip leaves from the stem)

• 1 can (28 oz) fire roasted organic crushed tomatoes 

• 1 can lite coconut milk unsweetened

Pesto drizzle

• 1 bunch (.75 oz package) fresh basil

•  ¼ cup oil

• 4 cloves garlic

• 1 Tbsp feta (or DF cheese)

Directions: 

1. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and saute until translucent. Add can of tomatoes, oregano, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes or until slightly thickened. 

2. To make the pesto drizzle, add basil, garlic, and feta to a processor. While the processor is on low, pour the oil through the feed tube gradually. Scrape down the sides and add more oil if necessary. Season to taste with salt and pepper and transfer to a small bowl. If you do not have a processor, finely chop ingredients and combine in a small bowl.

3. Transfer tomato mixture to a blender and process until smooth (remember, mixture is hot!). Alternatively, use an immersion blender, process until smooth.  

4. With soup over low heat, add coconut milk. Season to taste with sea salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. 

When ready to serve, drizzle pesto and/or additional coconut milk and serve! 

Notes: 

• I love using this brand for organic canned tomatoes.