This dish is a Sephardi favorite. No Middle Eastern restaurant menu is complete without it, though Hungarians also delight in this dish with the addition of lots of paprika. Leshakshek means "to shake" in Hebrew. Every cook from North Africa has his or her own personal version of this egg and tomato dish. Whatever vegetable is used, it must be fresh, not canned.
Ingredients
1 large onion, finely chopped
oil for frying
6 medium tomatoes, grated on largest holes of a grater
4 eggs
salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- In a large frying pan, sauté onion until lightly browned.
- Add tomatoes to the sautéed onions, cover and cook over low heat for 25 minutes.
- Remove cover and break eggs over the surface. Stir gently to break yolks, cover and cook for about 3 or 4 minutes until eggs are set.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Variations: One minced garlic clove may be added to the onion, or 3 to 4 slices of red pimento may be sautéed with the onion.