Make This Middle Eastern Twist on Chilaquiles

Plate of shakaquiles, topped with cilantro and feta cheese

By Allegra Ben-Amotz

This dish marries the vibrant flavors of Mexican chilaquiles with the savory goodness of Middle Eastern shakshuka, delivering a mouthwatering blend of tastes and textures. Starting with sautéed onions and bell peppers in olive oil, we infuse them with smoked paprika, cumin, and Aleppo pepper for a flavorful base. Hand-crushed tomatoes simmer into a velvet sauce, complementing perfectly poached eggs. Served atop crispy corn tortilla chips and topped with crumbled feta, parsley, and cilantro, each bite offers a mix of crunch, creaminess, and freshness. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dinner.

Shakaquiles

Shakaquiles

Servings

3-6

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil - plus more to garnish

  • 1 onion, diced

  • 1 red bell pepper, diced

  • 1 ½ tsp smoked paprika

  • ½ tsp Aleppo pepper

  • 1 tsp cumin

  • 4 cloves garlic - finely chopped

  • 2-3 tablespoons tomato paste

  • 1 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed by hand

  • 6 eggs

  • Corn tortilla chips

  • Crumbled feta or queso fresco

  • Chopped parsley and cilantro

Directions

  1. Heat up a large pan with 3 tablespoons olive oil. Add in the chopped bell pepper and onion and season with kosher salt and cracked black pepper. Sauté until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes on medium low.

  2. Add in the garlic, paprika, cumin, cayenne and tomato paste. Sauté for another couple of minutes. Add in the hand-crushed tomatoes and season well with salt and cracked black pepper. Cover with a lid on medium low heat to let it cook down and turn into a sauce for around 15-20 minutes, stirring regularly so it doesn’t stick to the bottom.

  3. Once it turns into a sauce, uncover and turn up the heat to let it reduce and thicken a bit. Taste for seasoning.

  4. Make 6 wells in the sauce and add your eggs. Season the eggs a bit with salt and pepper (if you’re using cheese, you could add here or at the end). Cover with a lid and turn the heat up to medium high. Cook covered until the egg whites are no longer clear (3-5 minutes, depending on how runny you like your eggs)

  5. Plate a bowl of tortilla chips and scoop a generous amount of sauce with one or two eggs each on top.

  6. Garnish with parsley, cilantro, and feta.

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