What are eggs in purgatory?
Eggs are a staple in a classic American breakfast, but you can take this plain dish to the next level by making ‘eggs in purgatory (also called Italian shakshuka). This Italian dish consists of poached eggs cooked in a spicy tomato sauce, and it is often topped with cheese and served with buttered toast. If that doesn’t sound like a delicious breakfast, we don’t know what does. Here are our favorite eggs in purgatory recipes that you should try.
1. Quick Eggs in Purgatory (Italian Shakshuka)
You will need olive oil, minced garlic, onion, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, eggs, and parmesan to make this recipe. The spices it calls for include red pepper flakes, curry powder, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Begin by sautéing the garlic and onions, then add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and seasonings and stir to combine.
Allow your tomatoes to come to a boil, then quickly turn down the heat to let the sauce thicken. Use a wooden spoon to create indentations in the sauce and crack an egg into each indentation to finish it off. Cover your pan with a lid to let the egg whites cook through; it should only take a few minutes. Lastly, sprinkle freshly grated parmesan on top along with fresh parsley and serve with buttered toast.
Get the full recipe and directions here.
2. Creamy Italian Eggs in Purgatory with Shallow-Fried Mozzarella Bread
These eggs in purgatory take an hour to cook, but it is well worth the effort. The addition of cannellini beans and yogurt provides a creamy flavor profile to the sauce. Consider making a larger batch of the creamy tomato sauce so you can save some leftovers in the fridge. That way, you can warm up some of the sauce throughout the week and make an individual portion of eggs in purgatory for breakfast.
This hearty meal also calls for crusty Italian bread, but challah bread is another option for dipping into these eggs in purgatory. Cut your loaf into one-inch slices and toast them in olive oil and melted butter on the stove. After a couple of minutes, flip the toast over and add mozzarella cheese on top. Cover the pan and let the toast continue to cook until the cheese melts. Your guests will be raving about this at your next Sunday brunch; it’s an absolute keeper.
Get the full recipe and directions here.
3. Yotam Ottolenghi’s Shakshuka
Who is Yotam Ottolegnhi you ask? He is a restauranteur and renowned cookbook author in London. His cuisine of choice is Middle Eastern, as you can tell from this shakshuka recipe.
One unique ingredient it calls for is harissa, a chili pepper paste that packs a ton of flavor and spice. Another thing you will need is labneh, which is a thick yogurt comparable to Greek yogurt. This breakfast dish is so comforting and rich. Rest assured, you will be quite satisfied after eating this version of eggs in purgatory.
Get the full recipe and directions here.
4. Turkish Eggs in Purgatory with Chile Butter and Feta
Look no further for a savory breakfast fit for royalty. This flavorful dish takes no more than 30 minutes to prepare, making it an excellent recipe for families of all sizes. The main thing that sets this meal apart is the homemade chile sesame butter.
Melt salted butter and whisk in crushed red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, sesame seeds. Let the butter brown for a few minutes and set it aside. Cook the homemade tomato sauce as usual and make divots with the back of a spoon to cook the eggs in the pan. To finish it off, add crumbled feta cheese, fresh lemon juice, and a generous amount of melted chile butter over each egg right before serving.
We can’t stop thinking about this mouthwatering dish; it is certainly a winner in our book.
Get the full recipe and directions here.
5. Mexican Green Eggs in Purgatory
If you’re in the mood for Mexican flavors, you can’t go wrong with this recipe. You’ll be using green tomatillos instead of traditional red tomatoes in this version of eggs in purgatory. The other ingredients you will need include fresh cilantro, scallions, jalapeno peppers, chicken broth, bacon, minced garlic, Cojita cheese, and eggs. You are welcome to serve this on warm corn tortillas if you like.
Begin by blending the tomatillos, peppers, cilantro, scallions, and chicken broth to make a puree. Next, cook some bacon in a large oven-safe skillet until they are crispy, and add the minced garlic. Let the garlic cook for about 30 seconds and pour in your tomatillo puree. Continue cooking the green sauce for 15 minutes to let it thicken. Create divots with the back of a spoon, crack eggs into them, and sprinkle some cheese on top. Broil your dish for a few minutes to cook the egg whites.
Get the full recipe and directions here.
6. Mediterranean Eggs in Purgatory with Potatoes
Talk about hearty; this Mediterranean-inspired dish is sure to keep you full until lunchtime. If you have a mandolin, it will come in handy here. Start by slicing Yukon gold potatoes into ⅛ inch slices. Lay the potato slices in the bottom of a large pan and brown them on both sides.
Next, move the potatoes to the outer edge of the pan and sauté minced garlic and anchovies in the middle before adding diced tomatoes, water, red pepper flakes, and fresh oregano. Let this mixture come to a boil and lower the heat. There are a few more steps to this recipe. Be sure to click the link to learn how to make sumac breadcrumbs and sizzled herbs to complete this culinary masterpiece.
Get the full recipe and directions here.
7. Vegan Tofu Eggs in Purgatory
We didn’t want to leave out our vegan friends, so here is a recipe we hope you’ll enjoy. The “egg whites” are made with tofu, water, salt, corn starch, and Indian sulfur black salt (kala namak). Reserve about ⅓ of the tofu mixture and add turmeric, paprika, corn starch, and kala namak to make it into an egg yolk.
A unique ingredient you will need for this spicy tomato sauce is nutritional yeast, but the rest of the ingredients are pretty standard. The author recommends adding canned chickpeas if you want to boost the protein content of this dish. Even though this is anything but traditional eggs in purgatory, it is a great vegan-friendly alternative.
Get the full recipe and directions here.
We hope you enjoyed our list of the best eggs in purgatory recipes. Eggs in purgatory is a classic Italian meal that may just end up being one of your favorite things to make for breakfast in the coming weeks. Feel free to share your favorite version of this dish in the comments section.
If you like this post, we think you’ll really like our Roasted Tomatoes and Olive Oil Ricotta Toast recipe post.
