This menemen recipe makes the best Turkish style scrambled eggs with peppers, tomatoes, and seasonings, the perfect breakfast or anytime meal, easy to make!
Turkish Scrambled Eggs - Menemen
If you've ever enjoyed Shakshuka, I think you'll also enjoy this Turkish recipe that brings your scrambled eggs to a whole new level.
We're talking Menemen, and it will add a bit of rock and roll to your breakfast. Or dinner!
What is Menemen?
Menemen is a traditional Turkish dish that includes eggs, peppers, tomatoes and spices that are all cooked down in a pan with oil. It is sometimes called the "Turkish Omelet". Like Shakshuka or similar egg dishes, you can serve it as a Turkish breakfast, but it can be and is often served as the main course.
Menemen is different from shakshuka in how the eggs are cooked. With shakshuka, you crack the eggs into the sauce and let them set that way. With memenem, the eggs are scrambled.
It is usually served with some crusty bread for sopping up all the pan sauce, and I highly recommend doing so. You don't want any of that awesomeness going to waste.
Let's talk about how to make Menemen, shall we?
Menemen Ingredients
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Memenen is traditionally made with olive oil, but use butter or ghee for more luxurious eggs.
- Onion. Optional. The use of onion is debated in more traditional menemen, but I enjoy the added flavor.
- Peppers. Use Aleppo or Urfa Biber if you can find them, or use red or green bell peppers for a more common variety. I also like to add in some spicier chilies for a bit of heat factor for myself.
- Chili Flakes. Aleppo chili flakes are preferred, but paprika or cayenne are good subs.
- Garlic.
- Tomatoes. Use grated or chopped tomatoes with their juices.
- Eggs.
- Shredded Cheese. You can make menenem without cheese, but the addition of a good melty cheese like mozzarella or Monterrey jack makes this more like a great cheese omelet.
- Salt and Black Pepper. To taste.
- For Serving. Crusty bread or small tortillas, spicy chili flakes, crumbly feta cheese or queso fresco, fresh chopped herbs (parsley, basil, or chives).
How to Make Menemen - The Recipe Method
Heat the Oil or Butter. First, heat up a large pan to medium heat and add in your olive oil (or butter).
Onions and Peppers. Add the onion and peppers and cook them down about 5 minutes, until everything is nice and softened.
From my understanding, there is debate on whether or not to include onion with traditional Menemen, so feel free to omit them. I included them because I love the flavor.
Garlic. Next, add the garlic and chili flakes and cook another minute until you can smell the gorgeous garlic. So good.
Tomatoes and Seasonings. Add in your tomatoes, season with salt and pepper and stir them up. Cover and cook them down until the tomatoes soften and lose some of their juices.
Don’t let the pan dry out. About 10 minutes or so.
Add Cheese. Sprinkle in half of the shredded cheese.
Add the Eggs. Next, beat the eggs in a bowl very lightly, then pour them into the pan with the pepper and tomato sauce.
Tilt the pan a bit to let the egg mixture drip into the many nooks and crannies of your tomato mixture. Do not mix it through.
Add More Cheese. Top with the remaining shredded cheese.
Cover and Cook. Cover the pan and cook the eggs for several minutes at medium low heat, or until the eggs are starting to set. Remove from heat and let the eggs finish cooking in the warm sauce, a few minutes more. If you prefer your eggs more set, just cook them longer as desired.
Garnish and Serve. Sprinkle with fresh herbs, crumbly feta cheese and spicy red pepper flakes. Serve with warmed bread or tortillas.
Boom! Done! Looks great, doesn't it? Grab a fork! Go to town!
Recipe Notes & Tips for Success
- The Oil. Oil or butter are key. It may sound like a lot of oil, but it is necessary for the final flavor of the dish, so don't skimp on the oil.
- Cooking the Eggs. Beat the eggs very lightly for fluffier scrambled eggs. Also, just pour them in the pan to let the eggs run through the nooks and crannies of the sauce, but you can stir them in more thoroughly if you’d like. I enjoy the small islands of sauce that form up for a bit of variety with each bite.
- Add Meats. Add meats, like crumbly sausage or chicken, to make it a fuller meal.
Serving Menemen
Don't forget the crusty bread so you can soak up all that wonderful pan sauce that remains. You can serve Menemen with tortillas for a nice breakfast taco.
Storage
Store any leftover menenem in shallow, airtight containers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can gently reheat them in a pan to enjoy again.
About the Chili Peppers
Menemen is best if you can use peppers from the Turkish region, such as Aleppo peppers or Urfa Bibers, but you can sub them for any local peppers grown or sold in your area.
Great choices are red bell peppers or any Italian sweet red peppers, like the Corno di Toro or Carmen Italians, or try it with New Mexican varieties, or easy to fine Anaheim peppers.
I feel it works best with thicker walled peppers that have a bit of heat to them for more substance, but in reality, most red or green peppers will do.
That's it, my friends! Let me know what you think about my Turkish Menemen recipe! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
Get the Ingredients
Aleppo Pepper (Amazon affiliate link, my friends!) - Makes this dish really stand out, but you can use it in many other recipes.
Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.
Menemen Recipe (Turkish Scrambled Eggs with Peppers)
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil (or use butter or ghee)
- 1 small onion optional - diced (white or yellow)
- 1 cup chopped peppers See comments above - use Aleppo or Urfa Biber if you can find them, or use red bell peppers for a common variety
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon spicy chili flakes Aleppo preferred, but paprika or cayenne are good subs
- 1.5 cups grated or diced tomatoes with their juices
- 1/4 cup shredded melty cheese optional - (use mozarella, Monterrey jack, or similar cheese)
- 5 eggs
- Salt and pepper to taste
- FOR SERVING: Crusty bread or small tortillas, spicy chili flakes, crumbly feta cheese, fresh chopped parsley or basil
Instructions
- Heat a large pan to medium heat and add the olive oil (or butter).
- Add the onion and peppers and cook them down about 5 minutes, until softened.
- Add the garlic and chili flakes and cook another minute.
- Add the tomatoes with a bit of salt and pepper and stir them up. Cook them down until the tomatoes soften and lose some of their juices. Don’t let the pan dry out. About 10 minutes or so.
- Sprinkle in half of the shredded cheese.
- Beat the eggs in a bowl very lightly, then pour them into the pan. Tilt the pan a bit to let the egg mixture drip into the many nooks and crannies of your sauce. Do not mix it through too much. Top with remaining cheese.
- Cover and cook them several minutes, or until the eggs are starting to set. Remove from heat and let the eggs finish cooking in the warm sauce, a few minutes more. If you prefer your eggs more set, just cook them longer as desired.
- Sprinkle with fresh herbs, crumbly feta cheese and spicy chili flakes. Serve with warmed bread or tortillas.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
NOTE: This recipe was updated on 9/23/22 to include new information and video. It was originally published on 11/5/18.
Teresa Barton says
I made this for dinner tonight and it was amazing! Quick and easy and so flavorful. I will definitely be making this regularly from now on!
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Teresa!
Gillian says
Have made shakshuka lots of times. This however is a great recipee with a slightly different heat level. I used some crushed dried thai chillies i had in store cupboard and cheddar cheese. It was delicious hot cheesey and with tomatoes from the garden had a nice sweetness.
Its now on my regular menu.
Thanks Mike.
Ps Tonight it's King poa prawns
Mike H. says
Amazing. I bet you'll love those! Enjoy!
MPaula says
I'm in Canada. Your link automatically goes to Amazon.ca so I tell what product you recommended. The "Aleppo" peppers listed were either not flakes or had ingredients other than Aleppo peppers.
What brand do you recommend?
Mike H. says
Hi there, just searched around the Canadian Amazon - here is what I've found there: https://amzn.to/3SeIwyZ.
barb says
What a great recipe for a low carber. Mo Cheese Please
Mike H. says
Great! So glad that you like it!
Jérémie says
I wanted a quick and easy recipe for a snack... this one was perfect: simple and delicious!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Jérémie! Yes, this would be a wonderful snack indeed!
Jérémie says
Great vid, Mike! It made me want to immediately make again this delicious dish... which I did!
...I was just very worried, because you added the garlic without any comment... luckily, after 30 seconds, you added that it was time to smell the gorgeous garlic blooming in the kitchen, one of the nicest ever!! I was reassured! ;))
Mike H. says
Haha, thanks, Jérémie - enjoy the smell of the gorgeous garlic blooming! 😉
Martin says
Could I add ground beef, and if so, how much should I add?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Absolutely. I would add 1 pound or less. Let me know how it turns out for you!
Andrea Garroni says
Great recipe! I'll be trying your suggestion and adding some sausage next time round!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Andrea. I think this is GREAT with sausage. Enjoy!
Charlie says
Just cooked this and it is absolutely beautiful thank you, when I cook it again I will add some fried & chopped up bacon though.
Many Thanks,
Charlie
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Sounds awesome, Charlie! Thanks!!
gldmt says
Especially in the summer months, we eat almost every breakfast in Türkiye. Yours recipe is very good 🙂
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks!
Darren says
Looks awesome
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Darren! Super tasty.