Menemen Recipe (Turkish Scrambled Eggs with Peppers)

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!

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.

Try Some of My Other Popular Recipes

• Migas
• Shakshuka
• Jacked-Shuka - Extra Spicy Eggs in Hell
• Chilaquiles Rojos with Ancho Chili Sauce
• Chilaquiles Verdes
• Huevos con Chorizo
• Spicy Pepper Lover's Omelet
• Huevos Rancheros Casserole

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.

NOTE: This recipe was updated on 9/23/22 to include new information and video. It was originally published on 11/5/18.