Another delicious recipe for this bank holiday! We’ve been thoroughly enjoying Bettina Campolucci Bordi’s Baked Shakshuka with Butter Beans for days when summer has done a runner! Enjoy!
This dish is so simple, satisfying and easy to make. The eggy version of shakshuka has taken over cafes worldwide. This version is still as substantial and has a spicy, smoky edge to it that I love.
INGREDIENTS: Serves 2
80 ml (21/2 fl oz / 2/3 cup) olive oil
1/2 red onion, chopped
1/2 red (bell) pepper, chopped
1/2 aubergine (eggplant), chopped
1 x 400 g (4 oz) tin of tomatoes
230 g (8 oz) tinned butter beans (lima beans), drained
4 sundried tomatoes, chopped
1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
pinch of cayenne pepper
pink Himalayan salt and black pepper, to taste
To serve
a handful of chopped parsley
Good quality shop-bought bread
dollops of plant yoghurt, shop-bought or home-made
lemon wedges
a few cherry tomatoes, to garnish (optional)
a few endive leaves, to garnish (optional)
METHOD
In a medium pan, heat the oil and fry the onion, pepper and aubergine with a tiny pinch of salt for 10–15 minutes. It is important you use a good amount of oil here to get it going and to make sure that the veggies soften properly.
Then add the tomatoes, beans, sundried tomatoes and all the spices and seasoning, give it a good stir and leave on a medium heat, covered, for 10 minutes.
Check on the mixture when the time is up, give it a stir and leave for another 10 minutes.
By now the shakshuka should be done, the liquid should have mostly cooked off and turned sticky and there should be a smoky gorgeous mixture in your pan.
Serve immediately from the pan with a good sprinkle of chopped parsley, avocado slices, home-made bread for dipping and if you have some pumpkin seed pesto, get that in too, along with some plant yoghurt and lemon wedges to squeeze over.
Tip! This is such a comforting dish that can also be made in bigger quantities and reheated. It’s a weekend brunch kind of meal, but also super when you’re coming home from work and are in need of something substantial. I sometimes add some sliced avocado to mine, for extra creaminess, which I’m sure will come as no surprise!
Extracted from Happy Food: Fast, Fresh, Simple Vegan by Bettina Campolucci Bordi (Hardie Grant, £20) Photography © Nassima Rothacker
Check out our RECIPE CORNER for more delicious dishes like this!