Discover the flavors of Turkey with menemen: A simple, savory delight
After the first bite of this scrambled egg dish, I discovered something about its unique taste that I truly enjoyed. Today, I make this Turkish specialty at home and not just for myself; the other household members have also fallen in love with it!
5:49 PM EDT, May 31, 2024
Vacations abroad mean relaxing by the sea, sipping umbrella drinks on a lounge chair, and exploring local cuisine. While I have nothing against all-inclusive options, I believe hotel food does not reveal the true essence of national specialties. That's why, in Turkey, I ventured out for breakfast to find a charming spot in one of the streets of Belek serving traditional Turkish scrambled eggs known as menemen.
What is menemen? I must admit I wasn't sure at first. Of course, I could taste stewed vegetables, but I wasn't sure which ones. It turned out that Turkish scrambled eggs don't hide any surprising secrets. The classic recipe includes eggs, tomatoes, onion, and pepper. From what I've learned, this local specialty is eaten for breakfast and lunch. It didn't surprise me much, as menemen kept me full for several hours!
Below, I present a sample recipe for these scrambled eggs. I think it's worth giving it a try. It's truly delicious!
Menemen - Turkish scrambled eggs
Ingredients:
- 5-6 eggs
- 2 tomatoes
- 1 onion
- 1 pepper
- Olive oil
- Salt, pepper
- Parsley or other greens
Preparation:
- Peel the tomatoes using boiling water or a regular peeler. Then, cut the tomatoes and pepper into small cubes. Chop the onion into tiny pieces.
- Sauté the onion and pepper in a small amount of olive oil. After a few minutes, add the tomatoes. Gently stir and sauté until the vegetables start to break down, about 8-12 minutes.
- Crack the eggs into the pan and mix everything. Cook until you get the desired consistency. In my case, menemen is quite runny.
- Serve with parsley. Done!
