I’m always on the lookout for snacks and appetizers that please my family and a (small) crowd, and this Hummus Shakshuka Snack Bowl recipe delivers … big time. It’s made with hummus—which I buy pre-made for convenience—canned petite diced tomatoes, red bell pepper, onion, garlic, parsley, spices, and hard-boiled egg. And I serve it with baked sweet potato chips and lots of crisp, fresh vegetables. It’s nutrient-rich (canned tomatoes are an excellent source of the antioxidant, lycopene, which research shows may offer protection against certain cancers), colorful, surprisingly easy to make, and seriously delicious. Oh, and it’s also gluten free.
What is Shakshuka? Shakshuka is a staple dish at Israeli tables. It’s also popular throughout the Middle East (though it is believed to have originated in North Africa), and its name literally means “all mixed up.” You’ll find all sorts of recipes online when you Google Shakshuka, but the one ingredient you’ll see time and time again is canned tomatoes. It’s essentially a vegetarian dish of saucy tomatoes, bell peppers and onions, and warming spices like cumin. For my version, I chose petite diced tomatoes for the base. I find them easy to cook with and more pleasing to kids who tend to reject things that are too lumpy or chunky!
Canned tomatoes are nutritious. They provide vitamin C, fiber, potassium, and the antioxidant, lycopene, and because they are preserved in cans (and jars), they are available year round. And here’s a fun fact: The lycopene in cooked tomatoes is more bioavailable than the lycopene in fresh tomatoes.
For the warming spices in my Shakshuka bowl, I use coriander, cumin, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes. If you really want to spice things up, add a few more pinches and dashes of everything.
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small onion, cut into ¼ inch dice (about 1 cup)
- ½ red bell pepper, cut into ½-inch dice {slice and save other half for serving}
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Pinch red pepper flakes, optional
- One 14.5-ounce can petite diced tomatoes
- One 10-ounce container hummus
- 1 hard boiled egg, crumbled
- Generous handful fresh parsley, roughly chopped
- Zest of half a lemon, plus more to taste, optional
- Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until tender, about 7 minutes.
- Add the garlic, cumin, coriander, paprika, and red pepper flakes as desired and continue to cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
- Stir in the canned tomatoes, bring to a simmer, and cook, stirring often, until thickened, about 7 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning. Cool slightly,.
- Meanwhile, line a large, shallow salad bowl (or small, shallow serving bowl) with the hummus, leaving a well in the middle. Spoon the Shakshuka into the well and smooth with a spoon. Arrange the egg and parsley on top. Sprinkle lemon zest over the snack bowl, as desired.
Let me know if you try this recipe. It will not disappoint! And for more facts on tomato products—diced, whole, marinara, salsa—head to Tomato Wellness.
Shalom liz, dan brock here living in the Aravah(south south israel). Just made fresh hummus for breakfast. Saw this recipe. Made the shakshuka. Mashed two hardboled eggs. Served it for breakfast. Don’t know who was smiling more, my partner or me.
What other good ideas do you have up your sleve?
You made my day. Someone from Israel trying and loving my recipe is a huge compliment! Was it spicy enough for you??
Shakshouk شكشوكة is not israeli. It originated in North African countries of Libya and Tunisia in the 16 th century. Shakshouka is an arabic word for “mixture” in Tunisian arabic dialect . It is the quintessential meal of Arabic cuisine traditionally served in a cast iron pan.
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It is believed that Shakshuka originated in North Africa. You are correct. And as I state in the blog post, it’s popular in Israel and the Middle East. Thanks for the clarification and for stopping by. I updated the post!!