Turkish Menemen is an amazingly tasty breakfast, lunch or dinner that you can prepare in a matter of minutes. This is a simple dish of scrambled eggs with tomatoes and peppers (and sometimes onions). Simple, quick and oh so yummy one-pan dish for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
We LOVE egg dishes for breakfast in Turkey! If you want more Turkish food like this menemen, check out our Turkish eggs recipe and spinach eggs recipe too! Nobody can resist dipping crunchy Turkish simit into these dishes!
Jump to:
What Is Turkish Menemen?
Menemen is a traditional Turkish breakfast dish that is mostly served in a pan. It is a simple one-pan dish with eggs, tomatoes and green peppers.
There is always a discussion in Turkey about whether menemen should contain onions or not. It is a matter of taste. We love them both. You can try and decide for yourself.
This simple egg dish gets its name from a Turkish town called Menemen, which is located in Izmir. It is said that this egg dish was made first by the Cretan Turks who moved to this town.
Although menemen is the star of a well prepared traditional Turkish breakfast, this Turkish scrambled eggs with tomatoes can be served for all meals.
It is a quick lunch or dinner for Turkish people especially during summer months when tomatoes and peppers are in season.
Is Menemen The Same As Shakshuka?
These two dishes are almost the same. They are both breakfast dishes basically made with eggs, tomatoes and peppers.
Shakshuka is from North African cuisine but has become popular in Middle Eastern countries too.
The main difference between menemen and shakshuka is their look. In a traditional menemen recipe, everything is mixed and combined well while the eggs are not mixed with the tomato base in a shakshuka recipe.
That being said, Turkish menemen has a similar version too. You can leave the eggs whole after adding them in the tomatoes and peppers cooking in the pan. It is not as popular as the scrambled egg style though.
Another difference is the additional flavors used. You can add smoked paprika, olives, chorizo and cilantro in shakshuka while these are never seen in its Turkish counterpart.
If you want to enrich your menemen, you can add pul biber (red pepper flakes or Aleppo pepper), Turkish style sausages called sujuk or top it with herbs (parsley, mint or green onions but never cilantro) and crumbled white cheese. But these are just personal preference, not included in the original recipe.
Finally, shakshuka might be finished in the oven but menemen is never baked.
About The Ingredients
What makes Turkish scrambled eggs with tomatoes so special is the simplicity behind it. You always have the ingredients below, don’t you? Especially during summer. You can easily make this recipe with these ingredients. BEST breakfast ever!
- Oil: We use olive oil because we love its flavor in all dishes. Butter is also used when making menemen in Turkey. So you can choose whichever you like.
- Green peppers: In Turkey, we use fresh green peppers like Turkish sivri biber or çarliston biber in this recipe. But green bell peppers work fine too. You can even use a combination of sweet red, orange and green peppers. We normally use sweet peppers, but you can use hot peppers if you like.
- Tomatoes: Fresh tomatoes are the best option, especially in summer. Try to use the tastiest tomatoes you can find. It affects the final taste a lot. Peeling the tomatoes or not is up to you. If you can't find fresh tomatoes or are in a hurry, use store-bought tomato sauce.
- Eggs: Organic eggs are the best. There is no strict rule about the number of eggs in this recipe. You can reduce or increase it depending on the number of people who will eat it.
- Spices: We use spices like sweet paprika / chili powder (toz biber), generous amount of black pepper and red pepper flakes (pul biber or aleppo pepper). You can use cumin and oregano too if you like them in your dishes.
- Herbs: We use them for garnish. Although it really doesn’t need one, we always like our menemen with some fresh herbs like parsley, dill, mint, thyme or green onions.
How To Make This Recipe
The recipe is quite straightforward and ready in about 15-20 minutes.
- Heat olive oil in a pan. Sauté chopped peppers in it over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Add in chopped tomatoes with all the juices. Season with salt and paprika and cook over medium low heat until tomatoes are tender, stirring occasionally. Now bring it to medium-low heat.
- In a bowl, beat the eggs gently. And pour it all over the tomato mixture in the pan. Cook it uncovered stirring gently so that the eggs can spread everywhere.
- It takes no longer than 5 minutes. Don’t overcook. This Turkish scrambled eggs recipe is even better for dipping bread. It even turns into a perfect egg dip with this method.
- Remove from the heat, garnish with red pepper flakes, black pepper and chopped parsley. Serve immediately.
- Optionally, drizzle a little olive oil over it right before serving.
Want To Leave The Eggs Whole? Follow the steps below:
- After the tomatoes and peppers are cooked in the pan, use a spoon and make wells for each egg.
- Break eggs into those hollows. Let it simmer uncovered until the egg whites are set and the yolks are still runny for 8-10 minutes.
- Help egg whites cook well by pushing and poking into them gently with a spatula. Alternatively, cover the pan with a lid and let it cook until the whites are set. But remember the yolks will be covered with a thin egg white then.
Our Tips
- If you want to make your menemen recipe with onions, use a small onion in the recipe. Cook chopped onions and green peppers together and then add in tomatoes and follow the remaining steps as they are.
- Use the best tomatoes you can find. If your tomatoes are not red, juicy and tasty enough, you won’t get the desired result. To make it tastier, you can add some tomato paste when cooking peppers.
- After adding eggs, don’t let them cook on their own. Using a spatula or a wooden spoon, make tiny holes to make sure eggs cook evenly. If you prefer the second option of adding eggs, which is leaving them whole, just gently poke the whites and stir gently a few times to make them mix with tomatoes and leave the yolks as they are.
- Don’t overcook. Otherwise, it will dry out and won’t taste as good.
Serving
This Turkish style scrambled eggs with tomatoes and peppers, is often served in the pan. No need for plates! We LOVE dipping bread right into the same pan. Get ready to eat more bread for sure! Breads like bazlama, simit or Ramazan pidesi go really well with it.
When serving it for breakfast, in Turkish food culture, it is a must to serve Turkish tea on the side.
Alternatively, we sometimes serve it with Turkish orzo rice pilaf especially when we are having it for lunch or dinner. Obviously, the best companion for this meal is either a glass of cold ayran, yogurt drink or a bowl of refreshing cacik dip. The BEST meal for hot summer days.
As A Part Of Turkish Breakfast
You might have heard about the world-famous Turkish breakfast, which consists of several appetizer-like foods. Yes we do eat cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, spicy acika spread, jams, butter, honey, pancakes, boreks, all at the same time in the morning. We ALWAYS drink tea at breakfast and a large tea pot is always on the side.
Breakfast is a way of socializing in Turkish culture. We love to organize breakfast occasions on the weekend. Besides lots of tasty savory and sweet appetizers, we always have a version of egg. And this Turkish scrambled eggs, aka menemen is always on top of the list.
FAQs
It is from Turkey but has variations in Greece and Middle Eastern countries.
Although this dish is called melemen some parts of the country, it is probably a pronunciation mistake. The correct name is menemen.
In Turkey, it is a breakfast food that can also be served for lunch or dinner.
Traditional Turkish menemen doesn't have cheese, but some restaurants might be adding it for a richer flavor.
More Turkish Breakfast Recipes
- Pogaca
- Green Olives
- Potato Borek
- Mulberry Jam
- Yumurtali Ekmek (Turkish style Eggy Bread)
More Turkish Recipes
As always: If you make this recipe, let us know what you think by rating it and leaving a comment below. And post a pic on Instagram too—tag @give_recipe so we can see!
Sign up for the FREE GiveRecipe Newsletter to get the new recipes into your inbox! And stay in touch with us on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube and Instagram for all the latest updates.
📖 Recipe
Menemen Recipe (Turkish Tomato Scrambled Eggs)
INGREDIENTS
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 medium green peppers chopped (Turkish peppers or any sweet green pepper)
- 4 large tomatoes about 1 cup, peeled and diced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 4 medium eggs
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon parsley for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
- Heat olive oil in a pan.
- Cook chopped peppers in it for 2-3 minutes or until tender.
- Add in tomatoes.
- Season with salt and paprika and cook over medium low heat until tomatoes are tender, stirring occasionally. Now reduce the heat a bit.
- In a bowl, beat the eggs gently. And pour it all over the tomato mixture in the pan. Cook it uncovered, stirring with a spatula gently so that the eggs can spread everywhere.
- It takes no longer than 5 minutes. Don’t overcook.
- Remove from the heat, garnish with red pepper flakes, black pepper and chopped parsley. Serve immediately.
- Optionally, drizzle a little olive oil over it right before serving.
To Leave The Eggs Whole:
- After the tomatoes and peppers are cooked in the pan, use a spoon and make wells for each egg.
- Break eggs into those hollows. Let it simmer uncovered until the egg whites are set and the yolks are still runny for 8-10 minutes.
- Help egg whites cook well by pushing and poking into them gently with a spatula. Alternatively, cover the pan with a lid and let it cook until the whites are set. But remember the yolks will be covered with a thin egg white then.
Video
NOTES
- There is always a discussion in Turkey about whether menemen should contain onions or not. It is a matter of taste. We love them both. You can try and decide for yourself. So if you want, you can use a small onion in the recipe. Cook chopped onions and green peppers together and then add in tomatoes.
- Use the best tomatoes you can find. If your tomatoes are not red, juicy and tasty enough, you won’t get the desired result. To make it tastier, you can add some tomato paste when cooking peppers.
- After adding eggs, don’t let them cook on their own. Using a spatula or a wooden spoon, stir everything well to make sure eggs cook evenly. If you prefer the second option of adding eggs, which is leaving them whole, just gently poke the whites and stir gently a few times to make them mix with tomatoes and leave the yolks as they are.
- Don’t overcook menemen. Otherwise, it will dry out and won’t taste as good.
NUTRITION
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Nadia says
Just made it
So delicious 😋-all family like it
Tiffany says
My kind of egg dish! This looks like pretty good scramble and too easy to make. Thanks for sharing!
Tiffany
Phlanx's Marketing Specialist
Pam says
Menemen nanesiz olmazzzz :);)
Tho Beautiful recipe
Pam says
Oops there is nane mentioned lol
Yusuf says
Hi Pam! Herbs make menemen even tastier, right?
Gordon Remzi says
IT IS SO DELICIOUS .. because of tomatoes
Turkish recipes says
I've read that it's very healthy. Thanks for the description and recipes
klebefolie says
It looks so delicious, I have to try it. Thanks for the recipe.
Supriya Kutty says
Delicious, they came out perfect. Super easy, thanks! These are terrific thank you so much! I would like to know will they stay crisp in a seal tight container for one day? As I have a dinner party tomorrow and I have a lot of other cooking to do? thanks anyway
Zerrin says
Glad you love the recipe Supriya! It is still good the next day, but not as tasty as when it is fresh.
Nor Azimah Salleh says
Thank you for the recipe, will try tomorrow..
It really reminds me of Istanbul which I visited in 2014...wonderful city with delicious food..hopefully can re visit again
Zerrin says
Hi Nor Azimah! It is one of the easiest recipes with simple ingredients but tastes soooo good! Hope you loved it. How nice you visited Istanbul! Our food is addictive, isn't it?
Supriya Kutty says
Hey, this dish looks so yummy and tasty I always loved egg recipes a lot of things you can try with the eggs, eggs always go with everything and make the dish special I will surely try this dish tonight and thanks for writing this wonderful article and sharing to us.
Hofterzielbeek says
Yummy! This turkish egg dish menemen looks so mouth-watering. Thanks for sharing such an awesome recipe.
Brandon J. Li says
This recipe is fabulous and the photo with the piece of Simit in the middle has me completely mesmerized. Thank you for sharing this wonderful dish 🙂
Kris says
Looks delicious! I’m going to try this! What bread would you suggest be served with it?
Zerrin says
Thanks Kris! Any bread can go great with this dish, but I'd prefer one with a crunchy crust.
Makos says
Going to my to do list! Nice recipe, thanks!
Zerrin says
Hi Makos, thank you! Hope you have a chance to try it.
Aysegul says
Oh this dish looks incredible. Such a classic. Not to mention, the definition of Turkish "comfort food".
Thank you so much for the link love as well.
Much love,
Aysegul
Michelle L Monette says
Looks amazing! We are going to implement this dish into our keto diets! Thank you!
Mary says
Oh, this looks so good. Love the photo of bread dipped in egg yolk! Pinned. Will definitely check out Turkish coffee. Thanks for sharing.
Zerrin says
Hi Mary! This is my all time favorite easy breakfast, lunch and dinner. Just don't forget summer tomatoes work way better for this recipe. And I'm sure you love Turkish coffee if you are already a fan of coffee. cheers from Turkey!