Thursday, December 20, 2012

Shakshuka Travels

Firstly, a confession is in order.
I am a pathological liar because I've claimed I hate eggs but, honestly, I don't.
I have a serious aversion to omelets of all kinds and to scrambled eggs if they are too heavy and runny. But honestly, a good old fashioned soft boiled egg or a sunny side up in any form will keep me pleased until the days end.
Sunny Side Up Omelet
Sides (counter clockwise): Tehine, Chive Cream Cheese, Eggplant Spread, Guac, Labneh
Cafe Tapuz in Rannana, Israel 
Therefore, it would make absolute sense for me to have a profound love for Shakshuka. 
Pair three sunny side up eggs with loads of fresh tomato sauce, cooked onions, peppers and garlic, and I am in absolute heaven.
Shakshuka is normally served for breakfast or brunch, the biggest meal of the day, and eaten with bread that is dipped into the runny eggs and used to scoop up the surrounding sauce.
Surprisingly, Shakshuka is quite dynamic in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and, really, all over Israel. Three days of traveling, three cities of visiting and every single menu afforded two categories of Shashuka. The traditional and a second. The latter usually with a green theme, but the color green proving to be the only similarity from one variety to the next. 
Cream sauce with spring onion (green Shakshuka as it's commonly called), shakshuka with spinach and eggplant as its base and completely without tomato sauce, Shakshuka with various types of cheeses, Shashuka made of green tomatoes are some of the many types to appear from restaurant to restaurant.
Below are two types of Shakshuka's I've sampled along with their restaurant name, city and whether I'd recommend the eatery or not.
If you plan on traveling to Israel anytime soon, hit them up...

Green Shakshuka (Shakshuka Yeruka) with Spinach, Eggplant and Feta Cheese
Delicatessen, Tel Aviv
**Recommended Spot 

Traditional Shakshuka with Bulgarian cheese and sunflower seeds
Cafe Tapuz, Rannana
**Recommended Spot


Both Restaurants are Good For:
Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Date, Family, Friends





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