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That’s just the basic recipe, but the one I have prepared today is a bit different. Different in terms that it contains some creamed Spinach along with the tomato, bell peppers stuff. So this one is a “Shakshuka with kale and creamed spinach”. Simple, and healthy ! Don’t get startled with the long list of ingredients used in this recipe. If we take one thing at a time, its just so easy and make in a jiffy dish. You may prepare the creamed spinach and tomato sauce in advance and when its time to serve, crack the eggs in between and bake it in the oven.
Ingredients for making low fat creamed spinach :
- 2 cups of whole milk
- 2 cups packed spinach
- 1 bay leaf
- A small onion , chopped roughly
- 3-4 cloves of garlic, minced or chopped small
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp All-purpose flour
- Salt to taste
- A generous pinch of black pepper
- A small pinch of Nutmeg
How to make Low fat creamed Spinach:
- Make a white sauce by warming milk in a pan with a bay leaf, chopped onion and minced Garlic cloves.
- Just before it boils, remove from the heat and leave to infuse.
- Melt butter in a saucepan, stir in All-purpose flour and mix to a thin paste, then whisk in the milk. Keep stirring over a low heat till the sauce thickens.
- Season with salt, black pepper and nutmeg and mix.
- In the meanwhile, take spinach and blanch in Microwave for 2-3 minutes till tender. Wring out any water, roughly chop, then stir into the cream sauce. Keep stirring till the sauce takes on a green colour, check the seasoning and serve or keep aside for Shakshuka
Right ! So now when we have mastered the art of making delicious and creamy creamed spinach, let’s work on how we can add it to Shakshouka. In a well equipped kitchen you should find most of the ingredients listed below and it shouldn’t be too difficult to find the others in a supermarket nearby and although the list does seem lengthy, most of it is herbs so should not be any hassle
What you need?
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 chopped onion
- 3 red/ green chillies, chopped
- 5 sliced cloves of garlic
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika ( Or red Chili powder )
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to season
- ½ cup tomato puree
- 1 bell pepper ( red or yellow capsicum), chopped very small
- 1 tsp honey (optional)
- 1 handful of fresh Kale leaves
- 1 cup of creamed spinach
- 1 can whole peeled tomatoes
- 100 gr mature Cheddar , grated
- 50 gr Feta Cheese – optional
- 4 eggs
- chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley ( or coriander leaves)
How to make?
- Preparing the Tomato sauce:
- Heat the olive oil in a large pan. Add the onions and chillies and sauté till brown and translucent
- Add the garlic and spices (cumin, paprika, turmeric, salt and pepper). Cook it until fragrant and stir once in a while so that the spices won’t burn.
- Stir in the tomato paste and honey and cook for another 3-4 minutes, covered.
- Add the tomatoes and bell peppers along with half a cup of water. Combine everything and let it simmer on low to medium heat for about 20 minutes.
- Add about 100 gram of the feta crumbles into the mixture and stir. In a minute it will start getting thicker, turn off the heat and keep aside
- Assembling it all together:
- Take a wide pan, sprinkle some fresh kale leaves and pour in the creamed spinach over them.
- Now spread the tomato sauce we prepared on top evenly with the help of a flat spatula.
- Create four small holes in the mixture and crack your eggs inside.
- Cover the eggs with some of the sauce being careful not to disturb the yolk.
- Sprinkle some grated Cheddar on top and bake in a pre-heated oven at 180 Degrees for 10-12 minutes until the Egg white gets properly cooked but the yolk is a tad bit runny.
- Sprinkle the parsley and the remaining feta on top of your pan and serve it with fresh bread, for dipping.
