Menemen is a kind of scrambled eggs with vegetables that are very easy to make. It is very typical of Turkey, where the locals preferably consumed during breakfast.
INGREDIENTS (2 servings, more or less):
- 2 large ripe tomatoes
- 1 large onion, preferably fresh
- 1 green bell pepper
- 3 eggs
- Salt
- Butter
- Ground black pepper (optional)
Melt two tablespoons of butter in a pan a middle heat.
We cut the onion and green pepper very finely. We fry them until soft. Peel the tomatoes removing the seeds and the white parts from the center. Cut into small cubes and add to the sauce. We incorporate salt.
We break the eggs directly on the pan and with a wooden spoon we stir to mix the ingredients. Optionally we can add a teaspoon of black pepper powder. The ideal cooking point for the menemen is the one in which the egg has not fully set yet, leaving it a little liquid (on the other hand, it is obvious that this should be the final result because the water in the vegetables would prevent it from curdling like an omelette).
As I mentioned at the beginning, this scramble is usually consumed during breakfast in Turkey as a central dish. A 'poweful' Turkish breakfast would consist of menemen, cucumber cut into chunks, some kind of white cheese similar to Greek feta ('peynir'), and simit, a bagel garnished with sesame seeds that is often the only breakfast of many Turks, consumed while travelling job in metro, bus or walking. Obviously the ubiquitous tea would not be lacking.
When it is consumed at home for the whole family, a large menemen is made that is distributed among the diners while in the restaurants that serve breakfast it is usually made for a single serving.
Some variants of menemen include hot peppers, more spices, pitted black olives, or even cold cuts like sucuk (a very spicy sausage) cut into slices.
If you have the opportunity to go to Turkey and specifically to Istanbul, be sure to visit some restaurants on Istliklal Street, in Taksim, where they will serve you excellent menemen during breakfast.