Menemen (food)
{{short description|Turkish tomato and egg dish similar to shakshouka}}
{{Infobox food
| name = Menemen
| image = My breakfast menemen.jpg
| caption = Turkish breakfast with menemen
| alternate_name =
| country = Turkey
| region = Menemen, İzmir Province{{Cite web |url=http://www.izmirdergisi.com/tr/izmir-mutfagi/2257-menemen-denince-ilk-akla-gelen-lezzet-menemen-yemegi |title=Menemen denince ilk akla gelen lezzet; Menemen Yemeği |work=İzmir Kültür ve Turizm Dergisi |language=tr |access-date=3 September 2018}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/kelebek/hurriyet-pazar/yaz-sofralarinin-kralicesi-menemen-36920645 |title=Yaz sofralarının kraliçesi menemen |work=Hürriyet |first=Mehmet |last=Yaşin |language=tr |date=9 July 2016 |access-date=3 September 2018}}
| creator =
| course = Breakfast
| type =
| served =
| main_ingredient = Eggs, tomato, green peppers, and spices such as ground black and red pepper, salt and oregano, onion, garlic, chili powder
| variations =
| calories = ~120
| similar_dish = Shakshouka
| no_commons = true
| other =
}}
Menemen is a popular traditional Turkish dish{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-adrAwAAQBAJ&q=menemen+turkish+dish&pg=PA27|title=The Spicy Paleo Cookbook|access-date=21 December 2014|isbn=9781440574344|last1=Dionne|first1=Emily|last2=Ray|first2=Erin|date=2014-04-04|publisher=F+W Media }}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} that includes eggs, tomato, green peppers, and spices such as ground black and red pepper cooked in olive oil.
Menemen may be made with onions, but the addition of onions is often debated and is more common when menemen is eaten as a main dish, rather than at breakfast. The dish is similar to Libyan dish shakshouka also found in other Arab countries.
Menemen is commonly eaten for breakfast and served with bread.Turkish Cookery, M. Işın Günür (1990). {{ISBN|975-479-100-7}}. Its name originates from a small town in İzmir Province.The Jewish Cookbook, L. Koenig (2019). {{ISBN|9780714879338}}.
This dish is also similar to Hungarian Lecsó and Serbo-Croat Sataraš which might have descended from Menemen during the Ottoman imperial period.
Preparation
The tomatoes are typically finely diced or may be grated. Grated and diced tomatoes can also be mixed together, depending on the cook's preferred texture. If onions are being used, they may be added to the pan with the green chili peppers and sautéed with heated butter or oil. Aleppo pepper may be added.{{Cite web| title = Menemen nasıl yapılır? İşte her öğünün gözdesi menemen tarifi…| access-date = 2018-07-18| url = https://www.sozcu.com.tr/2018/saglik/menemen-nasil-yapilir-iste-her-ogunun-gozdesi-menemen-tarifi-2306436/| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180719024318/https://www.sozcu.com.tr/2018/saglik/menemen-nasil-yapilir-iste-her-ogunun-gozdesi-menemen-tarifi-2306436/| archive-date = 2018-07-19| url-status = dead}} The addition of onions is often debated and is more common when menemen is not eaten at breakfast but as a main dish.Türkmen, Arda, "Hürriyet Pazar", August 10, 2014, p.16. Some Turkish cooks like Saniye Anne insist that a proper menemen cannot be made without onions.{{Cite web| title = Saniye Anne'nin 155 bin takipçisi var| work = Milliyet Haber| access-date = 2018-07-17| url = http://www.milliyet.com.tr/saniye-anne-nin-155-bin-takipcisi/pazar/haberdetay/14.01.2018/2590606/default.htm| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180717231834/http://www.milliyet.com.tr/saniye-anne-nin-155-bin-takipcisi/pazar/haberdetay/14.01.2018/2590606/default.htm| archive-date = 2018-07-17| url-status = live}} In 2018, Turkish food critic {{Ill|Vedat Milor|fr}} launched a Twitter poll to resolve the discussion about onion within menemen. The poll became widely popular, with 437,657 people voting. The vote proved inconclusive, as the onion faction only had a narrow victory, with 51% of the vote.{{Cite web| first = Vedat | last = Milor | title = Menemen anketi| access-date = 2019-06-05| url = https://twitter.com/vedatmilor/status/1032976829055942656}}
Sucuk, a dried salami-like sausage, can be added to the pan after the peppers have softened.{{Cite web| title = En lezzetli ve güzel menemen tarifi| work = www.haberturk.com| access-date = 2018-07-18| url = https://www.haberturk.com/en-lezzetli-ve-guzel-menemen-tarifi-soganli-ya-da-sucuklu-menemen-nasil-yapilir-hts-1935291| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180718234454/https://www.haberturk.com/en-lezzetli-ve-guzel-menemen-tarifi-soganli-ya-da-sucuklu-menemen-nasil-yapilir-hts-1935291| archive-date = 2018-07-18| url-status = live}} This adds some flavor to the oil; the sucuk can be removed from the pan before the tomatoes are added to avoid overcooking, but this is not necessary. The tomatoes become very soft and the mix not be too watery when the eggs are added. The eggs may be beaten together with salt, pepper and any desired fresh herbs or added directly to the pan.{{Cite AV media| people = Mutfak Sırları| title = Menemen Nasıl Yapılır? - Mutfak Sırları| access-date = 2018-07-18| time = 180 seconds| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajdSDri1c-U}} If pastırma is being used, it is added to the pan with the eggs.{{Cite web| title = Pastırmalı Menemen| work = Sabah| access-date = 2018-07-18| url = https://www.sabah.com.tr/sofra/tarifler/diger/pastirmali_menemen| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180719024348/https://www.sabah.com.tr/sofra/tarifler/diger/pastirmali_menemen| archive-date = 2018-07-19| url-status = dead}} Kaşar cheese or white cheese may optionally be added on top of the eggs just before they finish cooking, along with a garnish of fresh herbs or scallions. It is usually served in the pan in which it is cooked, a double-handled cooking pan known as sahan, together with fresh bread.{{Cite book| publisher = Bloomsbury Publishing| isbn = 978-1-4088-3990-4| last1 = Emina| first1 = Seb| last2 = Eggs| first2 = Malcolm| title = The Breakfast Bible| date = 2013-03-14 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9ve2DaGd_7EC&pg=PT109}}
Some variations may include mushrooms or minced lamb.{{Cite web| author = Sahrap| title = Mantarlı menemen| date = 25 September 2017| access-date = 2018-07-18| url = http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/yazarlar/sahrap-soysal/mantarli-menemen-40080915| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180719024338/http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/yazarlar/sahrap-soysal/mantarli-menemen-40080915| archive-date = 2018-07-19| url-status = live}}{{Cite web| title = Kıymalı Yumurta| work = Arda'nın Mutfağı| access-date = 2018-07-18| url = http://www.ardaninmutfagi.com/yemek-tarifleri/et-yemekleri/kiymali-yumurta| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180718234506/http://www.ardaninmutfagi.com/yemek-tarifleri/et-yemekleri/kiymali-yumurta| archive-date = 2018-07-18| url-status = dead}} Different spices may be added according to taste including cumin, paprika, mint, and thyme.{{Cite web| title = Menemen tarifi| work = Milliyet| date = 19 April 2018| access-date = 2018-07-18| url = http://www.milliyet.com.tr/menemen-tarifi-gundem-2651664/| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180718234634/http://www.milliyet.com.tr/menemen-tarifi-gundem-2651664/| archive-date = 2018-07-18| url-status = live}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}