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    Home » Recipes » Egg Recipes

    Eggs in Purgatory {Shakshuka}

    Published: May 2, 2023 by Chef Dennis Littley

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    5 from 32 votes
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    Pinterest image for eggs in purgatory.

    My Eggs in Purgatory is a flavorful, easy-to-make dish that will have you looking like a superstar in your kitchen. This classic Southern Italian dish is perfect for brunch, lunch, or even dinner. Made using pantry staples, this dish is sure to impress!

    eggs in purgatory in a cast iron skillet.

    What can be better than farm fresh eggs, perfectly poached in a hearty tomato sauce, served with crusty bread? Eggs in purgatory was one of the dishes I fell in love with on my first trip to Naples so many years ago. The restaurant I first sampled it at, referred to it simply as Italian eggs.

    The robust tomato sauce paired with those soft-cooked eggs was simply heaven on a plate. Just make sure you have enough bread to soak up that delicious sauce.

    eggs in purgatory in a cast iron skillet with two servings on white plates.

    Some people call Eggs in Purgatory Italian Shakshuka. And honestly, although my recipe isn’t a traditional shakshuka, it’s pretty close to its North African counterpart. The differences are mostly in the seasonings and will vary depending on the part of the world the recipe comes from.

    If you love dishes made with eggs, why not try my Huevos Rancheros? It’s not made with red tomato sauce, but it is ah-mazingly delicious!

    Ingredients to make Eggs in Purgatory

    ingredients to make recipe.

    Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Eggs in Purgatory. In Chef Speak, this is called the “Mise en Place,” which translates to “Everything in its Place.”

    Not only does setting up your ingredients ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

    How to make Eggs in Purgatory

    collage of images showing how to make recipe.
    • Add olive oil to a cast iron skillet (or large skillet) over medium heat. Then add the chopped onion and chopped red bell peppers to the hot pan.
    • Cook the veggies for 4-5 minutes until soft.
    • Add the chopped fresh garlic, cumin powder, sweet paprika, and red pepper flakes to the pan.
    • Mix the seasonings into the veggies and cook for one minute. Continue to stir the mixture while it’s cooking so the spices don’t burn.
    • Add the crushed tomatoes and grated Romano (or parmesan cheese) to the pan.
    • Mix the tomatoes and cheese into the mixture until fully combined, then season with salt and black pepper to taste.
    collage of images sowing how to finish making recipe.
    • Bring the mixture to a light boil, then reduce the heat to low and add the chopped fresh cilantro and two tsp of chopped fresh parsley to the mixture and simmer for 10 minutes. (Reserve one tsp chopped parsley to garnish)
    • Use the back of a spoon to make six small wells in the sauce.
    • Crack the large eggs, one into each well.
    • Cover the pan and let the eggs cook for 5-8 minutes or until the eggs are done to your liking. I like my eggs with a runny yolk, so I cook mine just until the egg whites are cooked, about 4-5 minutes. *Times may vary depending on the pan and the heat.

    *If you’re not a fan of cilantro, use fresh basil instead. If you like a fiery tomato sauce, add additional spicy red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the sauce.

    serving of eggs in purgatory with sauce on a white plate with bread slices.

    Eggs in Purgatory is a simple and delicious savory egg dish that can be customized to suit your taste preferences. Whether you prefer the delicious tomato sauce spicy or mild, with cheese or without, this dish is something your whole family will love!

    Recipe FAQ’s

    Why is it called eggs in purgatory?

    Eggs in Purgatory, called “Uova in Purgatorio” in Italian, originated from the Naples region of Italy. Due to the popularity of the dish, the recipe spread across the other regions of Italy.
    The name Eggs in Purgatory came from the Catholic Faith’s purgatory. The baked eggs represent “souls,” and the tomato sauce surrounding them represents “Purgatory,” the big idea being that the souls are suspended between heaven and hell. In this case, it’s the eggs suspended in the sauce.

    What is the difference between Eggs in Purgatory and Shakshuka?

    Shakshuka is an African dish originating in Tunisia. It’s also popular in Turkey, where it’s called Menemen. The name “shakshuka” actually means all mixed up in the Tunisian dialect, which explains the recipe for this comfort food.
    Eggs in Purgatory is an Italian dish originating in Naples. The basics are the same as Shakshuka, with the difference being in the spices used to create each dish.

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    portion of eggs in purgatory on a white plate with bread slices.
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    5 from 32 votes

    Eggs in Purgatory {Shakshuka}

    My Eggs in Purgatory is a flavorful, easy-to-make dish that will have you looking like a superstar in your kitchen. This classic Southern Italian dish is perfect for brunch, lunch, or even dinner. Made using pantry staples, this dish is sure to impress!
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time20 minutes mins
    Total Time30 minutes mins
    Course: Breakfast, brunch
    Cuisine: Italian
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 177kcal
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    Equipment

    • Cast Iron Skillet

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 cup onion diced
    • 1 cup red bell pepper seeded and diced
    • 2 tbsp garlic finely minced
    • 2 tsp sweet paprika smoked may be used for smoky flavor
    • 1 tsp cumin
    • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes more or less to taste
    • 28 oz whole peeled tomatoes San Marzano brand – crushed by hand
    • ¼ cup romano or parmesan cheese grated
    • ¼ tsp black pepper to taste
    • 1 tsp salt to taste
    • 6 large eggs
    • 1 tbsp cilantro finely chopped
    • 1 tbsp Italian parsley finely chopped
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    Instructions

    • Add olive oil to a cast iron skillet (or large frying pan) over medium heat.
    • Add chopped onion and peppers to the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes until soft.
    • Add the chopped garlic, cumin, paprika, and red pepper flakes to the pan and cook for one minute. Stir the mixture to combine while cooking. Be careful not to let the spices burn, they will get bitter.
    • Add crushed tomatoes and grated romano cheese to the pan, mixing well. Then season with salt and black pepper to taste.
    • Bring the mixture to a light boil, then reduce the heat to low and add the cilantro and 2 tsp of chopped parsley to the mixture and simmer for 10 minutes.
      Reserve one tsp chopped parsley to garnish.
    • Use a large spoon to make six small wells in the sauce and crack the eggs into each well.
    • Cover the pan and let the eggs cook for 5-8 minutes or until the eggs are done to your liking.
      I like the eggs still runny so I usually don't go closer to 5 minutes, but it all depends on the pan and the heat. Times may vary.
    • Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with toasted slices of baguette or naan bread.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 177kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 189mg | Sodium: 720mg | Potassium: 452mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1654IU | Vitamin C: 48mg | Calcium: 138mg | Iron: 3mg
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    About Chef Dennis

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    Chef Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef with over 40 years of experience working in the food service industry. In his second career as a food blogger he has made it his mission to demistify cooking by sharing his time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen. Let Chef Dennis help you bring the joy of cooking into your home. For more details, check out his About page.

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    1. Bob Chase

      May 13, 2023 at 12:56 pm

      5 stars
      Dear Chef, first recipe of yours I tried was the mixed berry entrement which I made for my own birthday. Loved it and will make again this year. Now I’ve fallen in love with your eggs in purgatory. Great recipe also! Made the sauce day before and reduced until quite thick. Cilantro was a brilliant addition! Thanks so much for sharing. Bob

      Reply

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