Menemen with Beyaz Peynir or Feta - Turkish Scrambled Eggs

Menemen with Beyaz Peynir or Feta - Turkish Scrambled Eggs - There is nothing quite like a delicious Turkish Breakfast spread and Menemen is one of the many dishes you can expect to see at the breakfast table. This is a recipe for delicate and soft scrambled Eggs with added Peppers. This delicious Breakfast dish is ready to eat in 20 minutes and delicious served with Simit.

menemen aka turkish scrambled eggs recipe

This is a delicious traditional turkish breakfast recipe that includes various spices and some vegetables. It is a simple one-pan dish that is part of turkish cuisine with a soft texture that can make a nice lunch or starter to a main course too!

There are many variations of Menemen – it can be made with or without onions, with cheese and even with spinach too.

I like to add Beyaz Peynir or Feta because it makes everything better. 😛

It is best served with nice crusty bread and some garlic yoghurt by the side.

Menemen or Turkish Omelette was one of the first recipes on the blog and it is one I made after having it at Turkish restaurants. 

I love eggs and I have them in a variety of ways like. To me it is the perfect Breakfast. Why not try these Breakfast Egg recipes:

Braised Eggs and Butterbean Shakshuka, 
Turkish Cilbir – Poached Eggs in Yoghurt, 
Easy Soft Boiled Eggs and Avocado Toast, 
Green Shakshuka, 
Middle Eastern Shakshuka with Burrata or Feta,
Masala Omelette, 

Ingredients in Menemen Recipe

**Note - I forgot to add the Red Pepper in the image above!

Oil

Olive Oil, Rapeseed Oil or Vegetable Oil.

Red (Bell) Peppers Diced

You can also use Romano Pepper.

Green Peppers

Padron or Turkish green peppers - Sivri Peppers.

Red Onion

Spring Onions/Green Onions or a small Onion (White or yellow onion)

Paprika and other Spices

This is optional. I like the flavour Smoked Paprika adds. You can also use Sweet Paprika. You can also add Garlic and Ground Cumin.

Aleppo Chilli Flakes (Pul Biber)

Or Red Pepper Flakes

Salt and Pepper 

Add accordion to your taste.

Fresh Tomatoes

2 - 3 large juicy Tomatoes Pureed or 1 tin Plum tomatoes pureed. Traditionally the tomatoes would be oven roasted and this skins would be removed. You can use Sundried Tomatoes.

Eggs

Fresh Organic Eggs.

Feta Cheese

Or Beyaz Peynir or any White Cheese.

Fresh Herbs

Such as fresh Parsley and Dill to garnish and for flavour.

how to make this traditional turkish dish

Add oil to a frying pan and heat gently before adding Onions. Cook for 3 - 4 minutes till softened. 

Add Green and Red Peppers and saute for 3 - 4 minutes.

Stir in Spices and cook till fragrant.

Add Tomatoes and bring to a simmer. 

Cover and cook on medium-low heat for 10 minutes.

Create spaces in the tomato mixture and crack in the Eggs.

Let the whites set a little and then scramble gently. Crumble over some Feta. Cook for a few minutes and then remove from the heat.

 

Check the seasoning before serving.

top tips for making traditional turkish menemen recipe

use the best eggs you can find! 

I love Burford Browns. Good eggs make the world of difference and these are not only gorgeously vibrant but they are velvety, silky and so delicious. 

use a non stick pan 

Just makes life so much easier.

medium low heat 

Keep the heat medium low for gorgeously creamy, melty scrambled eggs.

silicon spatula 

A silicon spatula is great for scrambled eggs/menemen because it works with you to easily bend its way around the pan and shape the eggs in the way you desire. 

how to serve menemen

With Turkish Bagel

Or your favorite Crusty Bread 

With Garlicky Yoghurt 

A lot of Turkish food has a garlicky yoghurt accompaniment that works with all the gorgeous flavours in any of their delicious food!

To make simply combine ½ cup yoghurt, a little olive oil, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 clove crushed Garlic, Black pepper and lemon juice in a bowl and whisk to combine.

In a wrap

Or with some flatbread.

In a breakfast sandwich 

With Tomatoes and other Vegetables. Perhaps some Halloumi too.

As part of Kahlvalti

A classic Turkish breakfast, better known as 'kahvaltı' (kah-VAHL'tuh) consists of:
fresh cheeses like feta and kashkaval, black and green olives, fresh-baked white bread, fruit preserves, honey, sweet butter and plenty of brewed black tea served in Turkish tea glasses.' The Spruce

variations

There are several ways to make this traditional Turkish egg dish, here are some other variations that you may like to try:

Add some Rose Harissa or Smoked Harissa. I love both in this recipe.

Add some Sivri Biber.

Add chopped green bell peppers instead of Padron or Sivri Peppers.

menemen storage 

Menemen is best eaten fresh but here is what to do if you have leftovers:

Fridge

It can be stored in the fridge for 3 days in a covered plate.

To reheat, simply reheat in a pan over low heat for 1-2 minutes.
Or place in the microwave and heat in 10 second bursts.

Freezer

Menemen can be frozen for up to 3 months. To store in the freezer, wrap tightly or place into freezer bags or an airtight container. 

To reheat, simply add to a pan with preheated oil and cook covered gently over a low flame.

more turkish recipes:
How to make Turkish Pide
Turkish Cilbir – Poached Eggs in Yoghurt
Simit
Revani
Red lentil and bulgar wheat soup
Aubergine with Kisir, spicy chickpeas and zataar yoghurt

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