Tofu Shakshouka

Common to many regional Middle Eastern cuisines, this is one of those super simple dishes that, with the right ingredients, is amazingly tasty. Especially welcome as a fast summer dish, this is a good showcase for the abundance of delicious tomatoes in season. Shakshouka, in its original version, is made with eggs; in this vegan rendition, only one change needs to be made—silken tofu replaces the eggs.

Recipe Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 medium green bell pepper, diced
2 (12.3-ounce) packages firm silken tofu, finely crumbled
4 large or 6 medium tomatoes, diced
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
Pinch of turmeric, as desired, for color
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley (optional)

Cooking Directions:

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the onion and sauté over medium-low heat until translucent. Add the bell pepper and continue to sauté until both are golden.
2. Add the tofu, tomatoes, paprika, and turmeric. Stir together, then cook over medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the tomatoes are soft. Season with salt and ground black pepper, stir in the parsley, and serve.

Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Variation: Some traditional recipes include garlic; add a few cloves of garlic with the bell pepper if you’d like a garlicky version.

Recipe provided courtesy of Nava Atlas; www.vegkitchen.com.