Invite your friends over and whip up this easy vegan shakshuka in just 30 minutes! Slices of silken tofu are simmered in a chunky, harissa-spiked tomato sauce for a low effort, flavourful brunch that feels special.
So quick, so easy, so flavorful: this tofu shakshuka checks all the boxes.
I have a confession to make: I’m actually kind of overwhelmed by the idea of having people over for a meal. I KNOW. It makes NO sense given that I’ve been a recipe developer for like 10 years.
I think it’s a holdover from my former type-A ness…like I want entertaining to be SO special that I freak out and can’t even. I want to be Martha but I’m not. But I like having friends over…so my coping mechanism is to keep it super low key.
And recipes like this crazy delicious vegan shakshuka are gold because they feel so effortful and delicious but actually come together in minutes. All you need is some crusty bread, coffee and maybe some seasonal fruit and it’s brunch.
I should also probably mention that you could totally whip this up for breakfast anytime…as long as you’ve got 30 minutes to spare. When I say easy, I mean it: a little bit of chopping and some simmering is all that is required. No “vegan eggs” to whip up… just simmer slices of milky soft or silken tofu right into the pan. The onions and peppers cook up all jammy and you don’t even need a ton of spices.
The first time I developed a recipe for shakshuka was for my one hit wonder of a cooking show and this recipe is just a slight variation on the Tunisian and Levantine classic (no eggs, obviously!).
Looking for more low effort, flavourful plant-based recipes? Grab a copy of my book Plant Magic!
Just few notes to help you make this vegan shakshuka the very best
No harissa? Add a good pinch of chile flakes and maybe a touch more cumin or salt (taste and decide!)
As a dietitian, I’m never gonna forget about my special diet friends. Allergic to tofu? You could absolutely substitute chickpeas…go for it. Naturally vegan, dairy free and gluten free!
The most important note for this recipe is that you slice your onion very thin…so it softens well and isn’t crunchy.
You can totally do it by hand with a sharp knife or use a mandolin.
Heads up: the flavour of harissa varies wildly. Some are quite bland, others mild, others are POW. To ensure this is delicious for everyone, I made with a fairly bland and mild version.
Moral of the story? Always taste your harissa before using. If yours is super spicy, or super flavourful, start with just a teaspoon. You can always add more but it’s harder to pull it back.
I do like to hand crush whole plum tomatoes as I find the texture silkier but you could do crushed tomatoes too.
The silken tofu I buy is already in a round shape. If yours is not, don’t worry! Just add slices, or tear into craggy shapes.
More savoury tofu breakfast + brunch ideas:
Satisfying crumbled tofu skillet (Low FODMAP)
Spinach and Feta Tofu Scramble (vegan)
Easy Vegan Shakshuka with Silken Tofu
Invite your friends over and whip up this easy vegan shakshuka in just 30 minutes! Slices of silken tofu are simmered in a chunky, harissa-spiked tomato sauce for a low effort, flavourful brunch that feels special.
Servings 4 servings
Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil1 medium yellow onion very thinly sliced into half moons1 large red pepper thinly sliced4 cloves garlic finely chopped1 tablespoon harissa1 teaspoon ground cumin1 teaspoon ground coriander1 teaspoon sugar¾ teaspoon salt plus more for seasoning28 ounce can whole tomatoes14 ounce package silken tofu cut into slices
For serving, make it your own!
cilantro mincedkalamata olives oil cured are nice here toofeta style cheeseyour fave sourdough bread or flatbread
Imperial – Metric
Instructions
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and peppers and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add 1/4 cup of water, and cook for 5 minutes more, stirring occasionally, until onions are tender and glossy and liquid is mostly absorbed.
Season well with salt and pepper. Add garlic, cumin, coriander and harissa, stirring constantly for 1 minute.
Add the canned tomatoes, crushing each tomato in your hands (carefully so it doesn’t splatter!). Add salt and sugar and stir to combine.
Add slices of tofu on top and let simmer for 10 minutes, without stirring. If it’s drying out, add 1-2 tablespoons of water.
Garnish with your favourite toppings and serve with bread!
Notes
Leftovers keep super well and are delicious served on toast!
Each serving has 10.5g of protein and 3.5 grams fibre. To boost it, use extra firm silken tofu if that’s available to your or add a can of chickpeas to the tomato sauce before adding the tofu!
Ingredients
For serving, make it your own!
cilantro mincedkalamata olives oil cured are nice here toofeta style cheeseyour fave sourdough bread or flatbread
Instructions
Notes
Each serving has 10.5g of protein and 3.5 grams fibre. To boost it, use extra firm silken tofu if that’s available to your or add a can of chickpeas to the tomato sauce before adding the tofu!
Go ahead, invite your friends over for brunch and make this low effort, high reward vegan shakshuka!
The post Easy Vegan Shakshuka with Silken Tofu appeared first on Desiree Nielsen.
