Menemen is a Turkish

Turkish cuisine

Turkish cuisine is largely the heritage of Ottoman cuisine, which can be described as a fusion and refinement of Central Asian, Middle Eastern and Balkan cuisines. Turkish cuisine has in turn influenced those and other neighbouring cuisines, including that of western Europe...

 dish which includes egg, onion, tomato and green peppers (paprika), and spices such as ground black pepper, ground red pepper, salt, oregano, and mint). Black or green olives can be included as ingredients. Turkish meat products such as sucuk (a spicy sausage) or pastırma

Pastirma

Pastirma or bastirma is a highly seasoned, air-dried cured beef in the cuisines of the former Ottoman countries.-Etymology:The name bastirma is from . bastırma is the gerund of the verb bastırmak , which means "to depress, restrain"...

 (thinly sliced dried cured beef) can be added, although this strays from the traditional recipe. The eggs are scrambled

Scrambled eggs

Scrambled eggs is a dish made from beaten whites and yolks of eggs . Beaten eggs are put into a hot pot or pan and stirred frequently, forming curds as they coagulate.-Sample preparation:...

. It is cooked with butter

Butter

Butter is a dairy product made by churning fresh or fermented cream or milk. It is generally used as a spread and a condiment, as well as in cooking applications, such as baking, sauce making, and pan frying...

, although olive oil

Olive oil

Olive oil is an oil obtained from the olive , a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. It is commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps...

 may also be used. The dish is similar to shakshouka

Shakshouka

Shakshouka is a dish of eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, chili peppers, onions, often spiced with cumin. It is believed to have Algerian and Tunisian origins.-Etymology:...

, but the eggs are always scrambled.

Menemen is commonly eaten for breakfast and served with bread

Bread

Bread is a staple food prepared by cooking a dough of flour and water and often additional ingredients. Doughs are usually baked, but in some cuisines breads are steamed , fried , or baked on an unoiled frying pan . It may be leavened or unleavened...

.

Preparation

Onions are sauteed with the heated butter or oil, then the green peppers. Once the onions become soft and lighter in color, the tomatoes and olives are added. Tomatoes should become very soft and also change color. Finally the eggs and spices are added, mixed with the other ingredients and cooked. The eggs should be fully cooked but not dry.

In restaurants, menemen is usually cooked and served in single-serving metal pans.