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Ojja with merguez
Spicy tomato sauce with sausage
Tunisian spicy tomato and pepper sauce with lamb sausage and eggs
Ojja is the quick supper of Tunis cafés and home kitchens: a pan of tomato, peppers, garlic and harissa, cooked down until thick, with slices of spicy lamb merguez and eggs set softly on top. It is scooped up with crusty bread straight from the pan. The mistake is stirring the eggs in too early; they should go in once the sauce is thick and be left alone to just set. Chef's tip: brown the merguez first so its spiced fat flavours the sauce. If you can't get merguez, use any spicy lamb or beef sausage.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 14 oz merguez sausagesin 3 cm pieces
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 garlic clovessliced
- 2 green pepperssliced
- 1 tbsp harissa
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 14 oz chopped tomatoes1 tin
- ½ tsp ground caraway
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup water
- 4 eggs
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a wide frying pan over a medium heat. Brown 14 oz merguez sausages for 5 minutes, turning, then lift out.
5 minStep 2: Add 2 green peppers and 4 garlic cloves to the pan and cook for 4 minutes until soft. Stir in 1 tbsp harissa, 1 tbsp tomato paste, ½ tsp ground caraway and 1 tsp paprika and fry for 1 minute.
5 minStep 3: Add 14 oz chopped tomatoes, ½ tsp salt and ½ cup water and simmer for 8 minutes until thick. Return the sausage and cook for 3 minutes more; it must reach 160°F inside.
11 minStep 4: Make 4 hollows in the sauce and crack in 4 eggs. Cover and cook over a low heat for 4–6 minutes, until the whites are set. Cook a little longer for firm yolks, which is safer for young children and anyone pregnant.
6 minStep 5: Scatter with 2 tbsp chopped parsley and serve straight from the pan with bread.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 420 kcal
- Protein
- 22 g
- Carbs
- 12 g
- Fat
- 32 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does ojja with merguez take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Is it very spicy?
- It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
- What can I use instead of garlic cloves?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
- What can I use instead of chopped tomatoes?
- Fresh ripe tomatoes, chopped: about 6 per 400g tin (cook a little longer).
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