Image by iStock

Everyone has those recipes. Those break-the-emergency-glass, cook in times of extreme darkness and desperation, use your tears as a seasoning kind of recipes. When it feels like you’ve fallen down and can’t get up, cooking can be cathartic. You’re feeding yourself and you’re reminding yourself that you matter and that you are important and that you’ve survived 100% of everything thrown at you thus far and that’s a pretty good track record, but just to be sure, whip out a saucepan and a whisk to remind yourself.

Here’s what you’ll need. I’m of the opinion that’s it’s better to overcook than undercook, so ingredients are variable on this one.

3-5 eggs

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

1 or 2 handfuls of feta or mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup to 1/2 a bottle of tomato sauce

1-3 onions

1 bell pepper

Extra virgin olive oil

2 garlic cloves

Salt

Pepper

Paprika

Cayenne pepper

1-2 tomatoes

“What in the blazes is all that?” you’re thinking as you read this. “I’m in a time of bloody crisis, I don’t have to go to the grocery store and buy handfuls of green garbage! I’m not a rabbit!”

You’re right. Look, shakshuka is just eggs in tomato sauce and whatever you have lying around your house. Chicken, pine nuts, ramen noodles, whatever. Get crazy with it. It doesn’t matter what you put in. The point is having something warm to fill your stomach and please your soul.

Get out a saucepan. Dribble a few tablespoons of oil on it. Light a fire under it. Let it simmer. Add the onions, peppers and other vegetable paraphernalia you have around the house.

Meanwhile, crack the eggs and let them sit in a bowl. Try and work up some energy stirring the sauce.

Sprinkle some salt and pepper into the egg mixture.

Pour the tomato sauce onto the saucepan when the oil is bubbling. At this point, your house should start smelling good again and you should start feeling almost human again. You’re not alone in the world, or if you are, it doesn’t matter. Mix it up with the vegetables. Stir in the cheese. Spoon in the eggs.

Lower the flavor and cover the concoction. Let it set.

Return when the eggs are white and the yolks are hidden away under them.

Don’t bother transferring to a plate. Eat it straight out of the pan. It’s going to be okay.

Wash those dishes after. Because if you don’t wash them immediately, you probably never will.

Shira Feder worries about everything, always. You can reach her at feder@forward.com

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount