
Ojja with Merguez
This spicy Tunisian ojja combines pan-seared merguez sausages with a rich tomato-pepper sauce, harissa, and eggs poached to soft, silky yolks.
Ingredients
- merguez sausages300 g
- tomato4 pcs
- onion1 pcs
- bell pepper2 pcs
- garlic3 cloves
- harissa1 tbsp
- tomato paste1 tbsp
- ground paprika1 tsp
- cumin1 tsp
- olive oil2 tbsp
- water100 ml
- eggs4 pcs
- salt1 to taste
- ground black pepper1 to taste
Instructions
Blanch the tomatoes, peel off the skins and dice them; finely chop the onion and bell pepper, mince the garlic, and grind the cumin seeds in a mortar.
Heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet. Fry the merguez sausages for 5 minutes, turning them so they brown all over. Transfer to a board and slice into pieces about 2–3 cm thick.
In the same skillet, sauté the onion and bell pepper over medium heat for 5 minutes, until softened.
Add the garlic, harissa, tomato paste, paprika, and ground cumin; cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, to let the spices release their aroma.
Add the tomatoes and water, then season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered for 10–12 minutes, until the sauce thickens.
Return the sliced merguez to the sauce and heat through for 2 minutes. Make four wells in the sauce, crack an egg into each, cover the skillet, and cook for 5–7 minutes: the whites should set while the yolks stay soft.
Serve the ojja hot, straight from the skillet, so the sauce and eggs don't dry out.
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