Printed September 2, 2026
Shakshuka-ish Eggs in Purgatory
North African soul food meets Italian heartbreak in a microwaveable mug. Somehow, it works—like that study group where nobody studied but everyone passed.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons marinara sauce or salsa
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon crumbled feta or shredded cheese
- Pinch of cumin
- Pinch of paprika or cayenne
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Bread for dipping (whatever's in your freezer)
Preparation
The Mediterranean diet, they said. So healthy, they said. What they didn't tell you is that you can make it in the same mug you used for mac and cheese yesterday (rinse between uses, please).
Sins and Spices
- Coat the inside of your mug with olive oil. This isn't optional—it's the difference between food and a cleaning nightmare.
- Add marinara sauce, cumin, and paprika. Stir to combine. Microwave for 30 seconds to warm it up.
- Make a little well in the center of the sauce and crack your egg into it. Try to keep the yolk intact—this is your Sistine Chapel ceiling.
- Poke the yolk once gently with a fork (prevents explosion), then microwave for 45 seconds. Check. If the whites aren't set, go another 15-20 seconds.
- Remove carefully (seriously, it's HOT), top with crumbled feta, and hit it with black pepper.
The Bread Situation: Toast whatever bread you have—even a hot dog bun works. You need something to dip into that jammy yolk and spicy tomato situation.
Eat this while standing at your desk, between Zoom classes, contemplating how empires were built on simpler meals than this. The egg will be perfectly soft, the sauce tangy and spiced, the cheese salty and sharp.
"Is this shakshuka?" your roommate asks. "It's college," you reply.
