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Instant Pot Green Shakshuka

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on July 20, 2022

Time

1 hour

Yield

Serves 4

Instant Pot Green Shakshuka

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 2 pounds Swiss chard, stemmed, stems chopped fine to yield 1 cup, leaves chopped1 onion, chopped 4 garlic cloves, minced3 tablespoons harissa, divided⅛ teaspoon table salt ½ cup water 11 ounces (11 cups) baby spinach 1 cup frozen peas 1½ tablespoons lemon juice 4 large eggs 1 ounce feta cheese, crumbled (¼ cup)¼ cup chopped fresh dill leaves, mint, and/or parsley

Before You Begin

For fully set egg whites with runny yolks we cooked the eggs with the high sauté function for 3 minutes and then let them sit in the turned-off pot to finish cooking. A sprinkle of dill and mint gave an herbal finish, and some feta added a tangy contrast. We prefer to make our own Harissa; however, you can substitute store-bought. Serve with crusty bread.

Instructions

  1.  Using highest sauté function, heat oil in Instant Pot until shimmering. Add chard stems and onion and cook until softened and lightly browned, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic, 1 tablespoon harissa, and salt and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in water, scraping up any browned bits, then arrange chard leaves on top.
  2.  Lock lid into place and close pressure-release valve. Select high pressure-cook function and cook for 2 minutes. Turn off Instant Pot and quick-release pressure. Carefully remove lid, allowing steam to escape away from you.
  3.  Stir in spinach, 1 handful at a time, and cook, using highest sauté function, until wilted, about 5 minutes. Stir in peas and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste. Turn off Instant Pot.
  4.  Make 4 shallow 2-inch-wide indentations in spinach mixture using back of spoon. Crack 1 egg into each indentation. Spoon spinach and sauce over edges of egg whites so whites are partially covered and yolks are exposed. Using highest sauté function, cook until egg whites are just set, about 3 minutes. Turn off Instant Pot, partially cover pot, and let sit until egg whites are fully set and yolks are still runny, 6 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle individual portions with feta and dill and drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons harissa before serving.
Instant Pot Green Shakshuka
Photography by Joseph Keller. Styling by Catrine Kelty.

Instant Pot Green Shakshuka

Headshot of America's Test Kitchen
By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

1 hour

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 pounds Swiss chard, stemmed, stems chopped fine to yield 1 cup, leaves chopped
1 onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons harissa, divided
⅛ teaspoon table salt
½ cup water
11 ounces (11 cups) baby spinach
1 cup frozen peas
1½ tablespoons lemon juice
4 large eggs
1 ounce feta cheese, crumbled (¼ cup)
¼ cup chopped fresh dill leaves, mint, and/or parsley

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 pounds Swiss chard, stemmed, stems chopped fine to yield 1 cup, leaves chopped
1 onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons harissa, divided
⅛ teaspoon table salt
½ cup water
11 ounces (11 cups) baby spinach
1 cup frozen peas
1½ tablespoons lemon juice
4 large eggs
1 ounce feta cheese, crumbled (¼ cup)
¼ cup chopped fresh dill leaves, mint, and/or parsley

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 pounds Swiss chard, stemmed, stems chopped fine to yield 1 cup, leaves chopped
1 onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons harissa, divided
⅛ teaspoon table salt
½ cup water
11 ounces (11 cups) baby spinach
1 cup frozen peas
1½ tablespoons lemon juice
4 large eggs
1 ounce feta cheese, crumbled (¼ cup)
¼ cup chopped fresh dill leaves, mint, and/or parsley

Why This Recipe Works

Shakshuka roughly translates to “mixed-up” and can include a mix of vegetables, so we went the green route, with savory Swiss chard, easy-to-prep baby spinach, and tender peas. We started by cooking the Swiss chard stems with onion, then added in garlic and some spicy harissa, to create an aromatic base before putting the Swiss chard leaves under pressure. The Instant Pot wilted the Swiss chard and freed us from the constant stirring needed on the stovetop. To keep the baby spinach from getting gummy and the peas from blowing out in the closed pot, we stirred them in after cooking under pressure. By poaching the eggs directly in the Instant Pot, we kept the recipe as straightforward as possible.

Before You Begin

For fully set egg whites with runny yolks we cooked the eggs with the high sauté function for 3 minutes and then let them sit in the turned-off pot to finish cooking. A sprinkle of dill and mint gave an herbal finish, and some feta added a tangy contrast. We prefer to make our own Harissa; however, you can substitute store-bought. Serve with crusty bread.

Instructions

  1.  Using highest sauté function, heat oil in Instant Pot until shimmering. Add chard stems and onion and cook until softened and lightly browned, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic, 1 tablespoon harissa, and salt and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in water, scraping up any browned bits, then arrange chard leaves on top.
  2.  Lock lid into place and close pressure-release valve. Select high pressure-cook function and cook for 2 minutes. Turn off Instant Pot and quick-release pressure. Carefully remove lid, allowing steam to escape away from you.
  3.  Stir in spinach, 1 handful at a time, and cook, using highest sauté function, until wilted, about 5 minutes. Stir in peas and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste. Turn off Instant Pot.
  4.  Make 4 shallow 2-inch-wide indentations in spinach mixture using back of spoon. Crack 1 egg into each indentation. Spoon spinach and sauce over edges of egg whites so whites are partially covered and yolks are exposed. Using highest sauté function, cook until egg whites are just set, about 3 minutes. Turn off Instant Pot, partially cover pot, and let sit until egg whites are fully set and yolks are still runny, 6 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle individual portions with feta and dill and drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons harissa before serving.

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