Menemen

Menemen is a traditional Turkish egg dish from the Aegean region, combining beaten eggs with sautéed tomatoes, green peppers, and onions. The ingredients are cooked slowly together in one pan until the eggs become creamy and the vegetables are tender.

The recipe originated in the Aegean region near Izmir, where local cooks created this egg preparation using fresh vegetables from surrounding farms. It has been passed down through generations and remains a staple of Turkish breakfast today.

This dish holds a special place in Turkish breakfast culture, particularly in the Aegean region where it originated. Families pass down their own versions, and debates about ingredient choices still happen around morning tables today.

The dish is prepared with simple ingredients like eggs, tomatoes, peppers, and olive oil in a single pan. It tastes best when served fresh and is often accompanied by bread and Turkish tea for breakfast.

There is a striking divide among Turkish cooks about whether onions belong in the recipe, with the population nearly equally split on this question. This ingredient debate has become a topic of light-hearted discussion in families and online communities.