Spicy Green Shakshuka With Tomatillos

This post may contain affiliate links. We only promote products we actually use and truly love!

Our Mexican verde sauce inspired green shakshuka is bright, flavorful, cozy, and comforting all in one dish. Made with tomatillos, hatch green chilies, and jalapenos, we’ve brought together some of our favorite Mexican flavors with everything we love about shakshuka.

Our classic red shakshuka for two is one of our favorite recipes to make and enjoy with fresh bread while sitting on the floor around our coffee table (so our mouths are almost at the same level as our plates). And it quickly became a favorite of our readers too. There’s just something so cozy and comforting about scooping up the warm, slightly spicy stew served with fluffy, homemade bread. 

So we decided to make another version. Our green shakshuka got its inspiration from one of our favorite Mexican sauces, salsa verde, which uses many of the same ingredients – tomatillos, pepper, onion, and garlic. From there it was just finding the right balance of flavors to create a brighter, slightly more acidic version of our super cozy and comforting shakshuka. 

Key Ingredients

• Tomatillos – Traditionally, shakshuka is made with crushed tomatoes. For green shakshuka we use tomatillos, which are bright, tart tomato-like fruits.
• Green peppers – We use a blend of green bell pepper, jalapeno, and Hatch green chilies for a well-rounded flavor profile and a little bit of heat. If you don’t like spicy peppers, you can skip the jalapeno and use mild green chilies.
• Seasonings – We use a blend of coriander, cumin, paprika, crushed red pepper flakes, and salt in this recipe, just like in our traditional shakshuka for two. It’s got an earthy, spicy flavor that balances the bright and zesty tomatillos well.
• Goat cheese – Goat cheese crumbles are an absolute must for serving! The creamy texture and fat goes a long way in balancing the overall flavor of this dish, since the tomatillos are so bright and tart. Our favorite brands are Vermont Creamery and Primo Taglio for the best texture and flavor.
• Fresh cilantro – We find that garnishing shakshuka with fresh cilantro also helps balance the overall flavor and complements the earthiness of the spice blend. Plus, we love that it adds an extra pop of green for presentation!

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How To Make Green Shakshuka

Step 1: First, lightly blend the tomatillos until they’re slightly chunky, like the texture of canned crushed tomatoes. This only takes about 5 seconds in our blender.

Step 2: Heat the olive oil and minced garlic over medium heat in a large frying pan until fragrant.

Step 3: Add the diced bell pepper, jalapeno, green chilies, and white onion to the pan. Cook until slightly softened, stirring occasionally.

Step 4: Sprinkle in the seasoning blend and cook until fragrant, stirring frequently so the spices don’t burn.

Step 5: Add the blended tomatillos to the pan, stir to combine everything, and simmer for about 5 minutes to let the flavors combine.

Step 6: Make 3 wells in the shakshuka and crack an egg into each one. Season lightly with salt and pepper.

Step 7: Cover the pan and cook until the eggs are done to your liking.

Step 8: Remove the pan from heat and serve family style with crusty bread for dipping, garnished with goat cheese and fresh cilantro.