Green Shakshuka

This dish is absolutely delicious!  Shakshuka is a dish originating from North African and the Middle East, generally made with tomatoes.  However, this baby packs in Swiss chard for an amazing twist!  It makes excellent tacos, in my opinion, but you can enjoy it on crostini or pita, too!

INGREDIENTS

3 Tbsp olive oil
1 yellow onion, peeled and thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 large bunch/1 1/2 pounds Swiss chard, stems and leaves separated and chopped (about 9 cups)
½ tsp salt, plus more as needed
⅓ cup half-and-half or heavy cream
8 large eggs
¼ tsp black pepper, plus more as needed
3 ounces cotija cheese or queso fresco, crumbled (about 3/4 cup)
1 avocado, sliced, for serving
1 small jalapeño, thinly sliced, for serving
Chopped cilantro, for serving
Smoked hot sauce, for serving
Corn tortillas, toasted, for serving
1 lime, cut into wedges, for serving

DIRECTIONS

• Heat oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat. Add onion and cook until softening, 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 5 minutes more.

• Raise the heat to medium-high, add the chard stems, and cook to release some liquid, 5 minutes. Add the chard leaves, in batches, adding more as they wilt, and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until completely wilted, 3 to 5 minutes more. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt, pour in the half-and-half and stir loosely together.

• Make eight small hollows in the cooked chard with the back of a spoon. Gently crack an egg into each hollow. Cover with a lid or foil and cook on medium-low until the eggs are just set, but still soft, about 7 to 9 minutes. Remove the lid, sprinkle with salt, pepper, cotija, avocado, jalapeño and cilantro. Serve with smoked hot sauce, toasted tortillas and lime wedges.