Çığırtma (Azerbaijani Chicken with Eggs and Tomato)
In short: Chicken browned with plenty of onion, simmered in fresh tomato and turmeric, then finished with beaten eggs that set into the sauce. It takes about 1 h 15 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 55 min
- Total
- 1 h 15 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 500 kcal
Çığırtma is everyday Azerbaijani home cooking: chicken pieces browned with plenty of onion, simmered with fresh tomatoes, then finished with beaten eggs that set into the sauce. Turmeric gives it a warm yellow color and fresh herbs go on at the end. Serve it straight from the pan, with bread for mopping up the sauce, as a simple dinner for the whole family.
Instructions
- Season the chicken with half the salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat and brown the chicken for 8 minutes, turning once. Remove it to a plate.
- Add the onions to the same pan and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring often, until soft and lightly golden.
- Stir in the tomatoes, turmeric, the rest of the salt and pepper and the water. Return the chicken to the pan, cover and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, until the chicken reaches 74°C (165°F) and the sauce is thick.
- Beat the eggs with 2 tbsp of the sauce and pour them over the chicken, spreading them around the pieces.
- Cover and cook on low heat for 4 to 5 minutes, until the eggs are just set. For a scrambled texture, stir gently instead.
- Scatter with the herbs and serve at once, straight from the pan, with bread.
Tips
- For a lighter dish, remove the chicken skin before browning and spoon off excess fat from the pan before adding the eggs.
- Lamb works too. Use 800 g (1.75 lb) lamb shoulder in chunks and simmer for 1 hour 15 minutes before adding the eggs.
Questions and answers
How is çığırtma different from shakshuka?
Shakshuka poaches whole eggs in a spiced tomato sauce. Çığırtma adds beaten eggs to chicken that has simmered with onion and tomato, so the eggs set around the meat.
What do you serve with çığırtma?
Bread, a cucumber and tomato salad and a spoonful of plain yogurt. Some families also serve it over rice.
Can I make çığırtma ahead of time?
Make the chicken and sauce up to 2 days ahead, then reheat and add the eggs just before serving. Eggs turn rubbery if they sit.
How long does it take to make Çığırtma (Azerbaijani Chicken with Eggs and Tomato)?
About 1 h 15 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 55 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Çığırtma (Azerbaijani Chicken with Eggs and Tomato)?
About 500 kcal per serving, with 39 g of protein, 12 g of carbohydrates and 33 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 500 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 39 g |
| Carbohydrates | 12 g |
| Fat | 33 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 8 g |
| Sodium | 680 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
