Schechter Natural History - Part 2

Wood Fired Herping

In this second part of our conversation with Greg Schechter of Schechter Natural History, we talk about his excellent field guide app, his youtube channel, and cook up a delicious Middle Eastern egg dish.
Recipe – “Shakshuka”

Ingredients –

· 6-8 roma tomatoes

· 18-20 cloves garlic

· One yellow onion

· Red Pepper flakes

· 1 Red Bell pepper (optional)

· 6 eggs

· Smallest can of tomato paste (4-6oz)

· Oregano

· EVOO

· Parmesan or any other harder, grateable cheese.

· Parsley, Cilantro or Chives for garnish

· Salt and pepper

· Foil

· Hand grater or microplane

Optional sides/additions –

· Grilled bread from our Avocado Toast recipe

· Corn tortillas

· Grilled steak from our first recipe

Chop tomatoes and onion. Slice garlic cloves into thin slices. Cut the bell pepper in a small dice if using.
Heat olive oil until shimmering in cast iron skillet on a medium heat part of the fire.
Add onions, garlic, chili flakes and bell pepper if using.
Sweat out till onions just start to caramelize and garlic goes golden brown. Add the can of tomato paste and stir in. Add another drizzle of olive oil, add a pinch of oregano and toss. Add chopped tomatoes with a few spoons of water and a generous pinch of salt. Toss to combine everything, and start cooking it down, stirring occasionally until the tomatoes break down and puree and take on a sauce like consistency.

Make 6 little “wells”, or depressions, in the tomatoes, and crack eggs into them. Season with salt and pepper.

Remove from heat and cover with aluminum foil. Tuck the foil around the pan to make a seal.
Return to the fire over a cooler part of the fire, and let cook 10-15 minutes, till egg whites are set, and yolks are at your desired consistency.

Remove from heat, and grate the cheese over the whole thing, letting it start to soften and melt.

Serve directly from the pan, eating with toast, tortillas or on its own.
Schechter natural history on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SchechterNaturalHistory
Field apps: https://schechterguides.com/
@schechterguides on instagram