A Dish Born by the Roadside
Çakallı Menemen takes its name from the Çakallı neighbourhood in the Kavak district of Samsun. Located on the old Samsun-Ankara highway, Çakallı was for many years a stopping point for travellers and drivers; the menemen served in its small roadside coffeehouses gradually developed into a distinctive style of its own. Following an application by the Samsun Commodity Exchange, the dish was registered by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office as a traditional product name on 25 February 2020.
What Sets It Apart from Classic Menemen
A few details distinguish Çakallı menemen from the standard version: the tomatoes are peeled and cooked down until their juices are fully reduced, only the egg yolks are typically used, and the dish is generously topped with grated kaşar cheese. Cooking it in a copper pan with butter is also an essential part of the traditional method, along with a generous amount of onion.
Its Reputation Today
Over time, several menemen houses opened in Çakallı, and the neighbourhood became synonymous with the dish. Today, Çakallı Menemen draws not only travellers passing through Kavak but also visitors who make the trip specifically to try it, and it holds an important place in Samsun's breakfast culture.
Çakallı Menemen at Home
Ingredients
- Egg yolks
- Tomato
- Green pepper
- Onion
- Butter
- Kaşar cheese
- Salt
- 1
Onion and pepper are sautéed in butter in a copper pan.
- 2
Peeled tomatoes are added and cooked until the juices reduce.
- 3
Egg yolks are added and stirred in while cooking.
- 4
It is topped generously with grated kaşar cheese before serving.