Omelet ba Gojeh
This Persian tomato omelet is soft, fragrant, and richly savory despite its simple pantry ingredients. Sweet cooked tomatoes, buttery onions, earthy turmeric, and saffron-scented eggs come together in a quick skillet dish that is comforting and deeply satisfying.
Ingredients
Tomato and onion base
- 20 gbutter
- 100 gonion, finely diced
- 300 gtomatoes, grated or finely chopped
- 1 tspground turmeric
- 1/2 tspfine salt
- 1/4 tspblack pepper
Egg and saffron mixture
- 4large eggs
- 1 pinchsaffron threads, finely crushed
- 1 tbsphot water
- 1/4 tspfine salt
To finish
- 1 pinchblack pepper
Instructions
- 1
Crush the saffron threads and steep them in the hot water. Finely dice the onion and grate or finely chop the tomatoes so they cook down quickly; this keeps the dish within the short cooking time.
- 2
In a medium frying pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring, until softened but not deeply browned. Stir in the turmeric and cook for 20 seconds to bloom its aroma without letting it scorch.
- 3
Add the tomatoes, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Cook over medium-high heat for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes lose their raw smell and the mixture thickens into a saucy base with little excess liquid.
- 4
While the tomatoes cook, crack the eggs into a bowl. Add the saffron water and 1/4 tsp salt, then beat just until the yolks and whites are combined; overbeating can make the texture less tender.
- 5
Reduce the heat to low. Pour the egg mixture over the tomato base and gently stir 2 or 3 times to marble the eggs through the tomatoes. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, moving the set edges inward, until the eggs are softly set but still moist. For a firmer omelet, cover the pan for the last 30 to 60 seconds.
- 6
Take the pan off the heat and let the omelet sit for 1 minute; carryover heat will finish the center gently. Sprinkle with a final pinch of black pepper and serve immediately, ideally with flatbread or toasted bread.
Nutrition per serving
Notes
- •Use ripe, flavorful tomatoes; because the ingredient list is short, their taste defines the dish.
- •Grating the tomatoes helps them break down faster and creates the classic soft, saucy texture.
- •If you prefer distinct curds rather than a unified omelet, stir the eggs a little more as they set.
- •A tiny pinch of saffron is enough here; it should perfume the eggs, not overpower the tomatoes.
Background
Omelet ba Gojeh is a beloved home-style Persian egg dish built on tomatoes, onions, and warm spices. It is closely related to other tomato-and-egg breakfasts of the region, but the use of turmeric and sometimes saffron gives it a distinctly Iranian character. It is commonly served as a quick meal for breakfast, lunch, or a light dinner.
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