Select large red juicy tomatoes, dice them and set aside till required.
Dry roast the cumin seeds in a large pan for 2 minutes, keeping the stove on high and stirring continuously so that the cumin does not char.
Add oil and then the onions. Sauté for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
Add the sugar, stir, then add the chopped peppers, parsley, bay leaf and thyme. Add the chopped cilantro after reserving 1 tablespoon for the garnish.
Cook on a high heat for 7-10 minutes, again stirring frequently.
Add the chopped tomatoes, saffron, paprika, a little salt and pepper. Stir well.
Cook on low heat for about 15 minutes, frequently adding spoonfuls of water and stirring, so that the sauce gets the consistency of a pasta sauce, without getting dry and stringy. I have listed one cup of water, in the ingredients, but use only as much as is needed to get the required saucy consistency.
Ottonlenghi advises that at this stage, the sauce be tasted for seasoning and adjusted so that it is potent and flavoursome.
Remove the bay leaf and discard.
Divide the sauce into 2 deep pans, each for an individual portion. Warm the pans with the sauce, on the stove. Make two gaps in each pan and gently break an egg into each gap.
Sprinkle lightly with salt, cover the pans with a lid apiece.
Cook on low heat, gently, for 10-12 minutes or until the eggs are just set.
Garnish with cilantro and serve hot with bread and a simple salad of greens, with a dressing of lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper and one garlic clove.