Classic Turkish Stuffed Eggplant (Karnıyarık)
A traditional Turkish culinary masterpiece featuring tender fried eggplants generously stuffed with a spiced minced meat and tomato filling.
Ingredients
- 4 medium eggplants
- 250g ground beef
- 1 large onion
- 2 green peppers
- 1 tomato
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- Salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes
Instructions
Peel the eggplants in stripes and soak them in salted water for 20 minutes to remove bitterness.
Pat the eggplants dry and fry them in hot oil until golden brown. Transfer them to a baking dish.
For the filling: Sauté chopped onions and garlic in oil. Add the ground beef and cook until browned.
Add chopped green peppers and tomatoes. Stir in the spices and cook for another 5 minutes.
Slit the fried eggplants down the middle and fill them generously with the meat mixture.
Mix tomato paste with 1 cup of hot water and pour it into the bottom of the baking dish.
Bake in a preheated oven at 190°C (375°F) for about 25-30 minutes.
