Karnıyarık (Stuffed Eggplant with Ground Beef)

Fried eggplants stuffed with a savory ground meat filling and baked — a classic main dish of Turkish cuisine.

Prep time: 25 minutes · Cook time: 40 minutes · Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 4 medium-sized eggplants

• 300 g ground beef

• 1 onion, 2 tomatoes, 1 green pepper

• 2 cloves of garlic

• 1 tablespoon tomato paste

• Vegetable oil, salt, black pepper

• Tomato and pepper slices, for garnish

Instructions

1. Peel the eggplants in a striped pattern and fry them in hot oil.

2. Sauté the ground meat with onion, garlic, and tomato paste, then add the tomatoes.

3. Arrange the fried eggplants on a baking tray and slit them open down the middle.

4. Fill each one with the meat mixture and top with a slice of tomato and pepper.

5. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 20-25 minutes.

6. Serve hot alongside rice.