Patëllxhan të Mbushur
Kosovar Stuffed Eggplant
A flavorful and hearty dish where eggplants are halved, hollowed out, and filled with a savory mixture of minced meat, vegetables, and spices, then baked to perfection. It's a versatile dish that can be served as a main course or a substantial side.
🧂 Ingredients
- 2 large Medium Eggplants
- 400 g Ground Beef or Lamb
- 1 medium Onion(finely chopped)
- 2 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 100 ml Tomato Sauce
- 1 medium Diced Tomatoes(fresh or canned)
- 1/2 medium Bell Pepper(finely diced)
- 3 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Dried Mint
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black Pepper
- 2 tbsp Optional: Parsley(chopped, for garnish)
- 50 g Optional: Parmesan cheese(grated, for topping)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F).
- 2
Cut eggplants in half lengthwise. Scoop out the flesh, leaving about a 1cm border. Chop the scooped-out eggplant flesh and set aside. Place the eggplant shells in salted water for about 15-20 minutes to remove bitterness, then drain and pat dry.
- 3
In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté until softened (about 5 minutes). Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- 4
Add the ground meat to the pan and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain any excess fat.
- 5
Add the chopped eggplant flesh, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, diced bell pepper, paprika, dried mint, salt, and pepper to the pan. Stir well and simmer for about 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
- 6
Brush the inside of the eggplant shells with a little olive oil and place them in a baking dish. Spoon the meat and vegetable filling generously into each eggplant half.
- 7
If using, sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the top of the filling.
- 8
Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the eggplant shells are tender and the filling is heated through and slightly browned on top.
- 9
Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving, if desired. Serve hot.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Soaking the eggplant in salted water helps to reduce any potential bitterness.
- ✓Don't scoop out too much of the eggplant flesh, as it provides structure for the filling.
- ✓For a vegetarian option, omit the meat and increase the amount of vegetables, or use lentils or mushrooms as a filling.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add other vegetables like zucchini or carrots to the filling.
- Make a béchamel sauce to pour over the stuffed eggplants before baking for a richer dish.