Best 10 Eggplants Stuffed With Lamb Rice And Currants Recipes

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The tantalizing aroma of spiced lamb and fluffy rice, intertwined with the delicate sweetness of currants, wafts through the air as you unveil the culinary treasure that is eggplants stuffed with lamb, rice, and currants. This delectable dish, originating from the vibrant tapestry of Mediterranean cuisine, promises a symphony of flavors and textures that will captivate your senses. Dive into a culinary adventure as we embark on a journey to discover the best recipe for this irresistible dish, ensuring your taste buds experience an unforgettable culinary escapade.

Here are our top 10 tried and tested recipes!

STUFFED EGGPLANT



Stuffed Eggplant image

So delicious! Great as a main course but you can buy the mini eggplant and use them as a side dish or appetizer! A must try!

Provided by Elaina

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 1h

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 eggplant, halved lengthwise
salt and pepper to taste
½ cup olive oil, divided
1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
½ cup white wine
2 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Scoop out the flesh of the eggplant, chop, and reserve. Season shells with salt and pepper, and coat with some olive oil; set aside.
  • Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium high heat. Saute sausage and garlic until sausage is evenly brown. Stir in the reserved chopped eggplant. Season with parsley, salt and pepper. Pour in wine, and cook 5 minutes. Mix in the bread crumbs and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. If mixture is dry, stir in more olive oil. Stuff mixture into eggplant shells, and sprinkle top with remaining Parmesan cheese.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until eggplant is tender.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 976.5 calories, Carbohydrate 51.6 g, Cholesterol 97.9 mg, Fat 69.7 g, Fiber 7.7 g, Protein 31 g, SaturatedFat 19.6 g, Sodium 2082.4 mg, Sugar 7.1 g

EGGPLANT STUFFED WITH RICE AND TOMATOES



Eggplant Stuffed With Rice and Tomatoes image

Travel anywhere in the Mediterranean region, and you will find stuffed vegetables. In Provence, they tend to be filled with meat (a way to stretch leftover stews), but in the Middle East and Greece rice and grain fillings prevail. Regional cooks make abundant use of fresh herbs like parsley, dill and mint, and sweet spices like cinnamon and allspice. Fragrant stuffed vegetables can be made ahead of the meal and served hot or at room temperature. They don't require a lot of patience to assemble - they just need a long simmer and then a rest to let the flavors mingle and intensify. Eat them as a main dish or a side, and serve up leftovers for lunch. The filling for these irresistible stuffed eggplants is also good for peppers and squash. Substitute the chopped flesh of the summer squash for the eggplant, and just use the rice and tomatoes for peppers. Make these a day ahead for best results.

Provided by Martha Rose Shulman

Categories     dinner, weekday, main course

Time 2h15m

Yield Serves six

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 1/2 to 3 pounds small or medium eggplants
Salt to taste
1 1/2 pounds tomatoes, grated on the large holes of a box grater
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 to 6 garlic cloves to taste, minced
1/2 cup uncooked long-grain or basmati rice
1/2 cup finely chopped cilantro
3 tablespoons finely chopped mint
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Juice of 2 lemons
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon sugar
3 tablespoons tomato paste

Steps:

  • Cut the eggplants in half. With a grapefruit spoon or a small knife, remove the flesh to within 1/2 inch of the skins.
  • Sprinkle the eggplant shells with salt, and let sit for 30 minutes while you prepare the remaining ingredients. Chop the flesh, and steam for 20 minutes, until tender.
  • In a large bowl, combine a third of the tomatoes, the steamed eggplant, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, all but 1 clove of the garlic, the rice, herbs and the juice of one of the lemons. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Oil a large flameproof casserole or an earthenware casserole set over a flame tamer. Combine the remaining tomatoes, olive oil, allspice, cinnamon, lemon juice, sugar, tomato paste and remaining garlic in the casserole. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Fill the eggplant shells with the rice mixture, and arrange in the casserole in a single layer. Add water if necessary to cover about a third of the eggplant. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, cover tightly and reduce the heat to low. Simmer 45 minutes to an hour until the eggplant and rice are tender. Remove from the heat.
  • Using two spatulas (the eggplants are soft at this point), transfer the eggplants to a platter. Bring the sauce to a boil. If it is not already thick, reduce until thick and fragrant. Pour over the eggplants, and allow to cool to warm or room temperature. They're good chilled as well. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or cilantro if desired.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 210, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 35 grams, Fat 8 grams, Fiber 9 grams, Protein 5 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 882 milligrams, Sugar 12 grams

LAMB AND RICE STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS



Lamb and Rice Stuffed Cabbage Rolls image

I love lamb burgers and lamb meatballs, so it's no surprise that I love lamb-stuffed cabbage rolls, and I'm happy to report that these particular 'lambage rolls' were the best non-beef version yet!

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Stuffed Main Dish Recipes     Stuffed Cabbage

Time 2h45m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 23

¼ cup butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 pinch dried oregano
1 pound ground lamb
1 cup white rice
2 teaspoons salt
¼ cup packed chopped Italian parsley
2 tablespoons sliced almonds
1 tablespoon dried currants
1 head cabbage
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 bay leaves
1 cup tomato puree
3 ½ cups chicken broth
½ onion, sliced
¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley

Steps:

  • Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat; heat oil in the melted butter. Cook and stir 1/2 diced onion until translucent, about 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook and stir for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in 1 teaspoon black pepper, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and oregano. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
  • Combine lamb, rice, 2 teaspoons salt, 1/4 cup parsley, almonds, and currants in a large bowl. Add cooled onion mixture and mix until combined. Cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to use.
  • Fill a large pot halfway with water and bring to a boil. Remove the core from the cabbage head and place the head in the boiling water. Cover and simmer until leaves begin to fall away, about 5 minutes. Remove the 2 outer layers of leaves to a paper towel-lined plate, cover and continue cooking for 1 to 2 more minutes. Remove the remaining large leaves to the plate. You will need 8 large and about 7 smaller leaves.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Take 1 cabbage leaf and remove the root end. Place about 1/2 cup of the lamb mixture toward the bottom edge of the cabbage leaf and roll into a log. Repeat with remaining lamb mixture and 7 more large leaves to create 8 cabbage rolls.
  • Line the bottom of a large casserole dish or Dutch oven with 4 or 5 smaller cabbage leaves. Place cabbage rolls on top; season with salt and black pepper. Add bay leaves and tomato puree. Pour in chicken broth. Sprinkle 1/2 sliced onion over the top and cover with 3 or 4 more cabbage leaves. Cover casserole.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until the lamb is tender and the rice is cooked, 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 30 minutes. Serve with pan juices poured over the top and garnished with feta cheese and 2 tablespoons parsley.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 739.9 calories, Carbohydrate 69.6 g, Cholesterol 119.1 mg, Fat 38.6 g, Fiber 11.1 g, Protein 31.5 g, SaturatedFat 16.4 g, Sodium 2564.2 mg, Sugar 17.3 g

EGGPLANTS STUFFED WITH LAMB, RICE, AND CURRANTS



Eggplants Stuffed with Lamb, Rice, and Currants image

A small amount of ground lamb adds a lot of flavor to this dish, which is further enhanced by the meatiness of the eggplant.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Meat & Poultry     Lamb Recipes

Time 1h25m

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3 ounces ground lamb (90 percent lean)
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1 2/3 cups chicken stock
1 cup short-grain brown rice
3 tablespoons dried currants
4 small eggplants (about 8 ounces each)
1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
Garnish: chopped fresh parsley and mint,and finely grated lemon zest

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in an ovenproof pot over medium heat. Cook onion, stirring often, until soft and lightly caramelized, 10 to 12 minutes. Add lamb, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook until lamb is cooked through and no longer pink, 3 to 4 minutes. Add stock, rice, and currants. Bring to a simmer. Cover, and transfer to oven on lowest rack. Cook for 1 hour and 20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, slice eggplants in half lengthwise; brush each cut side with 1/4 teaspoon oil. Roast, cut sides up, on a rimmed baking sheet on top oven rack until centers are soft and tops are browned, about 40 minutes. Let cool.
  • Gently scrape eggplant flesh into a large bowl, reserving skins. Stir in lamb-rice mixture, chopped herbs, and lemon zest. Divide stuffing among eggplant skins. Garnish with more herbs and lemon zest.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 376 g, Cholesterol 15 g, Fat 9 g, Fiber 11 g, Protein 12 g, Sodium 335 g

STUFFED EGGPLANT WITH LAMB



Stuffed Eggplant with Lamb image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h30m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

6 Italian or Japanese eggplants
1 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 onions, finely chopped
1 pound ground lamb
3 tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
2 green bell peppers, seeded and chopped
Salt
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Steps:

  • Peel the eggplants lengthwise in 1/2-inch strips "zebra-style," leaving a 1/2-inch strip of skin between each peel. Trim off long stems so eggplant will fit in pan. Heat oil in a large, deep frying pan. In batches, fry eggplant until golden all over and beginning to soften, turning frequently. Transfer eggplant to a baking dish, placing them side by side, and cut a deep slit lengthwise in each eggplant. Set aside.
  • Heat the butter in the skillet, add the onions and saute until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the lamb and cook for 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes, bell peppers and salt, and saute until all the juices are absorbed, about 5 more minutes. Stir in the parsley, and lemon juice, adjust seasonings and remove from heat.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Stuff the eggplants tightly with the ground lamb mixture, enlarging the opening with your hand. Add a little water to the baking dish, cover, and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until eggplants are very tender.

SPICED LAMB-STUFFED EGGPLANTS



Spiced Lamb-Stuffed Eggplants image

Provided by Ina Garten

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h40m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

4 baby eggplants (6 to 7 inches long and 8 to 10 ounces each)
Good olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion
4 teaspoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
1 pound lean ground lamb
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup dry red wine
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, such as San Marzano, undrained
1 cup marinara sauce, such as Rao's
1/3 cup minced fresh parsley
1 1/2 cups fresh ricotta (12 ounces)
4 ounces fresh goat cheese, such as Montrachet
2 extra-large egg yolks
1 1/2 tablespoons julienned fresh mint leaves, plus extra for serving

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Cut the eggplants in half lengthwise, including the stems. Using a sharp paring knife, scoop out some of the flesh, leaving a shell that is 1/3 inch thick and reserving the scooped-out eggplant. Place the eggplant shells snugly in a single layer in a large (10-by-14-inch) rectangular baking dish. Brush the eggplant all over with 1/4 cup olive oil (use it all!) and sprinkle with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Pour 1/4 cup water in the baking dish, cover tightly with aluminum foil, and bake for 30 minutes, until the shells are tender when pierced with a small knife. Remove from the oven, discard the foil, and leave the oven on.
  • Meanwhile, for the lamb filling, in a large (12-inch) skillet, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and saute for 5 minutes, tossing occasionally, until tender. Cut the reserved scooped-out eggplant into 1/2-inch dice (you should have about 2 cups). Add the eggplant to the onion and cook for 5 minutes, adding more oil if it seems dry. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant. Add the ground lamb and cook, mashing lightly with a fork, for 5 to 7 minutes, until no longer pink. Add the oregano and cinnamon and cook for one minute. Add the wine, tomatoes, marinara, parsley, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, until the liquid evaporates. Spoon the filling into the eggplant halves in the baking dish. (You may have a little extra filling.)
  • In a medium bowl, mash the ricotta, goat cheese, egg yolks, mint, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper with a fork. With a spoon, place large dollops of the ricotta mixture on the lamb filling and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the filling is hot and the topping is lightly browned. Serve warm, sprinkled with extra mint.

EGGPLANTS STUFFED WITH LAMB AND RICE



EGGPLANTS STUFFED WITH LAMB AND RICE image

Categories     Lamb     Bake     Dinner

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

1Tbs plus1 tsp EVO
1 medium onion chopped
3 oz ground lamb
course salt and pepper
1 2/3 cup chicken stock
1 cup short grain rice
3 tbs currants
4 small eggplants (8 oz each)
1 cup flat leaf parsley chopped
1/4 cup fresh mint
finely grated zest of 1 lemon
garnish with mint, parsley and lemon zest

Steps:

  • 1) Preheat oven to 400. Heat 2 tsp EVO in ovenproof pot over medium heat. Cook onion til soft and lightly caramelized (10-12 minutes.) Add lamb, season with 1tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper. cook until lamb is no longer pink 3-4 minutes. Add stock, rice and currants. Bring to a simmmer, cover and transfer to ovenon lowest rack. Cook for 1 hour and 20 minutes. 2) Meanwhile, slice eggplant in half lengthwise, brush each side with EVO. Roast, cut sides up on a rimmed baking sheet on top oven rack until centers are soft and tops are browned, about 40 minutes. Let cool. 3). Gently scrape eggplant flesh into a large bowl, reserving skins. Stir in Lamb-rice mixture, chopped herbs and lemon zest. Divide stuffing among eggplant skins. Garnish with herbs and lemon zest.

STUFFED EGGPLANT WITH LAMB AND PINE NUTS



Stuffed Eggplant With Lamb and Pine Nuts image

A rich, unctuous dish, adapted from "Jerusalem: A Cookbook", by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi. Best served with simple sides, like rice or bread and Middle Eastern pickled vegetables.

Provided by zeldaz51

Categories     Lamb/Sheep

Time 2h

Yield 2 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 medium eggplant, halved lengthwise (about 10 ounces)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 large yellow onion, finely chopped
1/4 lb ground lamb
2 tablespoons pine nuts
2 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley
1 teaspoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon granulated sugar, divided
1/2 cup water
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon tamarind paste
1 cinnamon stick
salt, pepper

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 425. Place eggplant halves, skin side down, in an ovenproof pan that holds them snugly. Brush the flesh with half the olive oil and season with 1/4 teaspoons salt and plenty of black pepper. Roast for 20 minutes, until tops are golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly in the pan.
  • Reduce the oven temperature to 375 after removing the pan of eggplant.
  • While the eggplants roast, start the stuffing: heat the remaining olive oil in a frying pan. Mix together the cumin, paprika, and ground cinnamon and add half the mixed spices to the pan, along with the onions. Cook on medium for about 8 minutes, stirring often so spices don't burn, then add the lamb, pine nuts, parsley, tomato paste, 1/2 teaspoons of the sugar, 1/4 teaspoons salt, and some black pepper. Continue to cook and stir another 8 minutes to cook the meat through.
  • Place the remaining half of the spice mix in a bowl and add the water, lemon juice, tamarind, the remaining 1/2 teaspoons sugar, the cinnamon stick, and 1/4 teaspoons salt. Mix well and pour this mixture into the bottom of the eggplant baking pan.
  • Spoon the lamb mixture on top of the eggplant halves. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil, return to the oven, and bake for 75 to 90 minutes,basting the eggplants with the sauce every 30 minutes and adding more water if necessary. The eggplants should be completely soft and the sauce thick at the end of the cooking time. Allow to cool slightly before serving, or serve at room temperature.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 441.7, Fat 33.6, SaturatedFat 8.2, Cholesterol 41.5, Sodium 68.9, Carbohydrate 25.9, Fiber 11.8, Sugar 11.4, Protein 14.4

TURKISH STUFFED EGGPLANT WITH SPICY LAMB AND RICE



Turkish Stuffed Eggplant with Spicy Lamb and Rice image

Categories     Bread     Sauce     Lamb     Rice     Side     Bake     Eggplant

Yield makes 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 26

Lamb and Rice Filling
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, diced
1 small poblano pepper, seeded and diced
2 large garlic cloves, minced
6-8 ounces ground lamb, or a combination of lamb and beef
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon Aleppo pepper, or 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 teaspoon each ground cinnamon, allspice, and cumin
1 cup diced tomatoes, canned or fresh (peeled and seeded)
1 tablespoon tomato puree
1/4 cup Chicken Stock (p. 206), lamb stock, beef stock, or water
2 cups cooked rice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon chopped fresh dill, optional
Eggplant
1/4 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon paprika or Aleppo pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus additional for salting the eggplant if necessary
2 medium to large eggplants (about 2 pounds total)
To Assemble
Cooked eggplant
Lamb and rice filling
1/4 cup Cheesy Bread Crumb Topping (p. 42), or plain dry bread crumbs moistened with a little olive oil

Steps:

  • Lamb and Rice Filling
  • Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat, then add the onion and pepper, stir, and cook for 3-5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and crumble in the ground meat. Raise the heat to medium-high and cook, stirring, for 5-6 minutes, until the meat has lost its pink color and the mixture is starting to dry out and brown a little in the pan. Tilt the pan and spoon out any excess fat from the lamb. Sprinkle in the seasonings, stir, then add the tomatoes and puree, then the stock. Stir and scrape the bottom of the pan to dissolve the brown bits that have accumulated. Add the rice and herbs, and stir and cook a couple of minutes, until warmed through. Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking. When the filling is well mixed, moist, and flavorful-but not wet-remove it from the heat and let it cool.
  • Eggplant
  • Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  • Combine all the ingredients except the eggplants in a small bowl.
  • Cut the stem end from each eggplant, then cut it in half lengthwise. Take a look at the flesh, and if it is creamy white and not too seedy, don't worry about salting it. However, if it is a little darker, with numerous seeds, there's a good chance the juices will be slightly bitter, so you'll want to extract them. To do this, sprinkle the cut sides with about a teaspoon of salt each and place them cut side down on a plate or tray lined with a double thickness of paper towels. Place another plate or tray on top and weight that with a couple of pounds (cans of beans work well). Set aside for 10-15 minutes, then remove the weight and brush the salt off the surface, or rinse with running water and pat dry. Cut a shallow crosshatch pattern in the cut surface of the eggplant and brush generously with the flavored oil. Place the eggplant halves cut sides up on a lightly oiled baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes, rotating the pan once, until the eggplants are very soft when you squeeze the sides and the surface is golden brown. Cool completely.
  • To Assemble
  • With your fingers or a spoon, press the tender eggplant flesh to the sides, making a bed for the filling. Divide the filling among the halves. Sprinkle the bread crumb topping evenly over the filling and pat it lightly. Bake the filled eggplants for about 15 minutes, or until they're heated through and the crumbs are browned.

YUMMY STUFFED EGGPLANT WITH MEAT AND RICE



Yummy Stuffed Eggplant with Meat and Rice image

Make and share this Yummy Stuffed Eggplant with Meat and Rice recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Mirj2338

Categories     Vegetable

Time 2h

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 lbs small eggplants or 2 medium eggplants
salt and pepper
1 -2 tablespoon tomato paste
4 cloves garlic, halved
1 tablespoon olive oil or 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 cup long-grain rice, rinsed and drained
salt & freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil or 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1/2 lb lean ground beef
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
3 tablespoons slivered almonds, toasted (optional)

Steps:

  • Cut the stem ends from the eggplants.
  • Halve the eggplants lengthwise.
  • Peel if desired; if the eggplant is fresh, there is no need to peel it.
  • Use a spoon to scoop out the centers, leaving boat-shaped shells.
  • Keep the flesh you scooped out to add to the stuffing.
  • Sprinkle the shells with salt.
  • Put them in a colander upside down and leave to drain for 1/2 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees C.
  • Prepare the stuffing: Add the rice to 3 cups boiling salted water and boil for 10 minutes until not quite tender.
  • Rinse under cold running water and drain well.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a frying pan, add the onion and cook over low heat until soft but not brown.
  • Leave to cool.
  • Mix with the beef, parsley, cumin, turmeric and almonds.
  • Chop the flesh removed from the eggplant.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons oil, add the chopped eggplant and sprinkle with salt.
  • Saute over medium-low heat, stirring often, until tender, about 10 minutes.
  • Leave to cool and mix with the stuffing.
  • Taste for seasoning; if you prefer not to taste a mixture that contains raw beef, broil or microwave a teaspoon of the mixture and taste it for seasoning.
  • Rinse the eggplant shells, pat them dry and put them in a baking dish.
  • Fill them with the stuffing.
  • Mix the tomato paste with 1/4 cup water and spoon the mixture over the eggplant.
  • Add enough water to the dish to cover the eggplant by one third.
  • Add the garlic to the dish.
  • Spoon 1 tablespoon oil over the eggplant.
  • Cover and bake 15 minutes.
  • Reduce the heat to 350 F and continue baking, covered, 15 more minutes.
  • Uncover and bake, basting occasionally, 30 minutes or until the eggplant is very tender.

Tips:

  • Choose the Right Eggplants: Select firm, medium-sized eggplants with smooth, unblemished skin. Avoid eggplants that are too large or have blemishes, as they may be bitter.
  • Soak the Rice: Soaking the rice before cooking helps to reduce the cooking time and results in fluffier rice. Soak the rice for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight.
  • Use a Variety of Spices: Don't be afraid to experiment with different spices to create a flavorful filling. Common spices used in Mediterranean cuisine include cumin, coriander, paprika, and cinnamon.
  • Brown the Meat: Browning the meat before adding it to the filling helps to develop flavor and prevent the meat from becoming dry. Brown the meat in a hot skillet over medium-high heat until it is browned on all sides.
  • Stuff the Eggplants Carefully: To prevent the filling from falling out, stuff the eggplants carefully and tightly. Use a spoon or your fingers to gently press the filling into the eggplant halves.
  • Bake at a High Temperature: Baking the eggplants at a high temperature helps to create a crispy exterior and a tender interior. Bake the eggplants at 400°F (200°C) for 30-40 minutes, or until the eggplants are tender and the filling is cooked through.

Conclusion:

Eggplants stuffed with lamb, rice, and currants is a delicious and satisfying dish that is perfect for a special occasion or a weeknight meal. With its tender eggplants, flavorful filling, and crispy exterior, this dish is sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting way to prepare eggplants, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!

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