Sheikh Al Mehshe

Ingredients:

For the Stuffed Eggplants:

- 6 medium-sized eggplants
- 225g ground beef or lamb
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2 tomatoes, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup pine nuts (optional)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Olive oil for cooking

For the Tomato Sauce:

- 2 cups crushed tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions:

Prepare the Eggplants:

1. Cut the eggplants in half lengthwise.

2. Scoop out the centers of the eggplants, leaving about a 1.3 cm shell. Chop the removed eggplant flesh and set it aside.

3. Sprinkle the eggplant shells with salt and let them sit for about 30 minutes to draw out excess moisture.

4. After 30 minutes, rinse the eggplant shells and pat them dry.

Prepare the Filling:

1. In a pan, heat olive oil over medium heat.

2. Sauté the chopped onions until they are translucent.

3. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.

4. Add the ground meat and cook until browned.

5. Stir in the chopped eggplant flesh, tomatoes, tomato paste, cooked rice, pine nuts (if using), chopped parsley, salt, and black pepper.

6. Cook the mixture for about 10-15 minutes until the ingredients are well combined.

Stuff the Eggplants:

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C

2. Stuff the eggplant shells with the prepared meat and rice mixture.

3. Place the stuffed eggplants in a baking dish.

Prepare the Tomato Sauce:

1. In a bowl, mix together the crushed tomatoes, minced garlic, tomato paste, ground cinnamon, ground allspice, salt, black pepper, and olive oil.

2. Pour the tomato sauce over the stuffed eggplants.

Bake:

1. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.

2. Bake in the preheated oven for about 40-45 minutes or until the eggplants are tender.

Serve:

1. Allow the Sheikh El Mehshe to cool slightly before serving.

2. Optionally, garnish with additional chopped parsley before serving.

Serve Sheikh El Mehshe warm as a main dish. It pairs well with a side of rice or bread. Enjoy your delicious stuffed eggplants!

شيخ المحشي 

:المكونات