Antolian Spoon is providing you homemade good Turkish food alternatives, Karnıyarık is a classic national food of Turkey made with eggplants stuffed with a flavorful mixture of ground meat, onions, tomatoes, and spices. It's a turkish small plate  and it’s a staple in Turkish home cooking, known for its delicious balance of flavors. Here's a traditional recipe for making Karnıyarık at home:

Ingredients:

Eggplants:

• 6 medium eggplants 🍆
• Olive oil 🫒
• Salt 🧂

Filling:

• 300g ground beef/lamb 🍖
• 1 onion, chopped 🧅
• 2 garlic cloves, minced 🧄
• 2 tomatoes, chopped 🍅
• 1 tbsp tomato paste 🍅
• 1 green pepper, chopped 🌶️ (optional)
• Paprika, cumin, salt & pepper 🌶️🧂
• Parsley, chopped 🌿

Tomato Sauce:

• 1 tbsp tomato paste 🍅
• 1 cup water 💧
• Salt & pepper 🧂

Instructions:

1. Prepare Eggplants: Peel in stripes, soak in salted water 30 mins, then fry in olive oil until golden. 🍆
2. Make Filling: Sauté onions, add meat, garlic, tomato paste, and spices, then stir in parsley. 🌿
3. Stuff Eggplants: Slice each eggplant and fill with meat mixture. 🍲
4. Tomato Sauce: Mix tomato paste with water, season, and pour around eggplants. 💧🍅
5. Bake: Top with tomato slices and green peppers, cover with foil, bake at 180°C (350°F) for 30-35 mins. 🍅🌶️
6. Serve: Garnish with parsley and serve hot with rice or yogurt. 🍽️

Enjoy your Karnıyarık! 🎉