Description
A delicious layered casserole featuring eggplants, rice, and ground beef or lamb.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large eggplants
- 2 cups basmati rice
- 1 lb ground beef or lamb
- 2 large tomatoes, sliced
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup pine nuts or cashews, toasted
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare Eggplant: Slice the eggplants into 1/2 inch thick rounds. Sprinkle with salt and let them sit for 30 minutes to draw out moisture, then pat dry.
- Cook Meat: In a pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and garlic, sautéing until translucent. Add ground beef or lamb, breaking it up as it cooks. Season with allspice, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Once browned, set aside.
- Cook Rice: Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Cook the rice according to package instructions and set aside.
- Fry Eggplant: In the same pan, add more olive oil if needed. Fry the eggplant slices until golden brown on each side. Place on paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Assemble Casserole: In a greased baking dish, layer fried eggplant slices covering the bottom and sides of the dish. Add a layer of sliced tomatoes. Spread half of the cooked rice over the tomatoes. Add the meat mixture on top of the rice. Cover with the remaining rice and press down gently to compact.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
- Toast Nuts: In a small dry pan, toast the pine nuts or cashews until golden.
- Serve: Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before flipping it onto a serving platter. Garnish with toasted nuts and fresh parsley.
Notes
- For a vegetarian option, replace the meat with lentils or mushrooms.
- Use a non-stick skillet to fry eggplants to prevent sticking.
- Layering the dish tightly will help it hold together when flipped.
- Adjust seasoning to taste and experiment with additional spices like cumin or paprika for extra flavor.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 75mg