Baked Eggplant Kebab: Journey to the Peak of Taste
Baked eggplant kebab is one of the indispensable dishes of Turkish cuisine, and it adorns our tables especially in the summer months. This delicious dish combines the soft texture of eggplant with the perfect harmony of meat. In addition, it offers a healthy and practical option thanks to being baked in the oven. Here, let's examine in detail how to make baked eggplant kebab, its ingredients and cooking stages.
Materials
- For Kebab:
- 3 medium eggplants
- 500 grams of minced meat (preferably beef or lamb)
- 1 onion (grated)
- 2 cloves of garlic (crushed)
- 1 teaspoon of cumin
- 1 tea spoon black pepper
- 1 tea spoon salt
- 1 tablespoon breadcrumbs (optional)
- 2 tomato (grated)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 cup of hot water
- 1 tablespoons oil
- 1 tea spoon salt
- 1 teaspoon of ground red pepper
- 2 pieces of green pepper
- 1 tomatoes (sliced)
How to Make Eggplant Kebab in the Oven
Preparing the Eggplants: The first step is to peel the eggplants in strips. After peeling the eggplants, you need to cut them into round slices. You can remove the bitter juice by soaking them in salt water for about 15-20 minutes. This process makes the eggplants more delicious and soft. After the soaking period, rinse the eggplants and dry them with a towel.
Preparation of Meatball Mixture: Put the minced meat in a deep bowl. Add grated onion, crushed garlic, cumin, black pepper, salt and optionally breadcrumbs. Knead all the ingredients well to obtain a homogeneous mixture. Take walnut-sized pieces from the mixture, roll them and prepare meatballs.
Arranging on the Tray Stage
Take the prepared tray and first place a slice of eggplant. Then place a meatball on top. Repeat this process until all the ingredients are finished. Arranging the eggplant and meatballs in an orderly manner provides both a visually elegant presentation and creates a more homogeneous cooking process during cooking.
Preparing and Cooking the Sauce
Preparing the sauce: In a bowl, mix grated tomatoes, tomato paste, hot water, oil, salt and red pepper powder together and mix well. Pour the sauce over the eggplants and meatballs that you have placed on the tray. This sauce will enhance the flavor of the kebab and add an extra aroma to the dish.
Cooking process: Cover the tray with aluminum foil and place it in a preheated oven at 180 degrees. After about 30 minutes, remove the foil and continue cooking. Cook until the eggplants and meatballs are soft, about 40-45 minutes in total. The temperature of the oven and the cooking time are important factors that affect the flavor of the dish.
Service Recommendations
After cooking the eggplant kebab in the oven, add sliced tomatoes and green peppers on top. Before serving, letting the dish rest for a bit helps the flavors blend better. You can serve the dish with rice or bulgur pilaf to create a satisfying main course.
Baked eggplant kebab is a great option to impress your guests and offer a special dinner to your family. You can add elegance to your tables with this dish that appeals to both the eye and the palate. Enjoy your meal in advance!
