Baked Stuffed Eggplants With Minced Meat - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 kg small eggplant
400 g coarsely ground beef
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 large tomatoes, peeled and sliced
2 tablespoons tomato paste, dissolved in 3 cups water
1/4 cup raw pine nuts
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3/4 cup vegetable oil, for frying eggplants
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, for frying onion, pine nuts and meat

Preparation

In a deep skillet, heat the vegetable oil and fry the eggplants on high heat until tender and brown. Remove from oil and place on a kitchen absorbent paper.
In another skillet fry the chopped onion until golden and tender, add the pine nuts, toss for a few seconds then add the ground meat with the cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and pepper and stir until meat is brown. Set aside.
In a baking tray, place the fried eggplants and make a slit, lengthwise, in the middle of each one. Fill each eggplant with enough ground meat.
Layer the tomato slices over them and pour the dissolved tomato paste. Make sure the eggplants are covered with water. Sprinkle with salt.
Bake in the oven on medium heat for around 30 minute Do not allow all liquid to evaporate.
Serve with vermicelli rice on the side.