Good food. Less fuss.
From the EZdish collection

Karnıyarık (Turkish Stuffed Eggplants)

Turkish · Main

A classic Mediterranean dish featuring tender eggplants stuffed with a savory mixture of sautéed ground beef, onions, garlic, and tomatoes, baked in a rich tomato sauce.

IntermediateGluten freeHigh protein
Jump to recipe
Karnıyarık (Turkish Stuffed Eggplants) — recipe cover
1 hrA little patience, a lot of flavor
Prep time20 min
Cook time40 min
Servings4 people
DifficultyIntermediate
Let's make something good

How to make it

5 steps. Take it one step at a time.

  1. Peel the eggplants

    Peel the eggplants in stripes (zebra pattern). Soak them in salted water for 20 minutes to remove bitterness, then pat dry thoroughly.

    20 min
  2. Brush the eggplants

    Brush the eggplants with olive oil and place them on a baking sheet. Roast in a preheated oven at 200°C (392°F) for about 20-25 minutes until softened.

    25 min
  3. Heat the remaining olive oil and sauté the onions and green peppers

    In a large pan, heat the remaining olive oil and sauté the onions and green peppers until soft. Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Stir in the garlic, tomatoes, 1 tablespoon of tomato paste, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 10 minutes, then stir in the parsley.

    15 min
  4. Slit the roasted eggplants lengthwise without cutting all the way through

    Slit the roasted eggplants lengthwise without cutting all the way through. Press the center open to create a pocket. Stuff generously with the meat mixture.

  5. Mix the remaining 1 tablespoon of tomato paste

    Mix the remaining 1 tablespoon of tomato paste with 1 cup of warm water and pour it around the eggplants in a baking dish. Bake at 180°C (356°F) for 20-25 minutes.

    25 min

A little kitchen wisdom

Traditional Karnıyarık is often fried, but roasting the eggplants is a healthier alternative that maintains the same great flavor. For the best results, use medium-sized, firm eggplants.

What you'll need

Baking dishFrying panBaking sheetPeeler
Keep the good going

For now. And for later.

Make it ahead

The filling can be prepared a day in advance. You can also stuff the eggplants and keep them refrigerated until ready to bake.

Store & enjoy

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat in the oven at 170°C (338°F) until warmed through to maintain texture.

Your next favorite, all in one place

A recipe worth keeping.

Save your favorites, plan your meals, and make cooking feel easy with EZdish.

Get the app
Keep exploring

More recipes to try

An AI-created recipe from the EZdish collection. Ingredient quantities and techniques have not been independently kitchen-tested. Published on this website . Updated . First published in the EZdish collection .

Karnıyarık (Turkish Stuffed Eggplants)
Step 1 of 5

Peel the eggplants

Peel the eggplants in stripes (zebra pattern). Soak them in salted water for 20 minutes to remove bitterness, then pat dry thoroughly.

20 min