Lebanese Style Stuffed Eggplant

By 5har0n_nguy3n

Ingredients

• 6 small or chinese eggplants (about 6 ounces each)
• 1/2 cup long-grain or jasmine rice
• olive oil
• 3 tablespoons pine nuts
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 cup chicken stock or reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes in juice
• 3/4 pound ground lamb or beef chuck (not lean)
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 lemon
• Chopped flat-leaf parsley & mint

Details

Servings 6

Preparation

Step 1

Cut a wedge lengthwise along eggplant & ollow out each eggplant with a melon-ball cutter, working from bottom end and leaving about 1/3 inch eggplant flesh along interior walls.
Rinse rice in a sieve under cold water until water runs clear. Drain well.
Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Fry pine nuts, stirring frequently, until golden, then transfer with a slotted spoon to a bowl. Sauté onion and garlic, stirring occasionally, until golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer 1/2 cup onion mixture to bowl with pine nuts. T remaining onion, add stock, tomatoes, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to skillet and simmer, uncovered, while stuffing eggplant.
For stuffing, add rice, meat, allspice, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper to bowl with onion/pinenut mixture and mix well with your hands, but don't overmix.
Stuff eggplant with meat mixture, being careful not to pack tightly (rice will expand during cooking). Transfer stuffed eggplants to skillet with tomato sauce and simmer, covered, carefully turning once, until rice is cooked through, 50 minutes to 1 hour (cut 1 in half to test).
If sauce is watery, transfer eggplant to a plate and boil sauce, stirring occasionally, until thickened slightly, 3 to 5 minutes, then adjust seasoning if necessary. Return stuffed eggplant to sauce. Squeeze lemon over dish and sprinkle with parsley & mint before serving.