Eggplant casserole with meat
4 servings
80 minutes
Eggplant casserole with meat is a soulful dish of Russian cuisine that embodies rich flavor traditions. The combination of tender eggplants, juicy minced meat, and aromatic tomatoes gives the dish a rich and balanced taste. The casserole is topped with a golden crust of cheese that adds softness and zest. This dish is especially loved for its versatility: it can be served as a main hot course, complemented with fresh herbs and rye bread. The origins of the casserole are linked to traditional Russian cuisine, where vegetables and meat were layered and baked together to create harmony of textures and aromas. It is perfect for cozy family dinners, delighting with its rich flavor and homely warmth.
1
Slightly sauté finely chopped onion in a pan, add the minced meat. When the meat is almost ready, season with salt and pepper, add oregano and 3 cloves of finely chopped garlic. Keep on heat until fully cooked.
- Onion: 1 head
- Ground beef: 200 g
- Garlic: 6 cloves
- Spices: to taste
2
Wash the eggplants and cut them into thin slices. Sprinkle with salt and let sit for about 30 minutes.
- Eggplants: 5 piece
- Spices: to taste
3
Make slight cuts on the skin of the tomatoes and place them in boiling water for a minute, then remove and peel them. Cut the peeled tomatoes into cubes and place them in a pan. Stew until the water evaporates, adding spices and the remaining finely chopped garlic at the end.
- Tomatoes: 6 pieces
- Garlic: 6 cloves
- Spices: to taste
4
Fry the eggplants in a pan, adding a little vegetable oil occasionally.
- Eggplants: 5 piece
5
Take a deep baking dish and layer the prepared ingredients. First, place 1/3 of the eggplants, then half of the minced meat, top with half of the cooked tomatoes, and pour in 200 ml of sour cream. Then again eggplants, the remaining minced meat, and tomatoes. The last layer is eggplants. Pour sour cream on top again and place in the oven for 25-30 minutes.
- Eggplants: 5 piece
- Ground beef: 200 g
- Tomatoes: 6 pieces
- Sour cream 30%: 350 g
- Sour cream 30%: 350 g
6
Five minutes before it's ready, sprinkle the casserole with grated cheese.
- Cheddar cheese: 50 g