Eggplant with Meat and Mushrooms

Ingredients

• 2 large eggplants
• Meat pieces (stewing beef or lamb)
• 1 large onion
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 large red bell pepper
• Fresh or canned mushrooms
• 2 ripe tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• A pinch of seven-spice mix
• Salt
• Hot chili powder to taste
• For more eggplant ideas, see this link: Baked Potato and Eggplant Tray

Method

1. Peel the eggplants and cut them into medium cubes
2. Fry them in plenty of hot oil.. then place them in a colander to drain well
3. In a pot.. put the meat and sauté until it dries and changes color.. then add the butter and coarsely chopped onion and sauté
4. When the onion wilts.. add the red bell pepper cut into cubes.. sauté .... then add the mushrooms and stir
5. When the vegetables soften.. add the chopped tomatoes and the tomato sauce with 1 cup of water and stir
6. Add the spices and salt, cover and leave them on low heat until the meat is well cooked
7. Finally add the fried eggplant and stir gently to preserve the eggplant pieces' shape
8. Let the eggplant with the meat and mushrooms simmer on low heat so the flavors meld
9. Serve the eggplant with the meat and mushrooms with white rice or rice cooked with vermicelli
10. Fatima Jammoul
11. For more ideas for cooking eggplant .. here is the link: Oven-Baked Potato and Eggplant Tray