Hünkar Beğendi (Sultan's Delight)

User Reviews

5.0

45 reviews
Excellent

Hünkar Beğendi (Sultan's Delight)

Smokey & cheesy aubergine purée topped with slow cooked lamb stew, an absolute Turkish delight!

I Made This!

Be the first!

Save this

Be the first!

Ingredients

Servings

Lamb stew

  • 800 g Diced lamb
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large onion (diced)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 2 Turkish green peppers (diced)
  • 2 large tomatoes (diced)
  • 1 teaspoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper paste (optional, can be replaced with tomato paste)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • 1 cup chicken stock or water (240 ml)

Smokey Aubergine Pure

  • 750 g aubergine
  • 40 g butter
  • 40 g all purpose flour
  • 400 ml full fat milk (warm)
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 100 g cheddar or kasar cheese (or both) (grated)
  • chopped parsley (to garnish)
Add to Shopping List

Instructions

Cooking the Lamb Stew

  1. Heat a large heavy-based pan or dutch oven on medium to high heat.
  2. Add olive oil and brown the lamb, do it in 2 batches for a nice and even browning.
  3. Lower the heat and add the onions. Saute until soft and slightly browned.
  4. Add the peppers and garlic and cook for a few more minutes without burning the garlic.
  5. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, pepper paste, cumin, salt, and black pepper, and give a good stir before adding the chicken stock or water.
  6. Bring it to a boil, take the lid off and gently simmer on low heat for 1.5 hours or until the lamb is tender.
  7. Check the liquid and add more if needed. Stir the lamb every half an hour or so to make sure it doesn't stick to the bottom. If there is too much liquid in the pan, cook further without the lid until the sauce thickens.
  8. Start preparing the smoky aubergine purée while the lamb is cooking.

Smokey Aubergine (Eggplant) Purée

  1. Prick the aubergines with a toothpick a few times and place them on a gas burner or BBQ.
  2. Cook them until the aubergines are softened and the skin is charred turning frequently.
  3. Alternatively, bake them in a 200° C (390° F) preheated oven for about 25 minutes or until the flesh is soft, but they won't have the smokey taste we are after.
  4. Place the aubergines in a bowl and let them cool down.
  5. Peel the aubergines and discard the seeds if there are any. Finely chop and place in a sieve to get rid of its bitter water. Set aside until needed.
  6. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, add the flour and cook for 2 minutes, stirring continuously.
  7. Whisk in a little of the warm milk at a time, stirring continuously until you have a smooth and velvety sauce. Cook for a few minutes until thickened, stirring continuously.
  8. Mix in the aubergine, and the grated cheese and season with salt and nutmeg. Keep warm.
  9. When the lamb is tender and the sauce is rich and thick, remove it from the heat.
  10. Spoon the aubergine purée on a plate and top it up with some of the lamb stew.
  11. Garnish with some chopped parsley.

Notes

  • Adding stock to your dishes enhances the flavor. Make sure you reduce the amount of salt when using store-bought stock or stock cubes.
  • The cooking time for lamb stew will vary depending on the size of the lamb pieces and the cut of the meat.
  • Pick slightly firm but not hard aubergines when buying them. Discard the seeds after cooking if there are any.
  • To prevent the aubergines from bursting, prick each one with a toothpick a few times and place them on a gas burner or BBQ.
  • You can roast the aubergines in the oven if you don't have a BBQ or a gas stove. Preheat the oven to 200°C and then bake them for about 45 minutes or until the flesh is soft. Although they won't have the smokey taste we are after, they will still taste great!
  • Place the finely chopped aubergines in a sieve to get rid of their bitter water. 

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 623kcal (31%) Carbohydrates 38g (13%) Protein 57g (114%) Fat 28g (43%) Saturated Fat 12g (60%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 11g Cholesterol 169mg (56%) Sodium 1467mg (61%) Potassium 1650mg (47%) Fiber 9g (36%) Sugar 19g (38%) Vitamin A 1482IU (30%) Vitamin C 69mg (77%) Calcium 375mg (38%) Iron 6mg (33%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 623 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 623kcal 31%
Carbohydrates 38g 13%
Protein 57g 114%
Fat 28g 43%
Saturated Fat 12g 60%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 11g 55%
Cholesterol 169mg 56%
Sodium 1467mg 61%
Potassium 1650mg 35%
Fiber 9g 36%
Sugar 19g 38%
Vitamin A 1482IU 30%
Vitamin C 69mg 77%
Calcium 375mg 38%
Iron 6mg 33%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Genuine Reviews

User Reviews

Overall Rating

5.0

45 reviews
Excellent

Write a Review

Drag & drop files here or click to upload
Other Recipes

You'll Also Love

Hünkar Beğendi Recipe - Sultan's Delight

Turkish, Ottoman
0.0 (0 reviews)

Escabeche- Filipino Sweet & Sour Fish

Asian, Mediterranean, Filipino
5.0 (78 reviews)

Lamb burgers with feta sauce

Mediterranean
5.0 (9 reviews)

Pan-fried sea bass with salsa verde

Mediterranean
5.0 (9 reviews)

One pot lemon garlic chicken with vegetables

Mediterranean
5.0 (3 reviews)

Fresh corn polenta with summer vegetables

Mediterranean
5.0 (6 reviews)

Greek lamb marinade

Mediterranean
5.0 (9 reviews)

Braised lamb shanks

Mediterranean
5.0 (9 reviews)

Feta Spaghetti Squash

Mediterranean
5.0 (99 reviews)

Stuffed Acorn Squash (with Ground Meat or Plant-Based Meat)

Mediterranean, American
5.0 (9 reviews)

Chickpea Recipes: Best Chickpea Salad

Mediterranean, American
5.0 (96 reviews)