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Turkish Eggplant Recipes We Make on Repeat

Eggplants are a staple in Turkish cooking, and we've gathered some of our favorite Turkish eggplant recipes in this collection. If you visit Türkiye during the summer, you'll see them everywhere. It's the time of year when eggplant dishes are on the menu in many Turkish homes.

Collage of four Turkish eggplant dishes: eggplant kebab, eggplant musakka served with rice, karniyarik, and Ali Nazik kebab topped with lamb.

We grew up eating eggplants in all kinds of dishes, from smoky mezes to hearty family dinners. There was always a different way to cook them.

After moving to the UK a couple of years ago, they're still one of the vegetables we cook often. We just haven't quite got used to paying about £1 for a single eggplant when we used to buy them by the kilo back home.

Here you will find the eggplant dishes we grew up with and still make today.

Some are classic mezes, others are satisfying main dishes, but every one of them is a recipe we happily make on repeat.

Even though eggplants are one of the stars of summer in Türkiye, they're available year-round. So whenever you bring a few home, you'll have plenty of delicious Turkish recipes to choose from below.

Karniyarik

This is one of those dishes that instantly reminds us of family dinners back in Türkiye. Soft eggplants stuffed with a flavorful ground beef filling and baked in tomato sauce make the ultimate comfort food. It is usually served with rice and a bowl of yogurt or cacık. If you've never tried a Turkish eggplant dish before, this is where we'd tell you to start.
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Turkish karnıyarık made with roasted eggplants stuffed with seasoned ground beef and baked in tomato sauce, garnished with fresh parsley.

Patlican Musakka (Turkish Eggplant Moussaka)

This is one of those recipes we never get tired of making. Roasted eggplants are baked with a rich ground beef and tomato sauce to create one of the most comforting dinners we grew up eating. It's one of those classic dishes you'll spot at many lokantas across Türkiye, and it's just as common on family dinner tables.
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Overhead view of Turkish moussaka with roasted eggplant and ground beef served with rice pilaf and cacık on the side.

Hünkar Beğendi

Tender beef served over a creamy roasted eggplant purée makes this one of the most comforting meals in Turkish cuisine. We love making it when we want something that feels a bit more special without being overly complicated.
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Hunkar Begendi with lamb stew served over creamy eggplant puree, garnished with parsley and served with rice.

Imam Bayildi

This is one of our favorite ways to enjoy eggplants without meat. Tender eggplants are stuffed with onions, tomatoes and garlic, then slowly baked in plenty of olive oil until they almost melt in your mouth. We love serving it at room temperature with crusty bread or rice pilaf.
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Two Turkish stuffed eggplants with tomato-onion filling, garnished with fresh herbs and served in a rich olive oil sauce.

Ali Nazik Kebab

This is one of those dishes that always impresses, yet it's surprisingly easy to make at home. Smoky roasted eggplants blended with yogurt create the perfect base for juicy lamb cooked with butter and spices.
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Ali Nazik Kebab served on a gray oval plate with roasted peppers, fresh parsley, and forks on the side.

Eggplant Kebab (Turkish Patlıcan Kebabı)

Alternating slices of eggplants and juicy meatballs are baked in a rich tomato sauce until beautifully tender. It's one of our favorite ways to turn a few eggplants into a hearty family dinner.
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Turkish eggplant kebab baked with meatballs, tomatoes and garlic in a round baking dish, garnished with chopped parsley.

Babagannus (Turkish Roasted Eggplant & Pepper Dip)

If you love smoky eggplant dips, this one is a must-try. Roasted eggplants and peppers are mixed with garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and fresh parsley to create a chunky mezze that's fresh, tangy and full of flavor.
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A bowl of chunky baba ganoush without tahini, made with roasted eggplant, tomatoes, herbs, and topped with pistachios, served with crackers.

Turkish Eggplant Salad Recipe

Smoky roasted eggplants are tossed with juicy tomatoes and fresh parsley, then finished with a bright lemon, garlic, olive oil and sumac dressing. It's one of our favorite summer salads and goes with almost any grilled meat.
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Eggplant salad with tomatoes in a white rectangular dish and two spoons inside it.

Kuru Dolma - Stuffed Dried Eggplants and Peppers

Stuffed dried eggplants and peppers are filled with a tangy, well-seasoned rice mixture and cooked until tender. We love making both together, but they're just as delicious on their own. This is one of those dishes we always looked forward to, especially when homemade dried vegetables arrived from Türkiye.
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Stuffed dried eggplants and peppers served on a plate with some yogurt on the side.
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