Sheikh El Mahshi (Middle Eastern Meat-Stuffed Eggplant)
Sheikh El Mahshi (Middle Eastern Meat Stuffed Eggplant) is an incredibly savory and delicious Middle Eastern dish that consists of meltingly soft eggplant stuffed with ground beef and pine nuts and bathed in tomato sauce. Its unique flavor combination crown it as one of the most popular dishes in the Arab World. Sheikh El Mahshi will undoubtedly become a favorite, whether you dress it up for a formal dinner or serve it as a cozy dish at home.
King of Dishes!
This stuffed eggplant dish is known as Sheikh Mahshi in many parts of the Middle East. Sheikh is a title given to the head of a tribe or household who is wiser and most respected. On the other hand, mehshi translates to “stuffed vegetables”. So, how does this relate to stuffed eggplant?
This stuffed eggplant with ground beef recipe is regarded as the king of all stuffed dishes. Eggplants are filled with seasoned ground beef, lightly caramelized onions, and pine nuts. It’s so flavorful, super delicious and tasty enough to be called “king of mehshi” and it’s frequently reserved for honored guests.
Most people are familiar with this dish’s more well-known cousin, Kousa Mahshi. That dish is typically filled with rice and minced meat. Sheikh el-mahshi was known as a “king’s dish” because it omits rice in the stuffing and is filled with a more luxurious stuffing of ground beef and pine nuts tossed in tomato sauce. The result is an absolutely luscious and satisfying dish!
Why I Love this Recipe
This is one of my favorite ways to enjoy stuffed eggplant. It appears to be time-consuming, and it may feel that way the first time you cook it. I guarantee that once you figure out the components, this meal will come together quickly. Besides, it is hard to please my kids when it comes to eggplant, but Sheikh El Mahshi is one of the eggplant recipes that they eat, and, in fact enjoy.
What goes well with Sheikh El Mahshi Stuffed Eggplant?
This stuffed eggplant can be served as a side dish or as a one-pan meal on its own. I like to serve these eggplant boats on a bed of vermicelli rice. You can also serve them with a small amount of sauce, such as homemade Tzatziki sauce (yogurt and cucumber). Even plain yogurt will suffice as a substitute.
Meet the Star of All the Stuffed Dishes!
Variations of This Recipe
Eggplant is the most commonly used vegetable in this recipe. Zucchini is another popular vegetable. Some people use a combination of eggplant, green bell peppers, zucchini, and potatoes! I like having the option of using different vegetables, especially when preparing this dish for others. Another variation of this recipe is to cook the vegetables in a yogurt sauce rather than a tomato sauce which tastes delicious as well.
Ingredients for Sheikh El Mahshi (Lebanese Stuffed Eggplant):
- Ground Beef 80/20
- Onion/ chopped
- Parsley/ chopped
- Salt
- 7 Spices
- Black Pepper
- Eggplants/ sautéed
- Vegetable Oil
Tomato Sauce Ingredients:
- Hot Water
- Tomato Paste
- Pepper Paste
- Vegeta seasoning or salt
- Hot Pepper
Steps to Prep Sheikh El Mahshi:
Even though there are three steps to prepare this recipe (preparing the ground beef and tomato sauce, sautéing the eggplants, stuffing and baking them), they are all straightforward to accomplish and do not require much effort. The most challenging part for a beginner is probably sautéing the eggplant.
To Make the Ground Beef Mixture:
- On medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of oil to a large pan, add ground beef ,cook it for 5-7 minutes until ground beef is no longer red.
- Add finely chopped onions and parsley ,and add the spices (7 spice, salt and black pepper).
- Cook for 5 more minutes until ground beef is cooked and onions are soft.
- You can add toasted pine nuts or toasted almonds to the ground beef mixture (optional).
To Make the Tomato Sauce:
- Add hot water to a large bowl or a measuring cup, add tomato paste, pepper paste (optional), salt ,and hot pepper (optional).
- Use a fork to mix all the ingredients until you have a smooth mixture.
To Prepare the Eggplants for Sheikh El Mahshi:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Wash the eggplants and dry them with a kitchen towel or a paper towel.
- With a sharp knife, cut a slit lengthwise on one side of the eggplant. Do not cut the eggplant all the way through.
- In a large pan, heat up oil on medium heat. Add the eggplants and shallow fry eggplants for 5 minutes on each side. Transfer to a plate lined with a paper towel to drain the oil.
- Let the eggplants cool down completely and then with a spoon or a fork scrape the inside of the eggplant flesh carefully. Sprinkle the inside with salt.
To Prepare Sheikh El Mahshi:
- Stuff the eggplants with the ground beef mixture .
- Place them in an oven safe dish. Pour the red sauce over stuffed eggplants .
- Cook in preheated oven for 30 minutes (uncovered).
- Sprinkle fresh parsley or toasted pine nuts/ toasted almonds.
- Serve with vermicelli rice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When you buy eggplants, pick ones that are heavy and feel dense. Make sure they are firm both in texture and skin. Soft and light brown spots are never a good sign.
Eggplants are high in fiber and low in calories. They’re also abundant in antioxidants.
You can prepare the mince meat and tomato sauce the day before if you want to save time.
For this recipe, it’s better to use a globe—sometimes also called American—eggplant, which is large and pear-shaped. They’re much darker and wider and have a tougher, meatier texture than other varieties.
Some Delicious Recipes You May Want to Try:
Bulgur pilaf with vermicelli and Chicken
Potato kibbeh
BBQ Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe
Coke Can Chicken Recipe
One Pot Chicken Thighs and Rice Recipe
Foil Wrapped Chicken Thighs Recipe
Butter Chicken with Heavy Whipping Cream
Chicken Tikka in Oven
Fava bean Stew
Eggplant kebab
Chicken tikka in oven
Bulgur pilaf with vermicelli and Chicken
Sheikh El Mahshi (Lebanese Stuffed Eggplants)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1½ cup ground beef 80/20
- 1 onion small/ finely chopped
- 4 eggplants sautéed on medium heat for 3-4 minutes on each side
- ¼ cup parsley finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon seven spices
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil for sautéing eggplants
Tomato sauce ingredients
- 1½ cup hot water
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoon pepper paste
- 1 teaspoon Vegeta seasoning or salt
- ½ teaspoon hot pepper
Instructions
To make the ground beef mixture:
- On medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of oil to a large pan, add ground beef, and cook it for 5-7 minutes until ground beef is no longer red.
- Add finely chopped onions, parsley, and the spices (7 spice, salt and black pepper).
- Cook for 5 more minutes until ground beef is cooked and onions are soft.
- You can add toasted pine nuts or toasted almonds to the ground beef mixture (optional).
To make the tomato sauce:
- Add hot water to a large bowl or a measuring cup, add tomato paste, pepper paste (optional), salt, and hot pepper (optional).
- Use a fork to mix all the ingredients until you have a smooth mixture.
How to make Sheikh El Mahshi:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Wash the eggplants and dry them with a kitchen towel or a paper towel.
- With a sharp knife, cut a slit lengthwise on one side of the eggplant. Do not cut the eggplant all the way through.
- In a large pan, heat up oil on medium heat. Add the eggplants and shallow fry eggplants for 5 minutes on each side. Transfer to a plate lined with a paper towel to drain the oil.
- Let the eggplants cool down completely and then with a spoon or a fork, scrape the inside of the eggplant flesh carefully . Sprinkle the inside with salt.
- Stuff the eggplants with the ground beef mixture.
- Place them in an oven safe dish.
- Pour the red sauce over stuffed eggplants.
- Cook in a preheated oven for 30 minutes (uncovered).
- Sprinkle fresh parsley or toasted pine nuts/ toasted almonds.
- Serve with vermicelli rice.
