Tortma Stew

Originally an Arabic recipe for a casserole-type dish, a woman revised this recipe to be created on the stovetop. I thought this sounded interesting, so here we are! This was a little bit different than the "norm" of stews because of the eggplant, but it ended up pretty close to chili. So, if you want a great chili recipe, just minus the eggplant and wah-la! Or, leave the eggplant in and you can feel culturally diverse in your kitchen. :)

• 2 eggplants
• 1/2 lb ground beef (I used a whole pound....who thaws half of a pound? Oh, I also used ground turkey instead...healthy substitution!)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 (16 ounce) can chopped tomatoes
• 4 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 cups water
• oil (for frying) - I used vegetable oil

1. Peel and cut eggplant into 1 1/2 inch cubes.
2. Sprinkle with salt in a colander, shaking to mix. Wait 10 minutes to 1/2 hour, then blot the excess moisture from the eggplant with paper towels.
3. Fry in oil until soft and golden brown and set aside.


4. Meanwhile, brown ground beef in a large pot. Add onion and cook until onion is soft. Then, toss in your spices and sauté for a few minutes.


5. Add fried eggplant, tomatoes, tomato paste and water.
6. Simmer for 1/2 hour to an hour, adding more water if necessary. (I did.)

Delicious!

Printable version here!