Turkish Stuffed Eggplant (Karniyarik) – Splitting Bellies

“Karniyarik” means “split belly,” which refers to the technique used to stuff them, although depending on the size of your eggplant, it could also refer to you after enjoying this delicious dish. By the way, this was my first time making these, and when I mentioned in the video only doing 15 minutes of research before filming, I wasn’t joking. So, you’ve been warned.

Having said that, I thought these came out really well, and I would only tweak a couple minor things next time. I’d sprinkle the insides with salt before stuffing, since there wasn’t enough in my filling to season them to my taste. I’d also toss in some chopped parsley, which would have added a little freshness to the dish, although the dried rosemary did work nicely.

Lastly, I’d take the advice I got on Twitter, and serve them with a yogurt sauce, like our famous tzatziki. That would be an amazing condiment for these, since the cold, acidic sauce would be a perfect foil for the rich, aromatic, slightly sweet flavor profile. 

Since I’m fully admitting not knowing what I’m doing, I welcome any and all tips and tricks, but most of all, I really do hope you give these a try. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 4 Turkish Stuffed Eggplant (Karniyarik:

4 medium sized eggplant

olive oil as needed

1 yellow onion, diced

1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste

4 cloves garlic, crushed

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary

1/4 cup freshly chopped Italian parsley (I didn’t add, but you should)

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 pound ground lamb or beef
1 1/2 cups diced sweet and/or hot peppers

1 ounce (about 1 cup unpacked) finely, freshly grated Pecorino cheese, or whatever you’re into

1 cup chicken broth

- Roast eggplant at 400 F. until just barely soft, stuff, and continue baking until very tender.

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Sunshine before the Gathering Darkness

Well, September 1st was a promising start to the month. Chillier temperatures for sure but the sun was out and there was nary a cloud to be seen. First order of business was walk with cats.

Then we set off to Lester's Farm to get some veggies and what turned out to be some amazing local lamb. While there I saw the first ads for Pumpkin Fest 2018!

Another walk, by myself this time, and more mushrooms!

Ended the day with bar-b-que and that amazing lamb from Lester's!

Korean Barbecued Rack of Lamb – That Other Rack of Ribs

While less popular than beef and pork, lamb was the original barbecued meat (Google barbacoa for details), and may be the best suited for cooking over smoky coals. That’s especially true when paired with this very simple Korean-inspired marinade. This really did taste every bit as good as it looked, and that’s saying something.

Lamb has a slight, subtly sweet gaminess, which works perfectly with the funky goodness of our gochujang chili paste, and if you let it soak overnight, you’ll be rewarded with a juicy interior as well. I love using rack for this, since it’s more tender, and easier to work with than leg, and a little more user friendly than chops.

You should find gochujang at any grocery store where the cool kids shop, but if not, it’s available online. Here is the one I used, just in case that matters. If you do happen to splurge for a jar, trust me, you’ll use it all by the end of summer.

By the way, the ingredient amounts below will only allow for a few tablespoons of sauce, once reduced. If you want more, just double the amounts, and save half to add to your reduction. A little more sauce probably isn’t a bad idea, especially if there’s going to be rice around. Either way, I really do hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 4 Portions:

2 trimmed racks of lamb (about 1 pound each)

2 tablespoons gochujang chili paste

6 cloves crushed garlic

1/4 cup finely minced green onions

2 tablespoons brown sugar

3 tablespoons rice vinegar

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 teaspoon kosher salt

Grilled Pastrami-Spiced Lamb Top Sirloin – New Deli

There are so many things this pastrami inspired rub would work wonderfully with, but these lamb top sirloins have to be right near the top of the list. The subtle gaminess of the meat works perfectly with the aromatic spices, which once activated by the heat and smoke of the grill, really create something fairly pastrami-like; just as long as you “overcook” it. Don’t worry, those quote marks are there for a reason.

By “overcook,” I simply mean longer than we would normally grill a relatively tender cut of lamb. While this would be perfectly fine cooked to a rosy-pink interior, I want to go just past medium for this particular recipe, since not only do I want a pastrami-like flavor profile, I also wanted it to have a firmer texture, and to be able to absorb the maximum amount of smoke.

And yes, I know, we could’ve actually smoked it, but that’s not this video. Anyway, by pulling the meat off at about 140 F. internal temp, with the carryover heat, you’ll still have beautifully moist, tender meat, but won’t have any of that chewiness you sometimes get with rare or medium rare lamb. Of course, suit yourself, but that’s the official recommendation from someone who loves medium-rare meat.

Even if you don’t end up using the same spice rub, I hope at the very least you’ll consider lamb top sirloin the next time you’re looking for something easy, and a little bit different for the grill. It generally comes fully trimmed, and ready to grill, not to mention at a relatively reasonable price compared to lamb chops. So, whether you’re looking for something a little different for your Easter dinner, or upcoming cookout, I really do hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 2 portions:

2 lamb top sirloins (about 8 ounces each)

For the wet rub:

2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons ground coriander

1 tablespoon kosher salt (about 2 teaspoons table salt)

1 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

2-3 tablespoons olive oil, or enough to make a paste

For the sauce:

1/4 cup plain yogurt

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 minced garlic clove

2 teaspoon freshly minced mint

Beer-Braised Lamb Shanks – Springing Forward with Lamb and Beer

We’re in one of those in between times of the year, when you start to see Spring ingredients and recipes, which are always a welcomed sight, yet the weather may still be cold and dreary, which is why these beer-braised lamb shanks work so well.

Lamb is a classic springtime meat, and by using the shanks, we not only get a great seasonal meal, but an extremely comforting one at that. Of all the cuts, the shank has the most connective tissue, and as long as you cook it enough, you’ll be rewarded with tender, succulent meat that warms you from the inside out.

However, if you don’t braise it long enough, the meat will be tough, rubbery, and borderline inedible, which means you’ll have to get online, and give that recipe a terrible review for not working. Okay, just kidding. What you really want to do is not stop cooking until it’s completely tender. Above and beyond how long to braise, try to use a deep pan that’s just large enough to fit however many shanks you’re doing in a single layer. A tight-fitting lid is also highly recommended.

As far as the beer goes, I used a cheap, unremarkable lager, which came in a 24-ounce can (which explains the measuring cup), and it worked wonderfully. If you’re feeling experimental, something like an amber ale would also be great, as would a fruity sour (which would make it a lamb-bic). The only thing I’d avoid would be something that’s super hoppy, as the bitterness may overwhelm the other flavors. Regardless of what beer you decide to use, I really do hope you get this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 2 Portions:

2 lamb shanks (ask butcher for the smaller fore shanks)

1 teaspoon salt, plus more as needed

freshly ground black pepper to taste

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 onion, chopped

1 large rib celery, cut in 1-inch pieces

2 large carrot, cut in 1-inch pieces

3 cloves finely chopped garlic

2 teaspoons tomato paste

12 ounces not-too-hoppy beer

2 springs rosemary
pinch cayenne

sliced green onions, optional

Grilled “Tandoori” Lamb – Hold the Tandoor

Since I didn’t cook this marvelous meat in a tandoor oven, it’s not actually tandoori lamb, which will save some of you the time letting me know all the other ways it isn’t the real deal. Accepting that, these days “tandoori” simply refers to the yogurt based, aromatically spiced marinade, whether you grill, broil, or bake the meat.

As usual, please adjust the spice amounts to your tastes, since you know you much better than I do. These should get you close to your friendly neighborhood Indian joint, but still, play around. If you want to add some veggies between the pieces of meat, go ahead, but I have more success cooking them separately.

I really like lamb sirloin, and see it in the stores more often these days, but like I said in the video, leg of lamb, or a shoulder roast, are also very nice for this. If you feel like splurging, you can do lamb chops, but for those, 4 to 6 hours is plenty of time in the marinade. But, no matter which cut you use, or animal for that matter, I really do hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Marinade Ingredients for 2 to 3 pounds of lamb

2 to 3 pounds lamb sirloin, cut into about 1 1/2 to 2-inch chunks

1 cup plain yogurt

2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more pre-grilling

1 big juicy lemon, juiced

1/4 cup grated or very finely minced onion

2 cloves crushed garlic

1 tablespoon grated ginger

2 generous teaspoons garam masala (click here to make your own)

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon cumin powder

1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

2 teaspoon paprika

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

chopped cilantro

fresh lemon

grilled onions

flatbread or rice

spicy cilantro chutney (I don’t have a recipe, but here’s one)

American Gyros – Mystery Meat Demystified

If you’re from Greece, you’re probably pretty confused right now, and wondering why I’m calling this gyros. There, pork and chicken are used, in non-ground form, and as the meat turns slowly over a fire, the cooked, caramelized surface is shaved off into thin slices. 

It’s amazing stuff, but believe it or not, I prefer this Americanized “mystery meat” approach, which uses ground lamb and/or beef. The spices are similar, but the texture is totally different, and for me, more interesting. I can eat fresh, identifiable meat anytime, so when I’m in the mood for gyros, I want the stuff you can only get from certain street vendors. Of course, since the meat is ground, you’re taking their word for which specific animals made the ultimate sacrifice, which is why this stuff became affectionately known as “mystery meat.”

This style is perfect for making ahead of time. Once it’s chilled, and sliced, all you need to do is brown it in a pan, and find some flatbread to roll it up in. Preferably, that would be homemade Lebanese mountain bread, which I will attempt to show you in the near future. In the meantime, your favorite pita will do, just as long as you don’t forget to make some tzatziki. I really hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 8 portions:

1 pound ground lamb

1 pound ground beef

1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion

4 cloves garlic, crushed

1 tablespoon freshly minced rosemary

2 teaspoons dried oregano

2 to 3 teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste (you can cook a small piece to test)

1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon paprika

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 tablespoons bread crumb

- Cook at 350 F. for 45 minutes, or until an internal temp of 160 F.
-- Note: to make the pickled red onions, simply slice them about 1/8-inch thick, and cover with red wine vinegar for a few hours, or overnight. They will turn into the beautifully colored garnish seen herein.