In Egypt In
Egypt, stuffed eggplant
dolma is known as
mahshi bedengan (also pronounced
betengan, ). Small eggplants are hollowed out and filled with a seasoned mixture of rice and herbs. The stuffing typically includes
short-grain rice combined with chopped parsley,
dill,
coriander, onions, and tomatoes, all seasoned with spices such as cumin, salt, and black pepper. After stuffing, the eggplants are arranged upright in a pot, covered with a tomato-based sauce, and simmered until tender. This method allows the flavors to meld together, resulting in a savory and aromatic dish. Mahshi bedengan is often served as part of a larger meal, accompanied by other stuffed vegetables like zucchini and bell peppers.
Bedengan mekhalel () is a pickled eggplant dish traditionally eaten in Egypt alongside various main dishes. Small eggplants are typically used for this dish, which are first boiled until slightly tender before being stuffed with a mixture of minced garlic,
chili peppers, coriander, and spices such as cumin and salt. Once stuffed, the eggplants are arranged in a jar and submerged in a brine of
vinegar and
lemon juice, allowing them to absorb the flavors over time.
In Italy In Italy, stuffed eggplant are cooked in oven, and can be filled with
mozzarella cheese (in
Rome), or with minced meat (in
Sicily).
In Turkey Eggplants are stuffed with meat (
lamb) and rice or other vegetables. The ingredients include eggplant, minced meat, rice, onion, tomato paste, tomato, parsley, mint, salt, black pepper and sunflower oil. Optional ingredients include
sumac, lemon juice, allspice, cinnamon, pine nuts, almonds, walnuts, mint, and olive oil which may be added for a better taste. In Turkey, two famous stuffed eggplant dishes are
karnıyarık and
İmam bayıldı.
In the Levant Makdous is a pickled and stuffed eggplant dish popular in
Syria and Lebanon. ==See also==