Hunkar Begendi (roasted eggplant puree with meat)

Ingredients

• 3 md Sized eggplant (batinjaan)
• 6 tb Flour
• 4 tb Butter
• 1 tb Lemon juice

Directions

Grated cheese Salt and pepper In Turkey this unusual eggplant dish is called Sultan’s Pleasure for reasons which are obvious as soon as one samples it. Particularly delicious with chicken. Grilling the eggplants gives the vegetables an agreeable smoky flavor. Grill eggplants whole without peeling them by holding over a flame and turning slowly or prick skin in several places and set in hot oven. When the skin begins to break and the inside pulp feels soft slip off the skin and scoop the pulp into a saucepan. Mix lemon juice with pulp and simmer until very soft stirring often (10-15 minutes). Meanwhile melt butter add flour to it and allow flour to brown. Beat the butter and flour mixture into the eggplant. Slowly add several tablespoons of hot milk and continue beating until mixture resembles mashed potatoes. Lastly add several tablespoons of grated Parmesan or Cheddar cheese and cook several minutes more. Serve immediately.