Recipes, Lamb Recipes

Stuffed aubergine with mince

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Stuffed aubergine with mince reflects my love of stuffing vegetables – it’s very much a Mediterranean pastime. This version is loosely Greek-inspired and absolutely delicious. The minced lamb from Swaledale has a depth of flavour that sets it apart, making this recipe wonderfully simple. A few choice herbs and spices elevate the lamb, and a slick layer of béchamel topped with gratinated cheese rarely goes amiss.

Serves 3-4 hungry peeps

Ingredients

For the béchamel

Method

Start with the aubergines:

  1. Preheat your oven to 180°C.
  2. Half the aubergines, lengthways. Lay them in a roasting tray or oven-proof dish and season the flesh well with salt. Drizzle over a little olive oil and bake in the oven for around 25-minutes.
  3. While the aubergines are baking, make a start on the filling. In a heavy-bottomed pan over a high heat, brown off the lamb mince. Do this in batches if necessary. We want to get good colour on the mince.
  4. Once browned, remove the mince from the pan, leaving behind as much fat as possible. Turn the heat down to medium.
  5. Into this fat, add the cumin seeds and chilli flakes and fry for a moment, so they begin to release their aroma. Then add the onion and garlic. Season with salt and cook with a lid on, stirring regularly, for about 15-minutes – until soft and just beginning to colour.
  6. Remove the aubergines from the oven and allow to cool a little before scooping out their flesh. Be careful not to be too barbaric when doing this as you don’t (ideally) want to break the skins. After all, the flesh is being stuffed back into them later.
  7. Add the lamb back into the onions and garlic, along with the aubergine flesh, tomato purée, mint, and the dried oregano. Keep the heat low and cook for 20-minutes. If, at any stage, it is looking too dry, then add a splash of water to loosen.
  8. Take off the heat and stir in the breadcrumbs.
  9. Check the seasoning and adjust as necessary.

For the béchamel:

  1. Tip the milk, rosemary, garlic, and a good grate of nutmeg into a pan. On a low heat bring it to a simmer. Once simmering, remove from the heat and set aside. This is to infuse the milk with those flavours. Leave it for about 15-minutes.
  2. In a new pan melt the butter. Once melted, add the flour and cook out on a medium heat for 2-minutes, stirring regularly. This creates a roux.
  3. Pass the milk through a sieve and return to the heat.
  4. Pour about a third of the milk into the roux and stir with a whisk until combined. It will thicken very quickly.
  5. Continuing to stir with the whisk add another third of the milk. Then the final third, again stirring with the whisk.
  6. Keep the heat low and allow the béchamel to cook for about 15-20 minutes.
  7. Season with salt, to taste.

To bake:

  1. Spoon the lamb stuffing into the aubergine skins, distributing equally between the four skins.
  2. Cover each aubergine in béchamel and grate over as much Pecorino as you see fit.
  3. Bake at 180°C for 30-minutes.
  4. A little salad of picked mint and thinly sliced red onions, all dressed in a touch of lemon juice and olive oil, makes a great accompaniment.

Shop the ingredients

For 15 years George worked in some of London’s most loved restaurants, including Padella and Primeur, and had a 5-year stint as Head Chef at the Garden Museum Café. George earned rave reviews for his simple, thoughtful cookery, his dishes were firmly rooted in the classics, and always paid homage to the produce. In 2021 George realised a long-held ambition and released his first cookbook entitled, A Year In The Kitchen. It celebrates the annual cookery cycle, taking readers on a journey through the British seasons, showcasing native produce, and inspiring year round creativity. In 2022 George left London behind, and moved back home to Yorkshire. His passion for seasonal cookery and reverence of quality British ingredients proved that for George, home is where the heart is. Like his food, George is led by the seasons, he’s open to new opportunities, and always following his heart.