Hünkar Beğendi or Sultan’s Delight, is an old Turkish recipe going back a few hundred years. There are a number of stories that explain the beginnings of this magnificently named Ottoman dish, one of them includes Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III who was apparently visiting in the 19th century.This dish is simply a chunky, tantalizing lamb stewed in a tangy tomato sauce. The sauce is then poured over a creamy yet smoky eggplant puree. Those that hate aubergines should be prepared to fall in love.
This silky, delicate dish may have been the result of a competition to create the ultimate dish for Napoleon III’s visit to Istanbul. It may not have been. But what it certainly will be, once you try it, is a regular order. This dish is indescribable because when you do attempt to define it, even your foodie friends will think you’re exaggerating.
Hünkar Beğendi is a very easy recipe to put together. There are 2 parts to the recipe:
- the lamb stew
- the beğendi, the smoky aubergine cheese sauce
Mutancana
